Securing forest carbon: a science-business dialogue
Date: 18 September 2025
Time: 11:00 CEST
Did you miss it?
TEAMING UP 4 FORESTS invites you to join the webinar
This webinar will share up-to-date, science-based insights on forest carbon management and the role of harvested wood products in climate strategies. It will highlight the ecological limits and increasing risks associated with carbon storage in forests and soils, explore the realistic contributions of long-lived wood products, and address common misconceptions around “carbon neutrality”.
While the session will not offer definitive answers to every challenge, it will provide a grounded, cross-sector perspective on what we know and what still needs clarification. By bringing together scientific insights and industry experience, the webinar will offer practical takeaways, highlight communication pitfalls, and support informed, climate-resilient decision-making in the forest sector.
Key focus areas and guiding questions
- What are the real limits of carbon storage in soil and biomass? Why is the focus shifting from increasing to securing existing forest carbon?
- What is the realistic role of long-lived wood products in reducing emissions? How can cascading use support climate and circular economy goals?
- How can forest management balance carbon, biodiversity, and wood supply? What are the implications of policies that discourage harvesting?
- How can complex carbon science be communicated credibly? What is needed to avoid oversimplified or misleading claims while demonstrating the sector’s climate value?
Agenda:
- Opening remarks
Introduction by Dr. Nelson Grima, Science-Policy Programme and TU4F Coordinator - Keynote presentation (Science)
Carbon dynamics in forest ecosystems by Prof. Dr. Jürgen Bauhus, University of Freiburg - Policy perspective
Insights from Jurij Krajcic, DG Clima, European Commission - Industry perspective
Elina Warsta, Senior Manager, Forest Affairs, UPM and Dr. Nenad Simunovic, Forest Policy and Sustainability Expert, MONDI Group - Moderated discussion
Focused on narrative credibility and policy alignment - Q&A from audience
- Wrap-up and closing
