This comprehensive study explores the multifaceted role of forests within the environment, economy, and society, with a specific focus on the ECE region. It begins by defining and presenting the global distribution of forests, followed by a detailed examination of their diverse biomes and typical forest types within the ECE region. The document tracks forest development, including area and growing stock dynamics, and highlights key tree species. It then delves into critical aspects such as the health and vitality of forests, their management practices (including ownership and functions), and their vital protective functions for both humans and the planet. Further sections are dedicated to the immense biodiversity found in ECE forests, their crucial role as carbon reservoirs in climate regulation, and their significant economic contributions through timber and non-wood forest products. Finally, the overview addresses the profound social dimensions of forests, recognizing their value for recreation and cultural heritage.

The study was developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in response to the request of the Republic of Moldova, to improve the forest reproductive material (FRM) sector in the Republic of Moldova. The study includes an overview of FRM production in selected European countries, assesses Moldova's FRM production capacity and identifies challenges such as outdated technology and labour shortages. It highlights the need for better nursery infrastructure, species diversification and strategic planning to meet targets set in the National Afforestation and Reforestation Programme (NARP). Centralizing FRM production, modernizing techniques and securing political support are critical to success. The study outlines concrete steps to improve the FRM sector, link it to NARP objectives, and ensure long-term sustainability through comprehensive planning and stakeholder engagement.

The Forest Products Annual Market Review 2023-2024 provides a comprehensive analysis of markets in the UNECE region and reports on the main market influences beyond the region. It covers products from the forest to the end user and from roundwood and primary processed products to value-added, housing and wood energy. Statistics-based chapters provide economic overview and policies review, analyse the markets for soft sawn wood, wood-based panels, pulp and paper, and wood energy. Underlying the analysis is a comprehensive collection of publicly available data. The Review highlights the role of sustainable forest products in international markets, discusses policies concerning forests and forest products, assesses the main trends and drivers, and analyses the effects of the current economic situation on forest product markets including on bioeconomy.

To ensure that critical information is available to all, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have summarized in this publication the main dynamics and significance of forest damage, and their reporting in the UNECE region. The publication invites readers to reflect on possible harmonized methodologies and reporting schemes. In this regard, it also underlines the collective effort that is essential for the forest sector. Real-world scenarios, such as the analysis of forest damage and disturbance data, require state-of-the-art techniques beyond the usual statistical evaluation. Innovative technologies highlighted in this publication such as remote sensing, artificial intelligence and machine learning will need to be integral parts of any advances in forest damage assessment. Reporting on forest damage is not just a technical exercise. It is a critical element of our shared commitment to biodiversity, climate resilience and livelihoods. Supporting comprehensive reporting will lay the foundation for safeguarding forest ecosystems for future generations. This publication is an important step towards improving international reporting on forest damage and the result of a collaborative effort of national and international experts, supported by the secretariat.

When it comes to sustainability and circularity, wood as a natural raw material has several advantages over other building materials. As a bio-based resource, it has considerable benefits concerning greenhouse gas emissions, carbon-storing, thermal insulation as well as human health and well-being compared to other construction materials. New types of wood products, being the result of extensive research, enable the extensive use of wood in tall buildings. At the same time, innovative wood products provide less manufacturing waste, low carbon-emission alternatives and store massive quantities of carbon while new technologies speed construction processes, promote energy efficiency and minimize waste. This study examines the benefits of wood as a construction material and discusses practices applied in the wood construction sector from the perspective of circularity, sustainability and climate change mitigation. It analyses how circularity concepts can be applied in the construction industry using different construction methods and at different stages of value chains. The study describes how different construction techniques and practices contribute to the renewal and sustainability of construction value chains. The analysis is supported by examples of good practice in UNECE member States.

Reporting on Forests and Sustainable Forest Management in the Caucasus and Central Asia provides an overview of status and developments in reporting on forests and sustainable forest management in five countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia (Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan). This reporting involves looking at forests in the context of the United Nations principles of sustainable development, recognizing the multiple roles forests play in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Criteria and indicators are tools used to define, guide, monitor and assess progress towards sustainable forest management that help our understanding and inform discussions about sustainable forest management. They operate at the global, regional, international, national, subnational, and even at forest management unit levels; and are a basis for informed decision making, establishing national forest policy and facilitating international reporting. A flexible framework of criteria and indicators helps to develop systems adjusted to the capacities, needs, and conditions in which they are applied. This publication provides information about the processes and results of national efforts in building criteria and indicator sets for countries of the region.

The Forest Sector Outlook 2020-2040 study for the UNECE region provides information that supports decision-making by showing the possible medium- and long-term consequences of specific policy choices and structural changes, using scenario analyses whenever possible. The study is the first to cover the entire UNECE region and provides results for the main UNECE subregions of Europe, North America and the Russian Federation.

This study examines forest ownership in the ECE region. Based on data on 35 countries, and the first to include all forest ownership categories, this study investigates the changing nature and patterns of forest ownership, the ways in which governance and social structures influence forest owners and users, as well as forest management. Within the limits of data availability and harmonization, the publication provides an overview of, and a new baseline for, understanding the diversity and dynamics of forest ownership in the ECE region.

The Forest Products Annual Market Review 2017-2018 provides a comprehensive analysis of markets in the UNECE region and reports on the main market influences outside the UNECE region. It covers the range of products from the forest to the end-user:from roundwood and primary processed products to value-added and housing. Statistics-based chapters analyse the markets for wood raw materials, sawn softwood, sawn hardwood, wood-based panels, paper, paperboard and woodpulp. Other chapters analyse policies, trade barriers affecting forest products, and markets for wood energy. Underlying the analysis is a comprehensive collection of data. The Review highlights the role of sustainable forest products in international markets. Policies concerning forests and forest products are discussed, as well as the main drivers and trends. The Review also analyses the effects of the current economic situation on forest products markets.

The objectives of this study are to further improve our understanding about the ways in which payments for ecosystem services schemes can be applied to forests, in particular focusing on forest’s hydrological functions for the mutual benefit of both humans and the environment. In addition, the study covers advances and challenges facing these schemes and provides practical guidance for policymakers and practitioners. This study contains the most comprehensive currently available database of case studies on forest-water related payment for ecosystem services schemes in the UNECE region.