Green Jobs in the Forest Sector Jobs in the Forest Green UNECE Green Jobs in the Forest Sector UNITED NATIONS Green Jobs in the Forest Sector Geneva timber and forest discussion paper 71 New York and Geneva, 2018 2 Green Jobs in the Forest Sector NOTE The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. DISCLAIMER The contents of this paper do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the United Nations, the ECE/FAO secretariat, the ECE Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry or the FAO European Forestry Commission. ABSTRACT The study Green Jobs in the Forest Sector provides an overview of existing Green Forest Jobs and identifies possible areas for future activities and jobs in the forest sector, and may serve as starting point for further analysis and discussion on the future of Green Forest Jobs. It offers a framework for classifying Green Forest Jobs under seven thematic work areas, outlined in the seven main sections of the study, with a particular focus on major trends, needs and challenges as well as opportunities and prospects for the forest sector. The findings suggest that to promote Green Jobs in the forest sector it is key to: (i) look at forest ecosystem services management as the frame for Green Forest Jobs; (ii) recognize the progress made in the development of Green Forest Jobs and to identify avenues for the future; (iii) enhance the public perception of jobs in the forest sector; (iv) revise existing curricula and develop new ones for catering to the needs of the sector to close the skills gaps; and (v) to facilitate an inclusive transition to green economy through training and support. ECE/TIM/DP/71 UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION Sales No.: E.18.II.E.14 ISBN: 978-92-1-117160-0 e-ISBN: 978-92-1-363291-8 ISSN: 1020-7228 Copyright © 2018 United Nations All rights reserved worldwide United Nations publication issued by the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) CONTENTS 3 CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................................................................................................................................6 GLOSSARY ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................6 LIST OF ACRONYMS .........................................................................................................................................................................................................7 BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................8 SUMMARY ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................9 1. INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................................................................11 1.1 Areas for the Development of Green Forest Jobs ........................................................................................................................................................12 2. WOOD AND ENERGY PRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................15 2.1 Wood Production ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................15 2.2 Energy Production ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................18 3. AGROFORESTRY AND MOUNTAIN FORESTRY .....................................................................................................................21 3.1 Agroforestry ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................21 3.2 Mountain Forestry and Soil Bioengineering .....................................................................................................................................................................22 4. SOCIAL AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT .....................................................................................................................................27 4.1 Urban Forestry and Arboriculture ...........................................................................................................................................................................................27 4.2 Culture and Forests .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................28 5. FOREST MANAGEMENT, INVENTORY AND PLANNING ......................................................................................................33 5.1 Forest Inventory and Forest Monitoring ..........................................................................................................................................................................................33 5.2 Planning, Governance, Sustainable Forest Management ........................................................................................................................................34 5.3 Pests, Disease and Forest Fires...................................................................................................................................................................................................36 5.4 Risk Management and Contingency Planning ..............................................................................................................................................................39 6. BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION .......................................................................................................................43 6.1 Biodiversity Conservation and Nature Protection.........................................................................................................................................................43 6.2 Climate Change ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................45 6.3 Forests and Water ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................47 6.4 Mycoforestry.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................48 7. HEALTH AND RECREATION .......................................................................................................................................................53 7.1 Forest Ecotherapy .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................53 7.2 Recreation, Leisure and Sports ..................................................................................................................................................................................................54 8. EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ...................................................................................................................................................59 8.1 Education, Further Training and Knowledge Transfer ................................................................................................................................................59 8.2 Forest Research ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................61 9. OTHER NEW FIELDS OF ACTIVITY ...........................................................................................................................................64 10. CONCLUSIONS .............................................................................................................................................................................64 11. REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................................................................67