IUFRO and Mondi expand collaboration to tackle forest sustainability challenges
On the occasion of the 2025 International Day of Forests, the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) and Mondi, a prominent global player in the paper and packaging industry, have announced the expansion of their collaborative venture, ‘TEAMING UP 4 FORESTS’. Launched in 2021, this initiative has successfully established a robust network of over 100 stakeholders, including scientists, business representatives, forest owners, and policymakers. The collective aim of this platform is to address key challenges concerning the sustainable provision of wood-based products to meet the growing societal demands.
Since its inception, TEAMING UP 4 FORESTS has facilitated productive dialogues through a plethora of activities such as 'Think Tank' meetings, ‘Stakeholder Dialogues’, and field trips. These interactions provide a vital conduit for stakeholders to engage on pressing issues like climate change, adaptation measures, and the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity. The platform's objective has been to develop evidence-based response measures aimed at enhancing the resilience of forests and bolstering climate adaptation efforts, while simultaneously ensuring a reliable future supply of wood fibre.
Dirk Längin, Mondi Group Head of Fibre Sourcing, commented on the initiative's success, stating, “TEAMING UP 4 FORESTS has excelled in identifying key topics for the wood-based sector and provides a vital platform for open discussions among stakeholders across the forest value chain. Closing the gap between science and business is critical in addressing the most pressing challenges for the forest-based sector and the future supply of forest goods and services. At Mondi, we are eager to continue translating scientific findings into practical measures for our operations, supporting the whole forest-based sector by ensuring our efforts are effective and scalable.”
In tandem, Alexander Buck, the Executive Director of IUFRO, expressed enthusiasm for the next phase of the platform, noting, “As the global network for forest science cooperation, we are committed to fostering the development of science-based solutions to forest-related challenges. We are excited to take TEAMING UP 4 FORESTS to the next level and expand the scope of activities and targeted research to jointly address pressing questions related to climate change adaptation, carbon sequestration, fibre sourcing, and more.”
As part of the ongoing developments, TEAMING UP 4 FORESTS has underscored the invitation for other industry partners to engage, offering opportunities for collaboration and partnerships in defining focus areas for science-business cooperation in the forest sector.
A notable output from the initial phase of this collaboration is a synthesis study published in 2024, which examines the future supply of goods and services available from European forests. This study has revealed that climate change significantly impacts forests across Europe, threatening forest health and the ecosystem services they provide, including the supply of wood. The findings further highlighted the critical need for collaboration among stakeholders along the forest value chain to confront the challenges jeopardising wood supply in the region.
The research suggests that adopting an integrated approach encompassing scientific inquiry, policy formulation, and practical execution can secure a sustainable supply of wood. By fostering knowledge sharing and cross-sector partnerships, the initiative strengthens resilience, adaptability, and encourages a coordinated response to the challenges at hand. The collaboration between IUFRO and Mondi thus aligns with the broader objectives of the forest industry and reflects a commitment to addressing the multifaceted issues confronting forest sustainability today.