Forest Producer Organisations

Economic viability is a key pillar of sustainable forest management. It plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy and productive forests which provide multiple benefits. In Europe, this relies on millions of private forest owners and forest-related enterprises that are facing shifting market conditions. In many cases the forests provide an additional income as part of the livelihood for these families. CEPF supports the economic cooperation among European forests. It is rapidly becoming one of the major tasks for CEPF in looking after the forest owners’ organisations interests.

A Network of European forest managers and wood suppliers

In Europe, a variety of organisations exist, all aiming at gathering private forest owners together in order to develop their forest related economic activities. Forest producer organisations and owner cooperatives  comprising a broad concept of support for such actions. The main goal of this development is the mobilisation of the family forests’ potential and effective use of these existing resources in order to secure economic benefits for the members.

Forest owners’ economic cooperation:
- strongly contributes to sustainable forest management among forest owners across Europe
- improves competitiveness and secures an efficient and stable wood supply
- provides economies of scale and increases cost efficiency in strengthening the overall competitiveness of the  sector and forest based industry
- motivates small forest owners for actively engaging in the wood supply chain
- offers favourable conditions for developing stronger economic cooperation among forest owners

Forest producer organizations were defined more precisely at the 1st Seminar held on 25th – 27th September in France (see attachment). 

Accommodating to the needs on wood mobilisation in Europe

Forest producer organisations are an important tool in fulfilling the wood mobilisation goals set by the EU Forest Strategy (link) and Forest Action Plan. The need for increased production and use of biomass in line with the currently negotiated directive on Renewable Energy Sources also requires additional activities by forest owners. Provided that favourable working conditions are secured, European forests owners are ready to meet the challenges and to increase the sustainable harvest of growing forest resources.

Through the mobilisation of wood, an increased production of forest biomass and the use of forests and wood based products, the forest sector contributes to the most efficient and “green’ solution for:
- mitigation of climate change
- reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, thus helping countries to meet their targets
- securing the raw material supply and competitiveness of the forest based industry

Strengthened organisation and cooperation of forest owners will lead to improved wood mobilisation and increased production of forest biomass in Europe. This in turn will lead to an increased income for forest owners.

Cooperatives Working Group 

CEPF plays a leading role in the development of forest producer organisations. Through its Cooperatives Working Group it enables a regular exchange of experiences and increase of know-how.

The main tasks of the working group are: 
- to address the main obstacles in improving the cooperation among forests owners
- to build an active network in order to strengthen practical and economic cooperation
- to promote the formation and development of forest owners’ co-operatives at country level
- to unite political and economic forces
- to promote economically sustainable forestry

In 2008 CEPF conducted a study in eleven countries in order to provide insight to the existing structures of cooperation. The lack of knowledge on these has been apparent.

• Forest Owner Cooperation: Main facts, figures, aims and goals
  (see attachment). 

Further assessment of forest owners’ economic organisations, their structure, main features and functioning in each country are issues on the agenda of the CEPF Working Group.

• CEPF Cooperatives’ Working Group Work Plan 2008/09 (see attachment).
  
  

Wood Availability Action Plan 

The CEPF Wood Availability Action Plan sets priorities for common action towards increased wood mobilisation in Europe.The CEPF - Cooperatives’ Working Group provides ideas on how the forest producers can increase their net income through sustainable forest management practices.

The Action Plan is an open-ended document which will be updated as CEPF and the Cooperatives’ Working Group progress in their work.

• Wood Availability Action Plan
  February, 2009