The forest-based sector in Europe – status, structural changes and future prospects – as seen from the North

The paper discusses issues relevant for forest-based products and their markets, and how recent, ongoing and anticipated future changes, will both challenge and provide new opportunities for the forest-based sector. Less emphasis is put on the forest resources and the provision of raw material and other ecosystem services from the forests. This reflects the view that, although the development of forests, the functioning of forest ecosystems and supply of wood is important, nevertheless the major driving forces to the sector comes from the forest products demand side.