Special event
The contribution of a forest-based circular bioeconomy to sustainable development
To meet the sustainable development goals, we need to transition to a circular bioeconomy that is based on sustainably-sourced renewable bioresources . As our most important piece of biological infrastructure, forests are the main source of renewable biomaterials and bioenergies, and are central to realising the new and necessary paradigm of a circular bioeconomy. Rapid advances in science and technology offer potential for new sustainable business opportunities in a wide range of sectors, including construction, chemicals, transport, textiles, energy, and plastics. Public and private investments, and a mobilized financial system, will be required in order to accelerate and scale up these innovations into market solutions. An enabling regulatory framework, and a sustainable marketplace that generates long-term value through the balanced integration of natural, social and financial capital, will also be critical.
Objectives
This special session will showcase the key contributions that the forest sector provides to the sustainable circular bioeconomy, and identify options for upscaling actions to ensure an effective transition.
Keynote interventions
Forest-based bioeconomy at the heart of “building back better” policies
- Marc Palahí, Director of European Forest Institute, leader of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance: “The key transformational role of forests in moving towards a circular bioeconomy”
- Eduardo Mansur, Director, Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, FAO: “The FAO International Sustainable Bioeconomy Working Group and the forest sector: examples of countries transitioning to sustainable circular bioecomomy – Policy impacts to facilitate forest sector contribution to the process”
Mainstreaming forest circular bioeconomy in national and regional policies:
- Fernando Mattos, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries of Uruguay: “The sustainable bioeconomy agenda in Uruguay”
- Virginia Puzzolo, Head of Programme, Circular Bio-based Europe Join Undertaking: “Accelerating innovation and market deployment while ensuring high level of environmental performance – lessons learned from the BBI JU and future priorities for the new CBE JU”
Ted talks
Forest bioeconomy in practice – key messages from business
- Jane Molony, Executive Director of South-African Paper Manufacturers Association (pulp & paper)
- Mariana Royer, Bio Stratege, Guyana (cosmetics)
- Robert Leon, Arbiom (proteins for food and feed applications)
- Doris Wang, General Manager, Bambkin
- Stephane Hallaire, Founder and CEO, Reforest’Action
Panel discussion
Innovations for sustainable production and consumption – a snapshot from global multi-stakeholder initiatives promoting the transition to a circular bioeconomy
- Gijs Breukink, Sr. Advisor Responsible Forestry, WWF on “Forests and sustainable economic development, Landscape level multi stakeholder engagement”
- Jim Chamberlain on the IUFRO Task Force on “The contributions of Non-wood forest products to the bioeconomy”
- Sandra Afonso/Janaina Diniz, voluntary paper on “Challenges to boost the Brazilian Cerrado NTFP economy”
- Jörg Schweinle, voluntary papers on monitoring the Bioeconomy
- Mokena Makeka, Dalberg Advisor, Board member of the South Africa Green Building Council on “The potential of wood as construction material in Africa and worldwide“
Facilitated discussion
James Astill
Concluding remarks
Robert Nasi
