ToS on Green Jobs
Meeting of the Team of Specialists on Green Jobs in the Forest Sector (Joint ILO/ECE/FAO Expert Network) 13-14 October 2014, Bern, Switzerland
The team meeting was organised by Andreas Bernasconi (Switzerland). The following team members participated at the meeting: Josef Herkendell (Germany), Diarmuid McAree (Ireland), Christian Salvignol (France), Elina Warsta (UNECE-FAO).
Management Summary By October 2016 the different areas of potential green jobs in the forest sector will be identified, assuring four main deliverables (1) newsletters, (2) handbook with recommendations (3) seminars, (4) workshops: * involving most of the UNECE-countries, * targeted and reviewed on a yearly basis * working with a guaranteed budget of 110,000 Euro (total to be confirmed), * this will be implemented through existing networks & education systems by partly covering the ongoing processes and situations in the different regions/nations. ______
1. Introduction
Goals of the meeting Having a common understanding about our ToS-outcomes 2016/17 (and beyond …). Developing a strong idea and concept of “ Green Forest Jobs”.(GFJs)
Expected Outputs/Results Meeting summary (this report) “Landscape of Green Forest Jobs” (-> see para. 4) Adopted Action Plan 2014-2016 (-> see adopted action plan, attached file) Precise/clear definition of Green Forest Jobs (-> see para.5) Concrete proposal for Engelberg (-> see para 8)
2. General statements. At the beginning of the meeting each ToS member gave a short presentation about GFJs: Actual situation It is very important to have a proper definition (and common understanding) of green forest jobs (GFJs). Developments in Brussels & Germany (broad research about green jobs): Forests are only part of the green jobs agenda; Looking after this process. (e.g. 2-days workshop in November) discussion with experts from industry, the economy and statistics Relevant knowledge exists across all forest sectors about green jobs Are all green forest jobs SFM-compliant? Does a good translation exist for GFJs in other languages? Agenda 2020 in Brussels: demands for a greener economy: Find common paths/indicators for the basis of green jobs. We have to identify target areas for new GFJs Consult with the Mary Robinson Foundation: keen interest in issues about green jobs/climate change There is great potential in this GFJ sector for unemployed people Develop standards to strenghten the visibility of green jobs (possible output)
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ToS on Green Jobs
Mycoforestry will be a major issue in future GFJ activities (statements -> TED -> summary about mycoforestry. “A tree is a fungus with tissue attached” - > idea for a workshop with presentation by Paul Stamets Mitigation (new material); green material – green jobs? -> industry jobs which are not fully “green” ILO classification of jobs … Economic stimulus package: often forestry is not taken into consideration Communicate and consult with the EU Standing Committee on Forestry. Lacks, knowledge gaps and needs There is no specific definition of GFJs. Identify education needs Gaps: e.g. on the market (e.g. tulip trees for boats in Europe): need for knowledge about trees to be used in the future; no existing systematic overlook. More forest research needed (->increased funding); More research about climate change. What are the major drivers? What are the major sectors (classical) -> what might occur in future?
3. Challenges What are the major challenges to forest work? Workforce mobility and its consequences Lack of candidates in western Europe Lack of forest training in southern Europe Problems with an ageing workforce Lack of competencies/knowledge about wood energy (workers, politicians …) Increasing difference between safety regulation and the actual competencies of the workers (-> regulations are not achievable ) =>solution: through qualification/training (qualification instead of regulation) Price of wood -> national level/market Adaptation of the forest sector to the impacts of climate change
As a result of the discussions the following SWOT analysis shows Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats concerning the further enhancement of the Green Forest Jobs sector
- Clear definition - Lack of money - Clear view - Lack of participation of UN-ECE-Members Strengts - Workforce mobility - Experienced group Weakness - Increasing difference between safety regulation and - Skills for communication the actual competencies of the workers - Link with forestry education in Europe - Price of wood -> national level/market - Practical results proved in the past and recommended - - Unique combination of backgrounds
- Expand and invite North-America and other areas to - No financial security participate
Threats - Challenges (->Poster) - Ongoing activities in Brussels - Duplication with other working groups?
- Developing ideas by linking economical/social sectors - Lack of candidates
Opportunities
- GFJs contribution to increase employment in the forest - Lack of forest training sector - ageing workers - Lack of competencies/knowledge - New technologies and inventions in the forest sector
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ToS on Green Jobs
4. Landscape of Green Forest Jobs
The following landscape of Green Forest Jobs shows the future potential of a wide range of activities listed under the various clusters (see below).
Title of the cluster Ideas and Inputs 1. Wood production Communication & support forest owners Timber frame houses Architecture & material of the future Forestry entrepreneur Specialist in forest management Forestry machinery operator Forestry technician Skilled forestry worker 2. Energy production Forest energy producer Forest energy, bioethanol Use of woody biomass and forest residues
3. Mountain forestry Specialist Mountain Forestry and natural hazard management 4. Climate change Offsetting agricultural emissions Increased afforestation, reforestation, nursery production Kyoto commitments (carbon sequestration) Management of genetic resources Adaptation of species & ecosystems (climate change) 5. Education Forest kindergarden Teacher in the forest Forest education Training Clean-up-days in the forest Communication & visibility (Importance of forests in a Green Economy) Forest interpretation 6. Recreation Recreation forester Forest Recreation Visitor management / forest rangers Forests and Ecotourism Ecotherapy
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ToS on Green Jobs
7. Arboriculture Technician on Arboriculture 8. Ecology Environmental forestry technician Nature protection Expert in ecological-forestry sector Hunting engineer Technician on Wildlife 9 Bioengineering Bionik Bioengineer 10 Mycoforestry Mycoforestry Hazelnut-Truffles-Farm –Shiitake –Mushroom production Bioremediation Biological control 11 Knowledge Transfer Forest and rural development/mountains Knowledge transfer Creation of partnerships between countries 12 Forests & Culture Forests and culture Photography, Folklore Forests & Art and Literature 13 Forest Research Forest research Governmental targeted investment in Green Jobs 14 Urban Forestry Forests in urbanised environments Urban Forester; urban forestry
15 Health Health Forest therapists Ecotherapy Forest therapy centres Non timber benefits Forests and ageing society Doctor working in a forest therapy centre 16 Forests & Water Forests and water Drinking water natural resources
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ToS on Green Jobs
The above mentioned future GFJs indicate that there are many green jobs interlinking with other disciplines and other sectors. The following figure shows the wide range of GFJs taking two fields of activities as examples (nature protection/nature learning and health).
Forestry
Future
Green
Forest
Nature Society & Jobs Protection & Health Nature Learning
5. Definition General remarks concerning a definition of Green Forest Jobs: Opening for neighbour-fields of activity (e.g. agriculture) People have their own definition of forests … Related definitions: green economy, green growth Are we part of environmental discussion or part of primary sector Consideration of regional aspects if required (e.g. Mediterranean region)
Based on the discussions, the nucleus for a definition was described as follows (result of the meeting):
Any product/service in the forest sector, which is SFM- compliant and which contributes to the green economy.
A green forest job therefore can be defined as follows:
A green forest job …
… delivers products and/or services in the forest sector which complies with SFM and which contributes to the green economy.
… is involved in the fabrication of forest products and/or in the performance of forest services, which comply with Sustainable Forest Management and which contribute to the green economy.
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ToS on Green Jobs
6. Expected outcomes and impacts of our work What are the expected outcomes (short term) and impacts (long term) of the work of our ToS?
Documentation, actual situation A dynamic process is needed (putting results on the internet to be accomplished) ->open document with fixed structure (e.g. Wikipedia). State of the art: what do we actually have/know? -> best regional/country practices and experiences New Green Forest Jobs, Trends Idea: Award for best new green forestry job Invite forestry students to participate and give inputs about new trends Contributions from young students Consider and evaluate green forest job trends and scenarios in other countries with fast changing economies (e.g. China) Common understanding, standardisation Having a common understanding of GFJs and associated principles Data collection (Data base) -> huge inconsistency Gathering best observations ->standardised way of reporting Recommendations Recommendations for standardisation Recommendations that can be adapted, amended and adjusted for each country/region. New technology and consequences Communication and Links GIFT-group (Leonardo – Erasmus +) are working on green jobs Resource-Efficient green economy (EEA Report no 2/2014) -> working group being active Mediterranean Forest Week in March 27-31 March 2015 Barcelona List of training centres (www.eduforest.eu) Other contributions from ToS centres
7. Action Plan 2014-2016, SMART goals
See attached file (updated action plan).
The general goal is: The public should know and appreciate what a green forest job is.
The following SMART formula was developed.
S specific: Identifying different areas of potential green jobs in the forest sector M measurable: assuring the deliverables (1) Newsletters, (2) handbook with recommendations (3) seminars,(4) Workshops involving most of the UNECE-countries A achievable: Targeted on a yearly basis & a guaranteed budget of 100,000 Euro (total to be confirmed) Implementation through existing networks & education systems R relevant Partly covering the ongoing situation and processes in the different regions/nations T timebound : Until October 2016
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ToS on Green Jobs
In other words:
By October 2016 the different areas of potential green jobs in the forest sector will be identified, assuring the deliverables (1) Newsletters, (2) handbook with recommendations (3) seminars, (4) workshops involving most of the UNECE-countries,targeted on a guaranteed budget of 110,000 Euro (total to be confirmed), this will be implemented through existing networks & education systems and by partly covering the ongoing processes and situations in the different regions/nations.
8. Engelberg
The next European Forest Week will take place from November 2-6 2015 in Engelberg (Switzerland). During this event our ToS will have the opportunity to present several results of our work.
We propose five activities during this week: a) Keynote presentation on “Green Forest Jobs”. b) Workshop during one of the parallel sessions exploring the landscape of future GFJs. c) Informal inputs during the excursions (linking the excursion aspects with GFJs). d) Individual conversations and dialogues (taking notes) e) Mycoforestry Workshop – Invite Paul Stamets
Two important topics should be treated throughout these five activities: - How can younger people be attracted to GFJs? - Identifying the GFJs potential in different forest sectors.
9. Resources In order to fulfil the above mentioned tasks and activities our ToS needs resources, which mainly means professional expertise (working hours of the ToS members) and adequate guaranteed finances (travelling costs etc.). There is an important need for basic funding for this period of working time.
Financial support is needed from the UN side in Geneva and/or from other funding sources. The provisional budget is summarised below.
Expenses Income General and specific communication, networking, seminars - workshops and conference, writing open book on forest future green jobs, writing report - conclusions - recommendations € 70,000 Accounting valuation of volunteering 40 experts working days € 40,000 Grants € 70,000 Accounting valuation of volunteering € 40,000 € 110,000 € 110,000
10. Next Steps The milestones for our future work are described in the revised action plan (see attached file).
Bern, November 2014, Andreas Bernasconi
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