United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Forests, Land and Housing Division FORESTS Ivonne Higuero, Director 2017 SFI Annual Conference 29 September 2017, Ottawa, Canada
Agenda 1. The ECE and the FLH Division 2. The Forestry and Timber Section and its work 3. The Global Framework 4. Publication and Studies Selected Highlights 5. Looking ahead The Green Economy
Economic Commission for Europe was established in 1947 is one of five regional commissions is a multilateral platform which facilitates greater economic integration and cooperation among its 56 member States promotes sustainable development and economic prosperity 3
Forests, Land and Housing Division Forest, Land and and Housing Division One of six divisions of ECE two areas Housing and Land Management Unit Forestry and Timber Section Joint section with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 4
Housing & Land Management Unit The ECE Committee on Housing and Land Management works to promote energy efficient and adequate housing, including for those with special needs and vulnerable population groups compact, inclusive, resilient, smart and sustainable cities transparent and efficient land use, and property registration 5
Forestry and Timber Section Regional Scope The forest in the UNECE region covers: 41 % of the global total 85% certified area 60% industrial roundwood 6
Collaboration with FAO FORESTS Governance structure for the Integrated Programme of Work Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Executive Committee (EXCOM) Regional Conference for Europe (ERC) FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO) ECE/FAO Joint Section Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry (COFFI) European Forestry Commission (EFC) Joint Working Party on Forests Statistics, Economics and Management Team of Specialists (ToS) Working Party on the Management of Mountain Watersheds Reports to /Advises Provides guidance to Services Joint work=ipow Sustainable Forest Products Monitoring SFM Forest Policy Forest Sector Outlook Forest Communication Green Jobs Wood Energy Forest Products Statistics 7
Communication and Events Marianske Lazne +70: Celebrating 70 years of UNECE/FAO cooperation on forests LAS2017 - European Forest Week 2017 International Day of Forests 2017 Forests and Energy (2018: Forests and Sustainable Cities ) 8
The Global Framework UN Forum on Forests Strategic Plan on Forests Adopted in January 2017 Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030 (first ever) Global framework for actions at all levels to sustainably manage all types of forests 6 global goals and 26 associated targets to be achieved by 2030 concerning the following topics: Reversing the loss of forest cover Enhancing forest-based economic, social and environmental benefits Strategic Plan on Forests Increasing the area of protected forests Mobilizing new and additional financial resources Promoting governance frameworks for sustainable forest managements Enhancing cooperation, coordination, coherence and synergies 9
The Global Framework Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs 10
The Global Framework UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement A stand alone article on forests sends a strong political signal on the importance of ecosystems, in particular forests in implementing the new agreement Carbon sinks Forest Products Wood Energy A number of references to concepts from the existing Warsaw Framework on REDD+, and encouraging Parties to continue implementation of REDD+, joint mitigation and adaptation mechanisms and promote non-carbon benefit Outlook Studies of the Forestry and Timber Section better understanding of the relationships: FORESTS CLIMATE CHANGE 11
Publications and Studies 12
Forest Products Annual Market Review 13
Highlights of the latest publication Chapters 2016-2017 1 Overview of forest products markets and policies 2 Policies shaping forest products markets 3 Forest product trade restrictions affecting the UNECE region 4 Wood raw materials 5 Sawn softwood 6 Sawn hardwood 7 Wood-based panels 8 Paper, paperboard and woodpulp 9 Wood energy markets 10 Value-added wood products 11 Housing and construction 14
Highlights of the latest publication Forest Products Annual Market Review 2016-17 (not yet published) Highlights Chapter 2: Policies shaping forest products markets Transatlantic free trade: TTIP (negotiated) and CETA (approved by the EU parliament, to be ratified by Canada) should encourage the trade of value-added forest products, which are subject to tariffs of up to 10% US and Canada forest trade and policy: The US government announced proposed tariffs of 3-24% on imported lumber from Canada in April 2017 Green Building: The US Green Building Council reported that 84 projects have registered to use the new pilot credit in the LEED green building programme EU Forest Law Act: The EU Commission reported that 27 EU member countries have complied with obligations in the EU Timber Regulation to appoint competent authorities, establish penalties for nonconformance, and start carrying out controls of operator compliance Brexit: In value terms, the UK was the EU s second-largest importer of forest products in 2016 and its largest importer from non-eu countries. The introduction of new trade barriers may affect these trade flows 15
Highlights of the latest publication Forest Products Annual Market Review 2016-17 (not yet published) Highlights Chapter 11: Housing and construction General: European and North American house prices have recovered from the global financial crisis in 2008-2009 to the extent that in several countries there are concerns about rapidly rising house prices European Market: On a monetary basis, remodeling is the largest component of euroarea residential construction. New residential construction is forecast to grow at a faster rate than remodeling in the immediate future. Russia: Housing completions in the Russian Federation achieved a near-record level in 2015, with 286,129 new residential dwellings put in place US: All sectors of the US housing market improved in 2016. Beginner or starter housing remains weak, however, and the number of dwellings built is insufficient to match population growth Canada: Canada s economy improved in 2016 and is expected to continue to grow in 2017 and 2018. Forecasts suggest modest housing demand and starts in Canada in 2017 and 2018 16
Forest area certified by major certification schemes, 2006-2017 (multiple) Certification Single and multiple certification of forests in the world (2017) Single certified forests Multiple certified forests Million ha 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Share of certified forest area by region(2017) Oceania 6% CIS 14% Asia 4% Latin America 3% Africa 2% North America 49% FSC PEFC Europe 22% 17
Forest certification ML+70 Forest certification in the ECE region are there any limits? in Marianske Lazne (6 September 2017) : 18
Forest certification ML+70 Forest certification in the ECE region are there any limits? in Marianske Lazne (6 September 2017) some main items: Good forest legislation is key; Forest certification is voluntary and an important tool to certify that forests are managed sustainably; Multiple certification is taking place but not intentionally; Certification requirements seem to be very close to legislation in some countries; Certification is an important business to business tool; Certification could be an innovative tool that can serve many new services, such as: CO2, reporting on SDG s, UNFF goals, etc. 19
Forest certification ML+70 Forest certification in the ECE region are there any limits? in Marianske Lazne (6 September 2017) some recommendations: More data on certified forest products in the market needed (type of products, market shares, etc.); Improved communication and cooperation between PEFC and FSC; Make certification visible on wood products preferably on iconic, beautiful long lasting products. Participants called for reducing cost and administrative burden for small forest holders Empowerment of small forest holders is important Checklist and standard for stakeholders to be established Contractor certification 20
Sustainable Building Materials Promoting Sustainable Building Materials (published 09/2016) provides an overview of the current policy and regulatory environment regarding sustainable construction materials in the building sector in Europe and North America (where applicable) offers a commentary on the effectiveness of such regimes in driving the adoptions of wood products documents the current circumstances as a starting point for further discussions, technical meetings and policy debates Objective: promoting the use of wood in buildings through policy advice to member States 21
Looking ahead The Green Economy Forestry lies at the heart of green movement Section promotes use of wood based products for green construction and furniture Green economy opens up additional opportunities for growth and employment in the forest sector Rovaniemi Action Plan 22
Thank you! ivonne.higuero@unece.org FORESTS UNECE Housing and Land Management: www.unece.org/housing UNECE Forestry and Timber: www.unece.org/forests 23