Working Group

Forest Bioeconomy

Vision

The forest bioeconomy sustainably mobilizes forest-based biological resources, ecosystem services, and knowledge to support circularity, decarbonization, and societal well-being, while maintaining forest ecosystem integrity within planetary boundaries.

The Forest Bioeconomy Working Group of the International Bioeconomy Forum advances this vision by convening governments and public research organizations worldwide to exchange knowledge, strengthen research and innovation, and support coordinated, evidence-based policy action. Through collaboration and shared learning, the Working Group helps position forests as a key contributor to the global transition toward a sustainable circular bioeconomy.

What we do

  • Share insights on forest-based solutions that contribute to global circular bioeconomy objectives.

  • Identify research, innovation, and policy needs across the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of the forest bioeconomy.

  • Connect forest policy with broader innovation, research, trade, rural development, and bioeconomy agendas.

Key Outputs

Publications

  • Policy paper supporting integration of forest-based perspectives into international bioeconomy processes, including the G20 High-Level Principles and FAO efforts

  • IBF Policy Brief: “Forests and the Circular Bioeconomy”.

Events and engagement with global partners

  • COLI Global Summit “Advancing Sustainable Forest-based Bioeconomy Approaches”, 23-25 February 2026, Vienna, Austria

  • Workshop at the Global Bioeconomy Summit 2026, 20-21 October 2026, Dublin, Ireland.

  • South African G20 Presidency.

Participants

European Forest Institute – EFI (co-Lead)

European Commission (co-Lead)

Canada

Ghana

Malaysia

Namibia

United Kingdom

Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry-CIFOR-ICRAF

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations-FAO