Foster Dialogue on Forest Sector Development in Sweden

As part of the ongoing work within the Regional Forest Programme in Östergötland, Sweden, a series of stakeholder meetings have been held in 2024 to strengthen cooperation, enhance knowledge exchange, and plan future activities related to sustainable forest management and the bioeconomy.

The meetings, held in May and September, brought together key regional stakeholders representing public administration, academia, forestry agencies, and agricultural organizations. The discussions focused on strategic planning, aligning regional initiatives with broader European projects, and exploring financing opportunities for activities that support the green transition in forest-based industries.

A significant topic was the involvement in the Interreg Europe project FBI4EU, which aims to increase the competitiveness and innovation potential of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the forest-based sector across Europe. The steering group discussed how to integrate the regional forest programme with the project and proposed several activities, including a dialogue platform, stakeholder forums, study visits, and joint workshops with SMEs. A regional SWOT analysis is also planned to identify strengths and challenges for the sector.

In parallel, work continues on a value chain analysis of the forest sector in Östergötland. The aim is to better understand the current gaps and opportunities, especially in terms of innovation and sustainability. Students from a local university are contributing to this analysis, with final results expected in early 2025.

Additional discussions included upcoming funding opportunities, potential new projects focused on forest-based innovations, biofuels, and carbon credits, and the role of forests in climate adaptation. Stakeholders emphasized the need for improved advisory services and strategic partnerships to respond to growing market interest in forest-related ecosystem services.

The meetings also addressed communication efforts, including the development of a regional newsletter that will highlight forest-related activities, news, and opportunities for collaboration.

The next steering group meeting is scheduled for October and will focus on planning a high-level roundtable discussion aimed at raising the profile of forest-related issues in the region.