Report on current and future trends in the use of wood and demand for wood and wood properties D3.1

Report on current and future trends in the use of wood and demand for wood and wood properties

We performed a systematic evidence synthesis to assess the current and future demand for forest ecosystem services, including wood products, in Europe. 

The studied papers were organized into the forest paradigms of Winkel et al. (2011) based on their geographic scope. 

We find that demand for both roundwood and bioenergy is likely to increase in the coming years. Looking at ecosystem services, a clear demand preference for mixed forest stands over monocultures was found. 

Secondly, we found a strong demand, based on willingness to pay, for regulating and maintaining services. Given the large geographical and structural diversity in Europe's forests, no one size fits all solution when it comes to forest management is appropriate. Therefore, a set of management options is likely needed to meet the future demands for all ecosystem services. 

Additionally, the growing demand for provisioning services, in particular bioenergy, might lead to conflicting management goals, especially when biodiversity and conservation are considered. Due to a lack of knowledge on the forest ecosystem, the general public has been found to hold contradicting views.

Oliver Truffer (ETH), Costanza Chimisso (KU Leuven), Tim Rowe (KU
Leuven), Kato Van Ruymbeke (KU Leuven), Tamaki Ohmura (ETHZ),
Eva Lieberherr (ETHZ), Liesbet Vranken (KU Leuven)