Search Results (183)

We examined the positions of policymakers and businesses on the forest-based bioeconomy (FBE) in Slovenia, focusing on the importance of forest ecosystem services within the FBE. We also explored how businesses perceive their market potential and the role of payments for ecosystem services (PES) schemes in strengthening the FBE. We conducted interviews with 35 policymakers from the fields of forestry, the wood industry, the environment, and tourism, as well as with 24 business representatives from primary wood production, the wood industry, and forest tourism. Respondents identified fragmented land ownership (mean score on a 1–5 scale = 4.19), the lack of a strategic framework (4.12), and inefficient use of woody biomass (4.08) as key challenges to implementing the FBE in Slovenia. They highlighted knowledge transfer (4.54), investment support (4.47), and raising environmental awareness (4.44) as the main forms of state support for the FBE, while unfamiliarity with PES appears to contribute to its neglect. No significant sectoral differences were observed among policymakers regarding PES involvement; however, they viewed their role mainly in the design phase of PES and least in the phases of coordination and establishment. Greater interest in participating in PES was expressed by forest tourism businesses, despite perceiving lower market potential than those in primary wood production and the wood industry. The evident heterogeneity of stakeholder positions on the FBE calls for strong coordination and a transparent policy process involving all stakeholder coalitions to establish a coherent national strategy for the FBE. The results highlighted policymakers’ limited governance capacity and reluctance to fully implement PES as a potential solution for strengthening the FBE. The differing motivations of businesses regarding PES underscore the need for a nuanced, sector-specific approach to foster broader engagement. Full article

Environmental education, implemented at both formal and informal levels, plays a significant role in the transformation process towards a Circular Economy (CE). In the Baltic Sea Region (BRS), the significant role of the forestry sector is worth noting, as it contributes to strengthening the CE agenda through the sustainable and circular management of wood processing waste. However, currently, environmental education on the potential uses of this waste, for the general public (including youth), students, and professionals, is quite limited. Therefore, this paper presents a conceptual approach to developing an education roadmap. The scope of work includes identifying the education gap in the forestry sector using a questionnaire survey among residents of the Baltic Sea Region, and then developing a concept for an education roadmap consistent with the CE assumptions. The presented concept of roadmap is a comprehensive document that analyses the educational needs, challenges, and opportunities related to the sustainable use of forest biomass in a given region. Strategic assumptions and educational priorities were identified and implemented in this document. Our findings contribute to aligning forestry education with broader environmental and economic goals in the Baltic Sea Region and beyond. This study supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 15 (Life on Land) by providing practical insights for advancing circular economy education in natural resource management. Full article

Construction and demolition (C&D) waste remains a critical challenge in India due to accelerated urbanisation and material-intensive construction practices. This study integrates survey-based assessment with machine learning to identify key causes of C&D waste and recommend targeted minimization strategies. Data were collected from 116 professionals representing junior, middle, and senior management, spanning age groups from 20 to 60+ years, and working across building construction, consultancy, project management, roadworks, bridges, and industrial structures. The majority of respondents (57%) had 6–20 years of experience, ensuring representation from both operational and decision-making roles. The Relative Importance Index (RII) method was applied to rank waste causes and minimization techniques based on industry perceptions. To enhance robustness, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, and Linear Regression models were tested, with Random Forest performing best (R² = 0.62), providing insights into the relative importance of different strategies. Findings show that human skill and quality control are most critical in reducing waste across concrete, mortar, bricks, steel, and tiles, while proper planning is key for excavated soil and quality sourcing for wood. Recommended strategies include workforce training, strict quality checks, improved planning, and prefabrication. The integration of perception-based analysis with machine learning offers a comprehensive framework for minimising C&D waste, supporting cost reduction and sustainability in construction projects. The major limitation of this study is its reliance on self-reported survey data, which may be influenced by subjectivity and regional bias. Additionally, results may not fully generalize beyond the Indian construction context due to the sample size and sectoral skew. The absence of real-time site data and limited access to integrated waste management systems also restrict predictive accuracy of the machine learning models. Nevertheless, combining industry perception with robust data-driven techniques provides a valuable framework for supporting sustainable construction management. Full article

The transition toward sustainable panel technologies is driving intensive research on binderless boards and self-bonded lignocellulosic composites. Particleboard, an engineered wood composite made by hot pressing wood particles with synthetic adhesives, is among the most widely produced wood-based panels due to cost-effectiveness and versatility. However, pressure on forest-derived raw materials and concern over formaldehyde emissions are accelerating the search for renewable resources and greener routes. Residues and underutilized materials from agro-industrial, food, and forestry sectors (such as cereal straws, sugarcane bagasse, brewer’s spent grain, and fruit-processing by-products) offer a sustainable alternative, enabling waste valorization, lowering environmental burdens, and supporting circular bioeconomy models. Binderless boards, produced without adhesives, exploit natural bonding among lignocellulosic components, including lignin softening, thermoplasticization, and covalent crosslinking during hot pressing. This review adopts a complex network approach to systematically map and analyze the scientific landscape of binderless board production. Using citation-based networks from curated seed papers and their first- and second-degree neighbors, we identify thematic clusters, with cluster “A” as the research core. The examination of this cluster, complemented by word-cloud analysis of titles and abstracts, highlights prevalent raw materials and key research lines, like raw-material sources and lignocellulosic composition, processing parameters, and pretreatment strategies. Based on these findings, brewer’s spent grain is selected as a representative case study for cost analysis. This approach synthesizes the state of the art and reveals emerging directions, research gaps, and influential works, providing a data-driven foundation for advancing self-bonded lignocellulosic composites. Full article

The recovery of timber residues from abandoned underground coal mines presents a unique opportunity to expand the raw material base for wood-based composites, aligning with the principles of cascade utilization. Large amounts of structural wood, embedded for decades under anaerobic and humid mining conditions, remain remarkably well-preserved and can be valorized as a secondary feedstock. The aim of this work was to investigate and evaluate the feasibility of incorporating recovered mining timber into the production of medium-density fiberboards (MDFs). Six types of laboratory panels were produced, containing different ratios of recovered and virgin pine fibers (0–100%), bonded with melamine–urea–formaldehyde resin and hot-pressed at 180 °C. Comprehensive testing of physical and mechanical properties demonstrated that panels with up to 40% recovered fibers fully complied with European standards for general-purpose boards, while up to 60% substitution was acceptable with respect to internal bond strength. At higher substitution levels, however, dimensional stability and strength were significantly reduced. These findings highlight the potential of mine timber recovery as a viable raw material pathway for MDF manufacturing, extending the service life of wood resources and reducing pressure on primary forests. The study emphasizes the role of recovered biomass in advancing circular bioeconomy objectives and resource efficiency in the wood-based panel sector. Full article

The increasing emphasis on environmental protection, climate change mitigation, and the transition to a circular economy requires industries, including the wood-processing sector, to integrate sustainability into strategic and operational management. Green growth indicators represent essential tools for evaluating the environmental, economic, and social impacts of business activities, while also contributing to the sustainable economics and responsible management of forest resources and products. This study applies a qualitative research design using structured interviews with 10 executives from medium and large woodworking enterprises in Slovakia. The interviews examined company strategies, practices, and challenges in sustainable development and forest resource utilization. The findings reveal that while many companies actively manage waste, invest in green technologies, and conduct internal audits, the broader implementation of environmental management systems and the uptake of public sustainability funding remain limited. Notably, 90% of respondents emphasized waste volume and recovery rates as critical indicators. Based on the results, a set of green growth indicators was developed and categorized across key thematic areas including waste management, energy efficiency, stakeholder communication, certification, and strategic planning. These indicators not only support the assessment of corporate sustainability but also strengthen efficient forest resource management, responsible use of raw materials, and the long-term economic viability of the sector. The study highlights the importance of systematically designed and practically applicable indicators for guiding companies toward sustainable competitiveness and emphasizes the need for stronger institutional support, improved access to reliable data, and integration of sustainability metrics into core business decision-making. Full article

Soil erosion is a widespread problem leading to land degradation in many watersheds, including the Lato Basin, an Apulian permanent river that supplies water used for irrigation in many agricultural territories along the Ionian coast with considerable economic importance for crop production. The loss of fertile soil makes land less productive for agriculture; soil erosion decreases soil fertility, which can negatively affect crop yields. The present research aimed to determine soil loss (t/ha/year) in the Lato watershed in 2024, and then four ecosystem services—loss of carbon, habitat quality, crop productivity and sustainable tourism suitability—directly or indirectly linked to erosion, were defined and evaluated in monetary terms. These ecosystem service evaluations were made for the actual basin land use, and also for two hypothetical scenarios applying different afforestation strategies to the watershed. The first scenario envisages afforestation interventions in the areas with the highest erosion; the second scenario envisages afforestation interventions in the areas with medium erosion, cultivated with cereal crops. Each scenario was also used to evaluate the economic convenience and the effects of sustainable land management practices (e.g., reforestation) to reduce soil erosion and loss of ecosystem services. This study demonstrates that soil erosion is related to land use. It also underlines that reforestation reduces soil erosion and increases the value of ecosystem services. Furthermore, the economic analysis shows that crop productivity is the most incisive ecosystem service, as the lands with high productivity achieve higher economic values, making conversion to wooded areas economically disadvantageous if not supported with economic aid. The results of this study may help development of new management strategies for the Lato Basin, to be implemented through the distribution of community funds for rural development programs that consider the real economic productivity of each area through naturalistic engineering interventions. The reforestation measures need to be implemented over a long time frame to perform their functions; this requires relevant investments from the public sector due to cost management, requesting monetary compensation from EU funds for companies involved in forestation projects on highly productive areas that will bring benefits for the entire community. Full article

The construction sector accounts for one-third of Europe’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, offering significant potential for emission reduction. Emission reduction can be achieved by substituting conventional building materials with wood- or bio-based alternatives; the difference in GHG emissions is referred to as the substitution potential (SP). In this study, a literature review was conducted to identify studies in which SPs had been determined. The calculation methods used for these SPs were then analysed in detail. The analysis considered the general conditions, outcomes, and scaling effects, revealing that differing initial conditions lead to inconsistent results. Therefore, transparent allocation of SPs and comparable product life cycle assessments (LCAs) based on functional equivalence are essential. To reliably extrapolate the benefits of wood use to the entire construction sector, scaling effects must be justified by consistent functional equivalence. For policy relevance, it is crucial that SPs are determined using the standardised rules and that the building level, as the actual place of material use, is not overlooked. This is particularly important when scaling up the effects of increased wood use to the landscape level. Only with these measures SPs at the product level can provide reliable results in a broader context. Additionally, the studies reviewed indicate that changes in forest management have not yet been considered. Full article

Resin is a renewable non-timber forest product that is used as a raw material in a wide range of goods, thereby holding significant socioeconomic importance and relevance across multiple industrial sectors. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the main factors influencing natural resin production in Pinus stands, as well as to address the effects of these factors on tree growth dynamics and resin yield optimization. Among these factors, dendrometric characteristics, environmental conditions, and silvicultural practices, such as thinning, pruning, and prescribed burning, are particularly relevant. However, the scientific literature presents conflicting results regarding the influence of these factors on resin yield, as well as the impacts of resin tapping on tree growth and wood quality. These divergences highlight the complexity of the process and reinforce the need for further studies to clarify the interactions between silvicultural practices in Pinus stands and resin production. Understanding these practices is essential for the development and implementation of efficient silvicultural models aimed at optimizing resin tapping that are properly tailored to the specific conditions of each site. In this context, the development of management models that integrate both timber and resin production is fundamental for simulating management scenarios, generating yield forecasts, and supporting decision-making processes. It is worth noting that management models focused on maximizing resin production may differ from conventional approaches intended for pulpwood or sawtimber production. Nevertheless, integrating resin tapping with timber harvesting holds significant potential to increase the profitability of forest operations. Full article

Low-carbon development is closely linked to the concept of sustainability, which focuses on both economic growth and the targeted reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, facilitating the transition to climate neutrality. This process involves the efficient use of resources and necessitates systemic transformations across various sectors of the economy. For Latvia to achieve its climate neutrality objectives, it is essential to adhere to the principles of the bioeconomy, with a particular emphasis on the use of timber in construction. This approach combines opportunities for economic development with environmental protection, as timber is a renewable resource that contributes to carbon sequestration. The utilisation of timber in construction enables carbon storage within buildings and substitutes traditional materials such as concrete and steel, the production of which is highly energy-intensive and generates substantial CO₂ emissions. Consequently, timber use also reduces indirect emissions associated with the construction sector. The objective of this study is to identify the main barriers hindering the broader application of timber construction materials in Latvia’s building sector and to propose solutions to overcome these obstacles. The research tasks include an analysis of climate neutrality and construction targets within the EU and Latvia; an examination of the current situation and influencing factors regarding Latvia’s forest resources, their harvesting, processing, use in construction, and trade balance; and the identification of critical problem areas and the delineation of possible solutions. For theoretical and situational analyses, the authors employ methods such as scientific literature review, policy content analysis, descriptive methodology, statistical data analysis, and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data. The results are synthesised using PESTEL analysis, which serves as a continuation and elaboration of the initial SWOT analysis assessment and is visualised through graphical representation. The authors of this study participated in a national-level expert group whose members represented the Parliament of the Republic of Latvia, responsible ministries, forest managers, construction companies, wood product manufacturers, and representatives from higher education and research institutions. The following hypotheses are proposed and substantiated in this article: (1) Latvia possesses sufficient forest resources to increase the share of timber used in construction, (2) increasing the use of timber in construction would significantly contribute to both Latvia’s economic development and the achievement of climate neutrality targets, and (3) the expansion of timber use in the construction sector depends on a restructuring of national policy across multiple sectors. Suggested solutions include the improvement of regulatory frameworks for timber harvesting, processing, and utilisation in related sectors—agriculture and forestry, wood processing, and construction. The key challenges for policymakers include addressing the identified deficiencies in Latvia’s progress toward achieving its CO₂ targets, introducing qualitative changes in timber harvesting conditions, and amending regulations governing the forest management cycle accordingly. For timber processing companies, it is crucial to ensure stable conditions for their commercial activity. Promoting the use of timber in construction requires a broad set of changes in safety and financial regulations and procurement requirements. Timber construction is relevant not only in the building sector but also in civil engineering, and modifications and additions to educational programmes are necessary. The promotion of timber use among the wider public is of great importance. At all stages of timber processing—from harvesting to integration in buildings—access to financial resources should be facilitated. As numerous sectors of the national economy (agriculture, forestry, wood processing, construction, logistics, etc.) are involved in timber processing, interdisciplinary research is required to address complex challenges that demand expertise from multiple fields. Full article

The objective of this study was to analyze price variability and the factors influencing the formation of monthly prices of by-products of the wood industry in Poland between October 2017 and January 2025. The analysis considered the impact of economic variables, including energy commodity prices (natural gas and coal) and industrial wood prices, on the pricing of wood industry by-products. The adopted approach enabled the identification of key determinants shaping the prices of these by-products. The effectiveness of two tree-based regression models—Random Forest (RF) and CatBoost (CB)—was compared in the analysis. Although RF offers greater interpretability and lower computational requirements, CB proved more effective in modeling dynamic, time-dependent phenomena. The results indicate that industrial wood prices exerted a weaker influence on by-product prices than natural gas prices, suggesting that the energy sector plays a leading role in shaping biomass prices. Coal prices had only a marginal impact on the biomass market, implying that changes in coal availability and pricing did not directly translate into changes in the prices of wood industry by-products. The growing role of renewable energy sources derived from natural gas and wood biomass is contributing to the emergence of a distinct market, increasingly independent of the traditional coal market. In Poland, due to limited access to alternative energy sources, biomass plays a critical role in the decarbonization of the energy sector. Full article

Ecosystem services—the benefits humans derive from nature—are foundational to environmental sustainability and economic well-being, with carbon sequestration and storage standing out as critical regulating services in the fight against climate change. This study presents a comprehensive financial valuation of the carbon sequestration, storage and product substitution ecosystem services provided by the Hungarian forest-based sector. Using a multi-scenario framework, four complementary valuation concepts are assessed: total carbon storage (biomass, soil, and harvested wood products), annual net sequestration, emissions avoided through material and energy substitution, and marketable carbon value under voluntary carbon market (VCM) and EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) mechanisms. Data sources include the National Forestry Database, the Hungarian Greenhouse Gas Inventory, and national estimates on substitution effects and soil carbon stocks. The total carbon stock of Hungarian forests is estimated at 1289 million tons of CO₂ eq, corresponding to a theoretical climate liability value of over EUR 64 billion. Annual sequestration is valued at approximately 380 million EUR/year, while avoided emissions contribute an additional 453 million EUR/year in mitigation benefits. A comparative analysis of two mutually exclusive crediting strategies—improved forest management projects (IFMs) avoiding final harvesting versus long-term carbon storage through the use of harvested wood products—reveals that intensified harvesting for durable wood use offers higher revenue potential (up to 90 million EUR/year) than non-harvesting IFM scenarios. These findings highlight the dual role of forests as both carbon sinks and sources of climate-smart materials and call for policy frameworks that integrate substitution benefits and long-term storage opportunities in support of effective climate and bioeconomy strategies. Full article

This paper discusses the possibilities of using stump wood as a raw material for energy generation. The research was based on an analysis of the state of knowledge, forest field studies, and participatory observations. A formula was sought to optimise the procurement cost of stump wood appropriate to Polish conditions. Conceptualisation was carried out in a selected area of the Notecka Forest in the Wielkopolska region, located in western Poland. A pilot study was designed to test a computational formula to assess the profitability of harvesting wood from stump wood resources for energy generation. The potential of stump wood is estimated to be around half a million cubic metres per year from the Notecka Forest area alone. This resource provides an opportunity for business development in both forestry and the renewable energy sources (RESs) sector, despite the barriers and risks shown in this study. Full article

China’s timber market is very complex and heterogeneous, and is experiencing the impact of the construction of national reserve forests and the downturn in the real estate sector. By setting up a partial equilibrium model which reflects the heterogeneity of China’s wood market, not only difference among domestic timber groups can be identified, but the dissimilarity of imported timber can also be differentiated from the aspects of species and sources. This model is capable of capturing the effects of macroeconomic conditions, forestry sector policies, and trade cost variations on China’s timber market structure. According to simulations of supply shocks, China’s large-diameter log capacity enhancement will have a noticeable crowding-out effect on imported timber, suggesting the diameter of logs is an important factor for market entities to make trade-offs between domestic and imported timber. Amidst both supply and demand shocks, the equilibrium quantity changes in China’s domestic small-diameter logs and imported timber are dominated by demand shocks, whereas the equilibrium quantity change in China’s domestic large-diameter logs is dominated by supply shocks; moreover, only domestic large-diameter logs realize quantity increase in double shocks; this improves China’s domestic timber supply structure, and is a good example of “opportunities in crisis” in the face of negative demand shocks. Full article

Native forest timber supplies are declining, and industry needs to do more with less to meet growing demand for wood products. An Australian-based, vertically integrated timber manufacturing business is commissioning a spindleless lathe to produce engineered wood products from small logs. The literature on innovation in timber manufacturing was found to generally focus on technical innovation, with relatively little use of market-oriented concepts and theory. This was particularly true in the Australian context. Using a market-oriented case study approach, this research assessed innovation in the business. It aimed to inform industry-wide innovation approaches to meet market demand in the face of timber supply challenges. Interviews were conducted with key personnel at the firm. Data and outputs were produced to facilitate comparison to existing research and conceptual frameworks. The business was found to empower key staff and willingly access knowledge, information and data from outside its corporate domain. It was also found to prioritise corporate goals outside of traditional goals of profit and competitive advantage. This was shown to increase willingness to try new things at the mill and increase the chances that new approaches would succeed. Thinking outside of the corporate domain was shown to allow access to resources that the firm could not otherwise count on. It is recommended that wood processing businesses seek to emulate this element of the case study, and that academia and the broader sector examine further the potential benefits of using enterprise and market-oriented lenses to better utilise available resources and maintain progress towards corporate goals. Full article