On 18 September 2025, TEAMING UP 4 FORESTS (TU4F) hosted the webinar “Securing Forest Carbon: A Science–Business Dialogue”, bringing together experts from science, policy, and industry to explore the realities of forest carbon management and the role of wood use in climate strategies. The event was followed through Zoom and LinkedIn Live by around 100 participants.
Science: Carbon Dynamics in Forest Ecosystems
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Bauhus (University of Freiburg) pointed out that the two main levers for climate mitigation in forestry are carbon sequestration and substitution. He underlined that:
- Forest conservation and wood use represent competing yet complementary climate strategies.
- Old forests store carbon but are vulnerable to disturbances such as fire, windthrow, and pests.
- Climate-smart forestry requires combining carbon storage with biodiversity protection and resilience.
- Communicating these trade-offs clearly and credibly is essential.
Policy: Carbon Removals Regulation
Jurij Krajcic (DG CLIMA, European Commission) presented policy insights:
- The EU land carbon sink has declined by 30% over the past decade, largely due to a weakening forest sink.
- The forthcoming Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Regulation (CRCF) will introduce EU certification methodologies, strengthen Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems, and improve transparency across forestry value chains.
- These measures aim to ensure credibility and provide stronger incentives for land managers and businesses.
Industry: Climate-Positive Forestry
Elina Warsta (UPM) highlighted UPM’s Forest Action programme, with commitments to climate-positive forestry, biodiversity enhancement, and 100% certified fibre by 2030.
Dr. Nenad Simunovic (Mondi Group) stressed the sector’s responsibility to maintain productive forests and resilient carbon stocks, while also addressing communication challenges around carbon neutrality claims.
Key takeaways
- Distinguish between securing existing carbon and increasing new storage.
- Anticipate EU policy signals for forest managers and companies.
- Avoid oversimplifying “carbon neutrality” in communication.
- Invest in research, collaboration, and diversified, resilient forest systems.
Next steps
TU4F will continue the dialogue with its next webinar:
