Roundwood removals in European forests were about 361 mill. m3 underbark in 1990. The relative importance of European wood removals as a source of raw material supply has tended to diminish gradually. During 1970's and 1980's increasing use was made of industrial wood residuals, waste paper and imported roundwood. However in majority of European countries removals from their own forests are still the most important sources of raw material for wood processing industry.
The purpose of this study is to present scenarios (forecasts) of wood removals up to the year 2040. These scenarios are examined in the broader context of their relationship with the forest resources. As will be explained in more detail later, the outlook takes as a starting point the results of the latest forest resource assessment, which was published by ECE/FAO in 1992.
The scenarios serve a further purpose. They are intended to give some guidance as to possible developments. These are not predictions but show the consequences of present situation under assumptions which are realistic. The data presented should make it possible for other users to work with other assumptions and thus derive their own forecasts, and in every case to form their own judgment of the validity of the forecasts.
