Celebrating wood:
Sustainable wood-based bioeconomy reception

This evening reception is a celebration of the extraordinary achievements to date and to inspire further cooperation in the global effort to foster the use of sustainable wood as a carbon-neutral material that offers solutions in the face of climate change.
 
A growing body of evidence and knowledge has shown that wood and non-wood forest products and their value chains provide substantial contributions to rural and urban livelihoods and directly contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including reaching climate and land degradation neutrality as well as biodiversity targets. Scaling up the sustainable use of wood as a carbon-neutral material in construction or for renewable energy has high potential to help build more resilient economies.
 
With high level speakers from governments, industry, the International Forestry Students Association and a spirit of celebration, the reception aims to strengthen the global dialogue on wood. 

Maria Helena Semedo
Deputy Director-General
FAO