This workshop, to be held in Geneva, will cover three main topics: non-tariff measures, tariff measures, and subsidies. The UNECE Timber Committee in 2009 called for a “multi-stakeholder workshop in 2010, dedicated to tariff and non-tariff trade barriers and emerging trade regulations on timber”. An announcement and programme are available. Further information and a registration form can be found 
here.
This one-day workshop, co-organized with the Economic Research and Statistics Division of the WTO will be held just before the meeting of the FAO/UNECE Working Party on Forest Economics and Statistics
UNECE launches data collection on pan-European forests
The UNECE/FAO Timber Section has just launched its periodic enquiry on the state of forests and forest management in Europe. National correspondents from 46 countries in the pan-European region were invited to provide information on the status and changes of forests, their management and applied policies. Indicators monitored cover forest health and vitality, productive functions, the protection of biodiversity and the protective functions as well as the social and economic dimensions of forest management. For more information please see the 
press release, the enquiry web page or email 
fra timber
Workshop on Corporate Social Responsibility, Belgrade, Serbia, 13-14 April
Working with the State University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry and the UNIDO-supported regional project on CSR competence, the UNECE/FAO Timber Section will hold a workshop on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Belgrade, Serbia on 13 & 14 April 2010. Targeted at the forest and wood processing/manufacturing sectors throughout the western Balkans, the workshop will introduce the concept and raise awareness of CSR. Speakers from the region and beyond will outline their experience of CSR and how it has benefited their companies or organizations. There will also be opportunity for participants to highlight what aspects of CSR are of most relevance to their sector in the western Balkans and to explore what companies may already be doing.
Attendance is limited to 70 persons. For more information please follow this link or contact Douglas Clark or Prof. Branko Glavonjic.
Now Available, Russian Language Version Forest Products Annual Market Review 2008-2009
Русская языковая версия Ежегодного обзора рынка лесных товаров за 2008-2009 годы теперь доступна здесь
Over the last ten years, China has moved from being a modest player in the world’s forest products markets, to becoming one of the leading exporters of manufactured forest products and a major trading partner of both Europe and North America. This is one of the main findings of the UNECE/FAO publication, “The Importance of China’s Forest products Markets to the UNECE Region” released today. China’s forest sector accounted for some 4.8% of total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2008.
For more information please consult the press release.
The workshop, "Policy Options for Wood Energy ", established a platform for sharing information on wood energy in the western Balkans that it is hoped will serve as a springboard for future cooperation. A number of country reports provide a good picture of the current situation as well as indicating future potential. Participants valued the opportunity to exchange ideas, identify common issues and begin to map a way forward for wood energy to play a more prominent role in a region heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, yet with a significant productive forest area. An important hurdle to overcome is the perception of wood as an outdated, inefficient source of energy when in fact, using well-dried wood in modern equipment allows up to 90% of the energy content to be recovered and results also in significant emission reduction.The pace of change has been rapid and there have been important new developments, several of which were highlighted during the course of the workshop. The report of the meeting, including conclusions and five recommendations, recognises the need for improved information and for concerted action at the political level, if wood energy is to achieve its full potential. A press release is also available here.
UNECE Timber Committee Week, 12-16 October 2009
- UNECE Region Forest Products Markets Forecast to turn up in 2010 – Is this the start of a recovery?
The Timber Committee met from October 13 - 16 with the following outcomes:
- UNECE/FAO Green building workshop on “Responding to Climate Change: Wood’s place in a global approach to green building”
- Market discussions on “UNECE region forest products markets in a global economic crisis”
- Press Release (French)
- Market Statement (French)
- Forecast Tables (2009-2010)
- Policy Forum - “The forest sector in the green economy”
More information, as well as the presentations, can be found at the UNECE Timber Committee Week web page
Forest Products Annual Market Review, 2008-2009 now available
UNECE/FAO Forest Products Annual Market Review, 2008-2009, is now available online. The publication provides general and statistical information on forest products markets and related policies in the UN Economic Commission for Europe region (Europe, North America and the Commonwealth of Independent States). Theme for the 2008-2009 edition is “Forest products markets in a global economic crisis”. To access the publication and related detailed statistics, click here. To read the Press Release (available in EN, FR and RU), click here.