Identifying Green Jobs in the Forest Sector, a UNECE/FAO/ILO Team of Specialists initiative

Transcription

1 Identifying Green Jobs in the Forest Sector, a UNECE/FAO/ILO Team of Specialists initiative Diarmuid McAree, Deputy Leader ToS Forestry Consultant & Advisor

2 What has been done so far? Workshop on Threats to the Sustainability of the Forest Sector Workforce. 17 th March 2015, Geneva Team meetings, workshops and side events at international conferences. Analysis of existing reports and case studies including an evaluation of current situation regarding green forest jobs. Elaboration of a draft report: thematic areas & identified fields of action; further exploration. Questionnaire on Green Forest Jobs.

3 What is a green forest job? A green forest job complies with the principles of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), contributes to the green economy, and is involved in the value chain of forest products and/or in the performance of forest services. Nothing is more empowering than having a job.

4 Goals & tasks Advise and support the secretariat on the implementation of the ECE/FAO Integrated Programme on employment-related issues such as jobs, required competencies and education and training for the forestry sector in the context of the green economy.

5 Goals The general goal of the ToS activities is to identify and list the existing and especially potential new green jobs in the forestry sector. We welcome the assistance and cooperation of our Forest Europe colleagues in identifying potential and actual green forest jobs.

6 Green forest jobs and its context Wood and energy production Existing jobs Regional & landuse development Social and urban development New jobs Biodiversity and forest protection Forestry Health and recreation Education and knowledge transfer 7 thematic areas now: forest management and inventory

7 Thematic area: Biodiversity & Forest Protection Example / Field of activityforest Protection & Contingency Planning Forest fire control. Global warming/climate change is creating major challenges. Forest contingency planners need to think global and will have to develop and implement new insect & disease management strategies. Forest protection and contingency planning Skills, Expertise and Green Forest Professions Forest fire control specialists Forest pathologists and entomologists. Specialists in laboratories for analysis. Specialists on forest disease and insect identification. Specialist on surveying, monitoring and control.

8 Forest protection Pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) poses a major threat to European forests. o Control measures against this dangerous pest and its insect vectors will provide new green jobs in the forest protection sector. The Asian longhorn beetle (ALB) [Anoplophora glabripennis] poses a similar threat. o Controlling it also provides an opportunity for job creation.

9 Thematic area: Biodiversity & Forest Protection Example / Field of activity: Mycoforestry The forest mycelium is a biomolecular superhighway. o www. wood wide web (communicating with its environment). Ecosystem hydrology Integrated constructed wetlandsenhanced water quality by judicious tree planting in riparian zones for flood control. Working with mycorrhizal fungi in forests opens up different fields such as mycoremediation and biological control by utilising mycorrhizal benefits and interactions. Myco-forestry Skills, Expertise and Green Forest Professions Mycology researchers. Specialists in mycology laboratory diagnostics. Forest mycologists, specialists in fungal taxonomy. Specialists in Mycoremediation and biological control. Managers of fungal forests.

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11 Thematic area: Wood & Energy Production Example / field of activityenergy Production Energy production In 2015, forest based fuels provided enough woodbased energy to heat 2 million homes in Sweden. In 2015, district heating satisfied about 60% of the heat demand in Swedish buildings. Today, more than two thirds of the heat supply to the district heating systems is based on biomass and waste. Biomass alone accounts for 50% of the heat supply. A new integrated work perspective: excellent logistic abilities and negotiating skills will be required! Skills, Expertise and Green Forest Professions Forest energy producers Specialist s in biomass marketing and logistics Experts in energy wood procurement Experts in trade and communication Forest entrepreneurs and operators

12 Thematic area: Education & Knowledge Transfer Example / Field of activityforest Education Forest education should be a hands-on exciting learning experience. Forest certification training. Germany: o More than 1,000 forest kindergardens. o In excess of 300,000 people per annum take forest excursions in Bavaria. Forest educators need additional training on how to best transfer their knowledge and on how to improve their communication skills. Education Skills, Expertise and Green Forest Professions Teachers in the forest University lecturers, forest instructors Forest interpreters Forest guided walk leaders Nature study and outdoor pursuits professionals Carbon accounting * Curriculum development

13 Thematic area: Regional & Landuse Development Example / Field of activitymountain Forestry Swiss mountain forests protect in excess of 130,000 buildings and 1,000s of kilometres of roads & tracks from natural disasters. o This includes land slide and avalanche. o 49% of Swiss forests are managed as protection forests with special management restrictions. Risk management will be one of the main tasks for mountain foresters to consider including: o Risk analysis, valuation and action planning. Mountain forestry Skills, Expertise and Green Forest Professions Mountain forestry specialists Specialists in the management of natural hazards Soil bio-engineers

14 Thematic area: Social & Urban development Example / Field of activityurban Forestry The > 70,000 trees of Melbourne city are valued at $650 million. o These includes health, amenity and microclimate benefits. Abatement of air pollution, noise reduction, the creation of urban forests and neighbourwoods. Urban foresters have to handle the special needs & demands of urban society as well as the special needs of urban trees associated with harsh and extreme growing conditions. Urban forestry Skills, Expertise and Green Forest Professions Urban foresters Forest landscape gardeners Urban forest planners / Green urban Infrastructure Managers Multiple use forestry skills

15 Thematic area: Health & Recreation Example / Field of activityrecreation, leisure and sports In 2013, 447 million day visits were made to forests in the UK. This trend is increasing. Recreation, leisure and sports Skills, Expertise and Green Forest Professions In excess of 650 forest recreation sites are provided in Great Britain. Working in this field, one is responsible for balancing forest and visitor needs and engaging in important public relations, information & communications work. Recreation foresters Forest rangers Forest tourist guides Outdoor pursuits & activity organisers Multiple-use forestry experts

16 Thematic area: Health & Recreation Example / Field of activityforest Ecotherapy Forests act as an antidote to stress. o More than 44 accredited forest ecotherapeutic areas are operated in Japan. - They are spreading all over the world. In Ireland foresters and ecotherapists are promoting the non-timber forest health benefits (of forests) by combining new forest health research with a basic knowledge of medical issues. Forest ecotherapy Skills, Expertise and Green Forest Professions Research and dissemination of knowledge about forest healing effects. Forest ecotherapists Medical doctors working in forest therapy centres Sports professionals, forest health coaches Forest educators and guided walks leaders

17 Contribution of Green Forest Jobs to achieve the SDG: two examples 3 Good Health and Well-Being Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. promote the huge physical and physiological health benefits of forests and provide appropriate facilities to achieve these objectives. 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities Make cities and human settlements more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. promote and manage green infrastructures and urban forests within cities for a better quality of life.

18 Trends in the forest sector Over the period , employment in the forest sector in the ECE region decreased. o UNECE and FAO (2015). Over the period , the contribution of the forest sector to GDP (gross domestic product) decreased from 1.2% to 0.8% from (374 Bill. $ to 286 Bill. $) in ECE o UNECE and FAO (2015). Reported employment of traditional forestry jobs The number of forest-related public employees reported in 2014 was around 14% lower than that reported in o FOREST EUROPE (2015).

19 Towards a green economy From , employment in the environmental goods and service sectors in the EU increased from 3 to 4.2 million. o This includes an increase in employment of 20% during the recession years - It is estimated that Natura 2000 sites support 8 million new jobs. Driven by tourism and recreation. This is 6% of total employment in the EU. o Further green jobs will be created in the future. - European Commission (2014). The importance of forests for recreation, cultural values and energy production is increasing. o FOREST EUROPE, UNECE and FAO (2011).

20 In search of a reliable basis next steps Joint co-operation with Forest Europe. Enhancing the European Think Tank on future Green Jobs. Workshop in June With that in mind we are aiming at: Identifying and listing the existing and especially the potential new Green Forest Jobs in the forest sector. By the end of 2017: first recommendations will be presented to the Member States (end of the mandate). Beyond the Mandate Developing indicators and a statistical foundation for new Green Jobs in the Forest Sector?

21 Expected major outputs / ToS deliverables Undertake periodic surveys of major trends & challenges associated with the sustainable forest workforce (among the team members representing the member states and related bodies). Organise trend scenario workshops on the future forest workforce. Produce policy briefs outlining rationales for choosing particular workforce policy strategies. Publish reviews and recommendations addressing main forest sector workforce issues developed in close cooperation with other issuerelated Teams of Specialists and related bodies. Presentation of these outcomes at the yearly meeting of the Working Party and at the COFFI.

22 Green Forest Jobs have the potential to link the green economy with Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) in a modern globalised world of continuous change! Recommendations: October 2017 (Poland). Green Forest Jobs Implementation 2018.

23 Thank you - Go raibh maith agaibh - Ďakujem T: E: dtmcaree@hotmail.com