PROSPECTS FOR THE MARKET SUPPLY OF WOOD AND OTHER FOREST PRODUCTS AREAS WITH FRAGMENTED FOREST OWNERSHIP STRUCTURES (Forest Policy Workpackages)

Tender No AGRI-2008-EVAL-11 PROSPECTS FOR THE MARKET SUPPLY OF WOOD AND OTHER FOREST PRODUCTS FROM AREAS WITH FRAGMENTED FOREST OWNERSHIP STRUCTURES (Forest Policy Workpackages) The Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission is the commissioning body of this study. The study should improve the Commission's understanding of the appropriate measures for potentially increasing the market supply of wood and other forest biomass1 from the areas with fragmented forest ownership structures. The results of this study will also be used for the implementation of the EU Forest Action Plan. The main objective of this study is to identify the most appropriate measures for increasing the market supply of wood and other forest biomass from the areas where forests are held by many individuals owning relatively small parcels of forest. The main question asked is: how to achieve an increase in wood output of EU forests, while respecting the principles of sustainable forest management? The purpose of the study is to analyse the conditions under which fragmented ownership can hamper placement of wood on the market and propose solutions to overcome the obstacles for wood mobilisation.