WoodPop – Multilateral policy, knowledge and experience exchange between public and private actors from the wood sector

EUROPEAN WOOD POLICY PLATFORM (WOODPOP)

WoodPoP is an innovative policy dialogue platform which brings together all relevant actors to advance the sustainable use of wood. It develops wood-related policy solutions, measures and recommendations to strengthen wood-based circular bioeconomy.

What We Do

woodPoP provides a dedicated forum for multilateral policy, knowledge and experience exchange between public and private actors from the wood sector for developing policy solutions at national and regional level.

It focuses on developing frameworks for sustainable wood-based value chains and their contribution to an innovative, circular bioeconomy.

develops wood-related policy solutions, measures and recommendations and shapes the frameworks for sustainable wood-based value chains.

amplifies the visibility of wood as key driver for inclusive green growth.

creates joint understanding and actions on efficient, future-oriented wood-based pathways.

scales up cooperation and joint activities on effective wood policy development and implementation in the pan-European region.

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participating pan-European countries

Structure and activities

The European Wood Policy Platform (woodPoP), currently reunites 100 governmental representatives from 27 Pan-European countries as well as around 150 different experts from stakeholder organisations, research and industry.

High Level Meeting (HLM)

High Level Meeting (HLM) is the main decision-making body.

It is attended by delegations from Pan- European ministries led by high-level government officials (for instance Ministers, Secretaries of State, Director Generals, Directors) as well as regional and stakeholder organisations and observers.

Expert Group Meeting (EGM)

The Expert Group Meeting (EGM) is the main forum for exchange on an operational level.

National and regional ministries and private sector, representatives from stakeholder, research, as well as regional organizations and networks participate in the meeting.

Technical Working Groups (TWG)

Technical Working Groups (TWG) develop recommendations and policy solutions on specific subject matters. (see below)

Participation is open to representatives from public and private sector, interest groups, research organizations and networks, government officials and invited experts.

Informal Steering Group (ISG)

The Informal Steering Group (ISG) is composed of representatives of interested governments at working level for an initial duration of three years. Co-Leads of the Technical Working Groups and their mandated organisations are Members.

The current Members are: Austria, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Norway, Lithuania and Estonia. Other countries can express their interest to join the ISG and are invited to do so.

Secretariat

The woodPoP Secretariat runs the operational work on a day-to-day basis. It supports organization of meetings and serves as contact point for interested participants and the public sector.

Since December 2023, the Secretariat is hosted in International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO).

Focus Areas

Technical Working Groups (TWG) develop joint activities, recommendations and policy solutions on specific matters.

Participation is open to representatives from public and private sector, interest groups, research organizations and networks, government officials and invited experts.

Technical Co-Leads

Georg Rappold and Lisa Lehner, Division wood-based value chain, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management, Austria

Governance

Wood policy formulation and implementation, wood – related policies

Presentations from national wood policy programs and initiatives on 13 September 2023
Special meeting on Wood Governance in Europe and beyond on 29 November 2023
2024: Update of the Study on Wood Policy in Europe, Organisation of a Wood Policy Lab ‚Developing key messages for policy-makers for Designing and Implementing National Wood Policy Programmes‘

Technical Lead

Martin Behrens, EU and International Affairs, Agency for Renewable Resources, Germany

Building

Use of wood in construction and green public procurement

Workshop on fire regulation in wooden building on 3 December 2023
2024: Subgroup on public procurement

Technical Lead

Alfred Kammerhofer, Section Forest and Timber, Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), Switzerland

Innovation and Research

Research initiatives

Questionaire on national research initiatives
2024: Innovation mapping and Workshop on wood research and innovation

Technical Co-Leads

Sarko Sajko, Wood Industry Directorate, Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport and Andreja Kutnar, InnoRenew CoE, Slovenia

Education and Vocational Training

Qualifications along the wood-based value chain

Country survey on educational program, focus interdisciplinary training and attractiveness
2024: Support the development of micro credentials on wood, and its use EQF Timber