Forest Products Markets in Western European Urbanized Society;the Dutch experience

Nico A. Leek, Consultant wood market

IUFRO Division 5, Taiwan 2007

http://www.pbase.com/glazemaker/landschap

http://www.pbase.com/glazemaker/landschap

Introduction

• Changes & developments in the roundwood supply and demand in Western Europe

• Illustrated by the Dutch situation

• The Netherlands is a consumer country:consumption 14 million m3 RWEproduction 1 million m3

• In urbanized societies Agriculture, Forestry and Nature conservation strongly influenced by “urban votes”

Introduction

• Wood Supply influenced by increasing demand for more natural forests

• International NGO’s and government have pushed the forest certification process for SFM and recently for legal origin increased demand for Certified Wood Products (CWP)

North Western Europe

Source: Nota Ruimte 2006

The Dutch Forest

13% 2%13%

10%62%

Infrastructure and building

Recreation areas

Forest and nature areas

Water

Agriculture

Source: CBS

Land use in The Netherlands

The Dutch Forest

Characteristics:

• Total area 360,000 ha

• Relative young

• Fragmented woodlots

• Species composition:coniferous 54%broadleaves 46%

Source: SBB

Population density

 

484 The Netherlands

246 United Kingdom

231 Germany

110 France

31 USA

20 Sweden

3 Canada

The Dutch Forest

Forest area per inhabitant:

NL 0,022 hectare

UK 0,4 ,,

SW 3,1 ,,

Forest Management

Changes in Forest Management since 1980:

Before: wood production dominant with monocultures and clearcut management in relative young forests

After: Focus on natural processes for more natural variety and improved recreational experience

Forests exclusively for Nature Development and Forests for Multiple Use

Nature Forest Management

• Originally started with non-intervention

• Later on interventions aiming at nature development: > grazing by cattle > simulating storms (& wind damage)> more dead trees> more veteran trees

• In principle management without commercial wood harvesting

Nature Forest Management

Nature Forest management

Nature Forest Management

Integrated Forest Management (IFM)

IFM transforms the Dutch multiple use forests from even-aged single species plantations into small scale mixed, uneven-aged forests with native spp

Wood production of minor importance

Wood harvesting = management tool

Integrated Forest Management

IFM characteristics:

• Selective thinnings, no clearcuts

• Natural regeneration

• Uneven-aged and mixed

• More native, especially deciduous spp

• More dead wood (standing and on the ground)

• Large Dimensioned Trees

Integrated Forest Managementconiferous groupplanting in beech

Integrated Forest Management‘before and after’

Integrated Forest Managementdead wood

Integrated Forest Management‘before and after’

Dutch Forest Policy

“Nature for people, people for nature” 2001, confirms the trends in Dutch forestry:

• Forestry embedded in the Dutch nature conservation policy

• The recent policy supports SFM and strives at 70% of the forest area for multiple-use, 30% for Nature conservation (without wood harvesting)

• Wood harvesting: relevant in relation with SFM and as a part of multiple-use forests; harvest not allowed during nesting-season (from mid March up to July)

Wood Harvesting

Results of 25 years of IFM:

• Improved ecology and nature values, increased variation in forest structure

• Improved recreational benefits, nicer forests

• BUT: wood production and wood harvesting in secondary position

Wood Harvesting

How to create better opportunities for timber harvesting?

The Dutch Forest Based Industries sounded the alarm bell: going East or is there still a future?

Together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality a VISION ON TIMBER HARVESTING was set up tostimulate the use of wood from Dutch woodlands (a set of actions)

Similar trends in Germany: in different Bundeslander cluster studies show the importance of the Forest-Wood chain for the German economy

Forest Certification

Sustainable Forest Management:

• Certification is an effective instrument to communicate about sound Forest Management including wood harvesting

• Sustainability not only implies care for social and environmental aspects but also economic profitability timber harvesting is very crucial

• In NL 140.000 hectares = 40% of the area

Certified Wood Products (CWP)

• Strong support for FSC by NGO’s and politicians

• The Netherlands: a FSC-country; FSC is known by 67% of the public!

• Increasing demand for Certified Wood Products stimulated by FSC and NGO’s

• Dutch Forest Based Industries: not only FSC but also PEFC, CSA, SFI, MTCC….

Certified Wood Products

Source: Probos 2006

Certified Wood Products

Dutch Timber Traders Association:

• In 2009 the origin of all the wood imported by their members is known

• In 2009 75% of the wood imported by their members is from certified forests

Dutch Public Procurement Policy:

• In 2010 public authorities will buy 100% CWP

• Similar developments in UK, Germany, Denmark and Belgium

How to stimulate wood harvesting?

• The Forest Based Industries should consolidate SFM and legal origin in the market (SFM legitimates wood harvesting)

• Acceptation by managers and forest owners that wood harvesting is an effective tool to enhance biodiversity values

• Better cooperation between forest owners; offering “full service contracts” for carrying out timber harvesting operations

Wood for Renewable Energy

Immense additional demand for woody biomass in 2020:

NL: 14 million m3

EU: 340 – 420 million m3

200 – 260 million m3 deficit = 25% of forecasted demand (EU study McKinsey, 2007)

Wood for Renewable Energy

McKinsey study:

To ensure enough supply of biomass, Europe will have to significantly stimulate biomass production and imports:

• Free up land for energy crop production

• Maximize mobilization of wood

• Facilitate overseas supplies

Great impacts on European agriculture, forestry and environmental policies.

Conclusions I

• Society in Western Europe demands for more ‘Nature’ in the forest

• Area of forest NOT available for wood harvesting will increase

• Area of forest that is not producing for the market needs will increase

• Wood consumption will strongly increase, especially for RES significant deficit is expected

Conclusions II

• The Netherlands:- is a large importer- own resource restricted and limited

- BUT 2,5 million m3 increment can contribute substantial in improving self sufficiency- HOWEVER increasing wood harvesting is complex

• Great need to reposition the role of wood harvesting in Nature Oriented Forest Management.

Thanks for your attention