Home Events Planning for the long term—for tomorrow’s bioeconomy
Planning for the long term—for tomorrow’s bioeconomy

Planning for the long term—for tomorrow’s bioeconomy

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  • Future service provided by the forest: giving equal weight to ecological, economic and social aspects
  • Efficient production and provision of wood as a raw material still necessary
  • Research into the role of wood and the use of wood in economies in the program of presentations

Forestry has many levers and long planning periods, which is why all the parties involved in the forest and wood value chain have already been discussing potential solutions to the numerous new challenges resulting from climate change and its consequences for years. The growing importance of the forest for society adds further to the pressure to succeed. As a leading trade fair, INTERFORST 2022, being held in Munich from July 17 to 20, offers a host of solutions for each individual step in forest management right up to wood recycling for a forward-looking approach to forest management.

Josef Ziegler, President of the Bayerischer Waldbesitzerverband (Bavarian Forest Owners Association) comments: “Forest owners face huge challenges. We urgently need innovations and solutions to be able to make the necessary adjustment and restructure our forests successfully. Our forests do a lot for society and, among other things, also make an indispensable contribution to climate protection. INTERFORST 2022 is an important meeting place for the forest industry. I am delighted that we can use the trade fair this year again to share expertise on a broader scale and one on one.”

Forests and forestry in climate change

Storms, beetle infestation and drought are the consequences of advancing climate change that can currently be seen everywhere. One thing is clear to all the experts: Forests need to be adapted to the developments as part of active and sustainable management. This involves considering all forest functions and looking decades into the future. Forests will only be able to continue to provide their services in future as usual for all citizens if we succeed in giving equal weight to the ecological, economic and social aspects.

Alongside natural rejuvenation, planting and sowing new tree species will be necessary to create climate-stable forests. But it will take more than a forward-looking selection of new tree species. Innovations for planting, young stock care, and thinning are just as much key topics for the INTERFORST exhibitors as are careful use of machinery and soil protection.

It will be possible to reevaluate certain issues through digitalization, such as forecasts on the health and growth of the forest that will enable players in the industry to respond even quicker to changing conditions.

Usage concepts and new solutions

To successfully develop the bioeconomy, it is of crucial importance that efficient production and provision of wood as a raw material is and remains possible. Ideally, this not only takes the other various forest functions into account but does so in such a way as to support the overall capacity of the forest. The integrative approach of multifunctional forestry is a true recipe for success. At INTERFORST 2022, exhibitors will therefore also be showing machinery and equipment, as well as complete system solutions for forest regions that are difficult to access, for tree care in recreational forests, and for landscape conservation in nature reserves.

The bioeconomy offers great opportunities, so it stands to reason that the issue currently on the minds of many experts is what roles wood and the use of wood will play in future in economies. Current research and development work is therefore focusing on which new options beyond energetic use or use as a building material it will still be possible to exploit.

INTERFORST offers important information and discussion opportunities on this in its supporting program. Important aspects will be highlighted in presentations by experts from the Thünen Institute for Forestry at the congress in Hall B6: On July 19, Dr. Sebastian Glasenapp from the Thünen Institute will provide information about “Wood Use in Germany”, and on Wednesday, July 20, the head of the institute Prof. Matthias Dieter will speak on “Mobilization for raw materials for the bioeconomy”. At the forum, also in Hall B6, the climate change / silviculture section on July 18 will offer inspiration for future planting strategies with presentations on ordering plants, planting and planting methods. On the Green Couch in Hall B6, Dr. Norbert Schäffer, Chairman of the Bavarian Regional Society for the Protection of Birds, Georg Schirmbeck, President of the German Forestry Council, and Dr. Peter Pröbstle, Head of the Bavarian State Institute for Forestry and Forest Management will discuss the topic “Forest nature conservation with a future” on July 20.

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