Filière Bois Wallonie – FBI4EU Project Partner from Belgium
Filière Bois Wallonie, the reference organisation for the wood sector in the Walloon Region of Belgium, plays a key role in the FBI4EU project. Established on April 1st, 2023, the entity emerged from the merger of two former institutions—Ressources Naturelles Développement (RND) and the Office économique wallon du bois (OEWB). This strategic fusion gave rise to a single, stronger structure positioned to support the development of the entire Walloon wood sector. As a public limited company with a mission of public interest, Filière Bois Wallonie now serves as the central point of contact for the Walloon government in all matters relating to forestry and wood industry policy.
Its work focuses on enabling the sustainable, competitive, and forward-looking growth of the region’s forest-based economy. Through this mandate, Filière Bois Wallonie combines strategic insight, technical expertise, and industry-wide coordination to address the evolving challenges of the sector. From monitoring technological and market trends to promoting the responsible use of forest resources, the organisation helps ensure that the value of Wallonia’s forests is fully recognised—not only as economic assets but also as key elements in the region’s ecological balance and social wellbeing.
Filière Bois Wallonie also plays an instrumental role in promoting the regional sector internationally and reinforcing cross-border cooperation. It seeks to increase the added value of local timber, strengthen connections between producers and processors, and advocate for circular economy approaches that benefit both the industry and the climate.
In line with its commitment to sustainability, Filière Bois Wallonie took over the PEFC group certification for public forests in Wallonia in July 2024. This involves supporting public forest owners in maintaining and improving responsible forest management practices in line with recognised European standards. By doing so, the organisation reinforces Wallonia’s leadership in balancing economic development with environmental stewardship.
In the context of FBI4EU, Filière Bois Wallonie brings its knowledge, vision, and practical experience into an interregional exchange aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs in forest-based industries. The organisation actively contributes to the shared learning process of the project, helping to identify common challenges and innovative responses across regions. Its expertise is particularly valuable in addressing issues such as forest fragmentation, timber mobilisation, and the decline in local wood-processing infrastructure—challenges that are not unique to Wallonia, but shared across many European forested regions.
As FBI4EU unfolds, Filière Bois Wallonie is helping shape better policies and practices for a more resilient and sustainable forest-based economy in Europe. Its involvement is not only a strength for the Walloon Region, but also a valuable contribution to the wider European effort to secure a greener, smarter, and more connected future for our forests and the communities that depend on them.