Sustainable forest-based bioeconomy approaches

Rising demand and pressure

Global material use has nearly doubled in 50 years and may rise another 60% by 2060, with demand for forest products — wood, energy and non-wood forest products — expected to rise sharply by 2050.

Forest loss continues (100 million ha lost in 20 years) — planted forests help offset losses, but new planting is slowing while climate stressors intensify.

Climate and environmental importance

Forests store 662 billion tonnes of carbon and host 80% of terrestrial species — vital for climate stability and ecosystem resilience.

Wood products, when sourced sustainably, could store 1 billion tons of CO₂ per year by 2050 — equal to removing 200 million cars from the road.

The socioeconomic role of forests

Forests underpin more than half of global GDP through ecosystem services and support 75% of rural populations living within 1 km of a forest.

The forest sector contributes USD 1.52 trillion annually, employing at least 33 million people and providing food, fuel, and medicine for billions.

Food systems

Food systems occupy the biggest niche of the bioeconomy. In the European Union, for instance, food systems, including agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, as well as food and feed manufacturing, account for 71% of all value added in a bioeconomy, followed by around 28% for bio-products, and the remainder for bioenergy (Source).

Healthy and sustainable lifestyles

Growing interest among consumers in healthy and sustainable lifestyles has led to the exploration of bioactive compounds and nutritional attributes of different forest products to produce “nutraceuticals” as functional foods and alternative sources of ingredients (see pg. 28 of SOFO) on the use of indigenous plants for nutraceuticals, food additives, biopesticides, etc, and related discourse on access and benefit sharing.

Woodfuel and industrial roundwood

In East and Southern Africa, woodfuel accounts for an average of 94% and 52% of roundwood production respectively, with woodfuel production increasing by 9% and industrial roundwood production rising by 10% between 2013 and 2023. (FAOSTAT, 2025)

Wood energy

Around half of the wood extracted annually from forests worldwide (and roughly 90 percent in Africa) is used for energy purposes, providing basic energy services for cooking and heating to billions of people globally, particularly those living in sub-Saharan Africa.

Bioenergy

Modern types of woodfuel (e.g. wood pellets) have penetrated the international energy markets for industrial applications on commercial scale (e.g. cogeneration of heat and power and heating of buildings), demonstrated good potential of wood residues and sustainably produced woody biomass in the context of forest-based bioeconomy.

Opportunities in sustainable bioeconomy

Bioeconomy supports SDGs 12, 13, and 15, and is now a global priority (e.g., G20 Brazil 2024 high-level bioeconomy principles).

Sustainable forest-based bioeconomy approaches can boost biomass supply and innovation, supporting decarbonization across sectors (e.g. construction, textiles, energy, packaging), resource efficiency, new bioproducts, ecosystems, and local economies.