identifying green jobs in the forest sector, a unece/fao...

Identifying Green Jobs in the Forest Sector, a UNECE/FAO/ILO Team of

Specialists initiative

Diarmuid McAree, Deputy Leader ToSForestry Consultant & Advisor

Meeting Forest Europe Expert Group 2017

Zvolen, January 2017

What has been done so far?

• Workshop on Threats to the Sustainability of the Forest Sector Workforce.– 17th March 2015, Geneva

• Team meetings, workshops and side events at international conferences.

• Analysis of existing reports and case studies including an evaluation of current situation regarding green forest jobs.

• Elaboration of a draft report: thematic areas & identified fields of action; further exploration.

• Questionnaire on Green Forest Jobs.



What is a green forest job?

A green forest job …

• … complies with the principles of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM),

• … contributes to the green economy,

• … and is involved in the value chain of forest products and/or in the performance of forest services.

• Nothing is more empowering than having a job.



Goals & tasks

• “Advise and support the secretariat on the implementation of the ECE/FAO Integrated Programme on employment-related issues such as jobs, required competencies and education and training for the forestry sector in the context of the green economy.”



Goals

• The general goal of the ToS activities is “to identify and list the existing and especially potential new green jobs in the forestry sector.”

• We welcome the assistance and co-operation of our Forest Europe colleagues in identifying potential and actual green forest jobs.

https://www.google.ie/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjgmvnDsYzQAhWnDcAKHfRPACcQjRwIBw&url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/aigle_dore/5534221505&bvm=bv.137132246,d.ZGg&psig=AFQjCNFMU9gSXODg8PUXs3s6KOU3LtncSg&ust=1478251985357341



Green forest jobs and its context

Forestry

Health and

recreation

Education and

knowledge

transfer

Biodiversity and

forest protection

Regional &

landuse

development

Wood and energy

production

Social and urban

development

Existingjobs

New jobs

7 thematic areas now: forest management and inventory



Example / Field of activity Forest Protection & Contingency Planning

• Forest fire control.

• Global warming/climate change is creating major challenges.

• Forest contingency planners need to think global and will have to develop and implement new insect & disease management strategies.

Thematic area: Biodiversity & Forest Protection

Forest protection and contingency

planning

Skills, Expertise and Green Forest

Professions

Forest fire control

specialists

Forest pathologists and

entomologists.

Specialists in laboratories

for analysis.

Specialists on forest

disease and insect

identification.

Specialist on surveying,

monitoring and control.



Forest protection

• Pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) poses a major threat to European forests.

o Control measures against this dangerous pest and its insect vectors will provide new green jobs in the forest protection sector.

• The Asian longhorn beetle (ALB) [Anoplophora glabripennis] poses a similar threat.

o Controlling it also provides an opportunity for job creation.



Example / Field of activity: Mycoforestry

• The forest mycelium is a biomolecular superhighway.

o www. – wood wide web (communicating with its environment).

• Ecosystem hydrology –Integrated constructed wetlands-enhanced water quality by judicious tree planting in riparian

• zones for flood control .

• Working with mycorrhizal fungi in forests opens up different fields such as mycoremediation and biological control by utilising mycorrhizal benefits and interactions.

Thematic area: Biodiversity & Forest Protection

Myco-forestry

Skills, Expertise and GreenForest Professions

Mycology researchers.

Specialists in mycology

laboratory diagnostics.

Forest mycologists,

specialists in fungal

taxonomy.

Specialists in Myco-

remediation and biological

control.

Managers of fungal forests.



Example / field of activity Energy ProductionThematic area: Wood & Energy Production

• In 2015, forest based fuels provided enough wood-based energy to heat 2 million homes in Sweden.

• In 2015, district heating satisfied about 60% of the heat demand in Swedish buildings. Today, more than two thirds of the heat supply to the district heating systems is based on biomass and waste. Biomass alone accounts for 50% of the heat supply.

• A new integrated work perspective: excellent logistic abilities and negotiating skills will be required!

Energy production

Skills, Expertise and Green

Forest Professions

Forest energy producers

Specialist s in biomass

marketing and logistics

Experts in energy wood

procurement

Experts in trade and

communication

Forest entrepreneurs and

operators



Example / Field of activity Forest Education

• Forest education should be a hands-on exciting learning experience.

• Forest certification training.

• Germany:

o More than 1,000 forest kindergardens.

o In excess of 300,000 people per annum take forest excursions in Bavaria.

• Forest educators need additional training on how to best transfer their knowledge and on how to improve their communication skills.

Thematic area: Education & Knowledge Transfer

Education


Forest Professions

Teachers in the forest

University lecturers, forest

instructors

Forest interpreters

Forest guided walk leaders

Nature study and outdoor

pursuits professionals

Carbon accounting

* Curriculum development



Example / Field of activity Mountain Forestry

• Swiss mountain forests protect in excess of

130,000 buildings and 1,000s of kilometres of

roads & tracks from natural disasters.

o This includes land slide and avalanche.

o 49% of Swiss forests are managed as

protection forests with special management

restrictions.

• Risk management will be one of the main tasks for

mountain foresters to consider including:

o Risk analysis, valuation and action planning.

Thematic area: Regional & Landuse Development

Mountain forestry

Skills, Expertise and GreenForest Professions

Mountain forestry

specialists

Specialists in the

management of natural

hazards

Soil bio-engineers



Example / Field of activity Urban Forestry

• The > 70,000 trees of Melbourne city are valued at $650 million.

o These includes health, amenity and microclimate benefits.

• Abatement of air pollution, noise reduction, the creation of urban forests and neighbourwoods.

• Urban foresters have to handle the special needs& demands of urban society as well as the specialneeds of urban trees associated with harsh and extreme growing conditions.

Thematic area: Social & Urban development

Urban forestry

Skills, Expertise and Green Forest

Professions

Urban foresters

Forest landscape gardeners

Urban forest planners /

Green urban Infrastructure

Managers

Multiple use forestry skills



Example / Field of activity Recreation, leisure and sports

• In 2013, 447 million day visits were made to forests

in the UK. This trend is increasing.

• In excess of 650 forest recreation sites are

provided in Great Britain.

• Working in this field, one is responsible for

balancing forest and visitor needs and engaging in

important public relations, information &

communications work.

Thematic area: Health & Recreation

Recreation, leisure and sports


Forest Professions

Recreation foresters

Forest rangers

Forest tourist guides

Outdoor pursuits & activity

organisers

Multiple-use forestry experts



Example / Field of activity Forest Ecotherapy

• Forests act as an antidote to stress.

o More than 44 accredited forest ecotherapeutic areas

are operated in Japan.

- They are spreading all over the world.

• In Ireland foresters and ecotherapists are promoting

the non-timber forest health benefits (of forests) by

combining new forest health research with a basic

knowledge of medical issues.

Thematic area: Health & Recreation

Forest ecotherapy


Forest Professions

Research and dissemination

of knowledge about forest

healing effects.

Forest ecotherapists

Medical doctors working in

forest therapy centres

Sports professionals, forest

health coaches

Forest educators and

guided walks leaders…



Contribution of Green Forest Jobs to achieve the SDG: two examples

3 Good Health and

Well-Being

Ensure healthy lives and

promote well-being for all at

all ages.

…promote the huge

physical and physiological

health benefits of forests

and provide appropriate

facilities to achieve these

objectives.

11 Sustainable Cities and

Communities

Make cities and human

settlements more inclusive,safe, resilient and

sustainable.

…promote and manage

green infrastructures and

urban forests within cities

for a better quality of life.



• Over the period 2000-2010, employment in

the forest sector in the ECE region

decreased .

o UNECE and FAO (2015).

• Over the period 2000-2011, the

contribution of the forest sector to GDP

(gross domestic product) decreased from

1.2% to 0.8% from 2000 – 2011 (374 Bill. $

to 286 Bill. $) in ECE

o UNECE and FAO (2015).

• The number of forest-related

public employees reported in 2014 was

around 14% lower than that reported in

2010.

o FOREST EUROPE (2015).

Trends in the forest sector

Reported employment of traditional forestry jobs



Towards a green economy

• From 2002-2011, employment in the environmental goods and service sectors in the EU increased from 3 to 4.2 million.

o This includes an increase in employment of 20% during the recession years

- It is estimated that Natura 2000 sites support 8 million new jobs.

Driven by tourism and recreation.

This is 6% of total employment in the EU.

o Further green jobs will be created in the future.

- European Commission (2014).

• The importance of forests for recreation, cultural values and energy production is increasing. o FOREST EUROPE, UNECE and FAO (2011).



In search of a reliable basis – next steps• Joint co-operation with Forest Europe.• Enhancing the European Think Tank on

future Green Jobs.• Workshop in June 2017.

With that in mind we are aiming at:• Identifying and listing the existing and

especially the potential new Green Forest Jobs in the forest sector.

• By the end of 2017: first recommendations will be presented to the Member States (end of the mandate) .

Beyond the Mandate • Developing indicators and a statistical

foundation for new Green Jobs in the Forest Sector?



Expected major outputs / ToS deliverables

• Undertake periodic surveys of major trends & challenges associated with the sustainable forest workforce (among the team members representing the member states and related bodies).

• Organise trend scenario workshops on the future forest workforce.

• Produce policy briefs outlining rationales for choosing particular workforce policy strategies.

• Publish reviews and recommendations addressing main forest sector workforce issues developed in close cooperation with other issue-related Teams of Specialists and related bodies.

• Presentation of these outcomes at the yearly meeting of the Working Party and at the COFFI.



Green Forest Jobs have the potential to link the green economy with Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) in a modern globalised world of continuous change!

• Recommendations: – October 2017 (Poland).

• Green Forest Jobs – Implementation 2018.



Thank you - Go raibh maith agaibh - Ďakujem

T: +353 87 255 1491 E: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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