Working in (Slow) Progress: Socio-Environmental and Economic Dynamics in the Forestry Sector and the Contribution to Sustainable Development in Europe

Vito Imbrenda, Rosa Coluzzi (), Francesca Mariani, Bogdana Nosova, Eva Cudlinova, Rosanna Salvia, Giovanni Quaranta, Luca Salvati and Maria Lanfredi
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Vito Imbrenda: Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis, Italian National Research Council (IMAA-CNR), c.da Santa Loja snc, 85050 Tito, PZ, Italy
Rosa Coluzzi: Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis, Italian National Research Council (IMAA-CNR), c.da Santa Loja snc, 85050 Tito, PZ, Italy
Francesca Mariani: Department of Social and Economic Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Piazzale Martelli 8, 60121 Ancona, AN, Italy
Bogdana Nosova: Department of Social Communications, Institute of Journalism, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, 64/13 Volodymyrska Street, 01601 Kyiv, Ukraine
Eva Cudlinova: Department of Regional Management, Faculty of Economics, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Studentská 13, CZ-37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Rosanna Salvia: Department of Mathematics, Informatics and Economics, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano, 85100 Potenza, PZ, Italy
Giovanni Quaranta: Department of Mathematics, Informatics and Economics, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano, 85100 Potenza, PZ, Italy
Luca Salvati: Department of Methods and Models for Economics, Territory and Finance (MEMOTEF), Faculty of Economics, Sapienza University of Rome, Via del Castro Laurenziano 9, 00161 Rome, RM, Italy
Maria Lanfredi: Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis, Italian National Research Council (IMAA-CNR), c.da Santa Loja snc, 85050 Tito, PZ, Italy

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 13, 1-21

Abstract: Forest ecosystems are increasingly subject to disturbances, such as extreme (climate) events, fires and pathological outbreaks, which exert significant (and still poorly quantified) economic impacts, despite their intrinsic resilience. How forest management addresses these challenges will have profound effects on human health, environmental diversity, (ecological and economic) productivity and the ability of forest ecosystems to recovery from exogenous shocks. Assuming forests as ensuring ecosystem services that are vital to society and human well-being, in addition to providing wood material, a better knowledge of forest ecosystems appears a key requirement to delineate a developmental strategy that guarantees environmental protection objectives and achievement of climate and energy targets. In the context of Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, the information available on forest management practices in Europe still seems not completely suitable to provide a comprehensive overview of ecosystem conditions, their economic value, and their biodiversity. Based on a literature review, the present contribution focuses on recent dynamics of the forestry sector in Europe, delineating the inherent complexity in the environmental-economic nexus. Additionally, the extensive use of a key natural resource such as wood exerts social implications for local districts adapting to ecological change—from climate warming to landscape transformations. In line with earlier studies, our paper confirms the role of the technical-economic dimension of forestry in sustainable development paths of districts and regions, affecting together (i) short-term economic dynamics, (ii) the growth prospects of the sector, (iii) the organization of the supply chain, (iv) the interconnections between companies, and (v) investment strategies at large. One of the major issues is the low reliability of official statistics to provide a coherent picture of the actual status of forest resources. At the same time, forestry practices are pivotal in maintaining habitats and species while increasing the timber production that remains (too) sustainable. This is the policy direction constantly given by the European Commission to stimulate over time public bodies and private (in whose hands is about 60% of European forests) to start virtuous paths in the circular economy with considerable repercussions in terms of additional jobs, recycled materials, mt of CO 2 equivalent avoided, and increase in community added value. In this context, forestry should assure a more ‘holistic’ contribution to sustainable development paths at various spatial scales. This means concentrating on both economic and environmental targets based on the identification of significant (ecological-economic) dimensions that may delineate future lines of investigation and policy intervention, while increasing between member countries and regional authorities.

Keywords: natural resources; official statistics; wood; circular economy; European Union (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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