When the issue is climate change, forests and what they produce have been at the center of attention. To discuss this topic, the 25th World Congress of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) presented a session entitled "Forests and forest products for a greener future." Panelists were Vincent Gitz, director of CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforests in Indonesia, and Francisco Razzolini, executive director of Industrial Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Products at Klabin S/A. Professor Daniela Kleinschmit moderated the session.
To start, Kleinschmit emphasized that every debate has two sides, explaining that while the forest sector has been highlighted as the solution to climate change and global warming, there are also controversial effects. "The centrality of forest products can lead to other problems, such as increased exploitation, potential loss of biodiversity, and the resulting gap between supply and demand."

Gitz agreed, saying that the world wants more trees, more forests, and more wood, but that this is not happening. He leads the CGIAR program, a global research partnership for a future with food security dedicated to reducing poverty, improving food and nutritional security, and improving natural resources. In his opinion, the problem lies in the economy, which is "stupid, because the global food system is the main driver of deforestation and poor forest conservation."

When it comes to wood, Gitz pointed out that consumption is very unbalanced; for example, per capita numbers in Europe are six times higher than in Asia. He added that the main limit on consumption is regional production, to the extent that trade between regions is limited.
"There is potential for increased demand following population growth in Africa and Asia, where per capita consumption is low. We must also bear in mind that it takes time for wood to grow, and greater demand can be directed toward what is already available. Otherwise, we will 'eat the forests'."
He stressed that planted trees account for 7% of all forests and produce 47% of raw timber, and that in order to make estimates on plantation growth we must consider that there is land available, taking advantage of the potential for growth in the short term. But Gitz also said, "there's not much to work on in the forests. This is why it is more important for us to work on the value chain."

Obstacles include the classic structure, since organized value chains are absent when countries and the sector are just developing, making economic investment difficult. Gitz also mentioned economic challenges specific to forests and agriculture, such as time between investment and return, low operating margins, and low visibility for long-term operations. As a result, it is important to discuss land policy, considering competition with other sectors such as agriculture, for example, which provide faster returns.
Gitz added that some actions that can be suggested, such as land use zoning, which identifies areas to be permanently set aside for forestry and can protect intact forests and ecosystem functions.
“Land zoning can secure long-term land use and facilitate financing, since it recognizes the value added from the original investments," he explained. He then suggested organizing and planning development in the forestry sector, as a whole or in part, while different areas are used simultaeously.
Another point he raised addressed political transformation. He said that at the national level, this deserves support from the international community for recognizing global assets of preservation and sustainability. "International cooperation could focus on supporting the institutional and economic environment conducive to the development of forestry, technology transfer, facilitating investment and research and development," he added.
Finally, Gitz said that the entire discussion has implications for scientists and researchers, because the solutions are “not like a cake recipe."
"At a conference in Rome talking about deforestation, some participants said that we do not need more research, more science, we need to act. But we believe that we do indeed need all of this to develop more solutions."
He suggested evidence-based land zoning, supporting research to revise models for production and cohabitation, and new analysis of the forest transition curve, for more forests and wood products at the same time, with more data on the costs and benefits of the forestry sector, including restoring land and forests.
"We have a limited number of tested technical solutions with known economic returns. We have seen great examples in Brazil carried out by Embrapa, testing projects for the value chain to see how technical development can be accompanied by a cost-benefit analysis. We need to build it all with options for a contextual approach, in which forest type, production mode, and value chain are adapted to the conditions," Gitz concluded.

Klabin’s experience
Francisco Razzolini, director of Klabin, presented his company's experience in this area. He stated that Klabin believes in biomaterials as a solution, since they develop in nature over hundreds of years, and this evolution has created great products.
Today, 43% of the company’s areas are set aside for preservation of fauna and flora. He explained that biodiversity is fundamental, and that the company uses mosaic plantations, with native forests surrounding cultivated stands. "This gives us great balance and an excellent healthy forest, and also preserves the lives of animals," he said.
As for environmental impacts in clean and renewable energy, Razzolini cited that 89% of the company’s energy is renewable, and Klabin is able to recycle 92% of waste it generates. At its Puma unit in Ortigueira, Paraná, for example, the company received a certification recognizing its energy management practices.

"We have a very positive carbon balance, 5.1 million tons of CO2 equivalent. This means five million cars making a 1,000 kilometer trip, for example. We have to be proud, because these numbers are integrated," he added.
Klabin also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were included in the company’s growth strategies because the goal is to attain a sustainable future as well as company.
In the area of technology, the director pointed out that the company invests heavily in technology and has more than 100 researchers working to boost productivity and obtain better fibers. To create new products, there is a concern with environmentally friendly options, introducing biodegradable materials in the industry.

"Over the past 20 years, there have been many efforts in research and development in companies to introduce timber products in biofuels, bioenergy, and biomaterials. Today, this is becoming a reality. At Klabin, we took the megatrends into consideration. The population grows and matures, there is a lot of urbanization, growth in the middle class. This requires changes in people’s habits and consumption. With all the climate changes and efforts to mitigate them, we see growth in concern for the environment, and we need to think about this," he said.
In terms of the market, Razzolini sees good opportunities when analyzing growth curves for paper and plastic use. He stressed that since the 1990s plastic use has soared, but since these materials are not renewable or biodegradable, they affect the environment. At the same time, consumers are looking for more information about this subject, since their concern is also growing.

"Today we see big brands looking at moving toward renewable products. This provides many opportunities for a sustainable future. At Klabin, we are using Kraftliner in boxes made from 100% eucalyptus, which has better properties than traditional pulp, particularly in compression tests. For 500,000 tons, we need 30,000 hectares of planted area. This is an opportunity to use less soil, water, and energy, a good result toward sustainability with the changes we are seeing in the world," he said.
Among these components, the company has used microfibrillated cellulose, a highly refined material with microfibers that can produce many connections between them, making stronger paper as well as a better surface. Klabin is also using nanocrystals extracted from cellulose, which provide strength and resistance and a unique opportunity to develop oxygen barriers in combination with other materials to avoid using plastic and aluminum. Another material is lignin, a complex material with countless applications which avoids the use of plastic over renewable sources.
Razzolini recalled that some studies show that 60% of today’s consumers consider forest as being in decline, and many do not see fiber-based materials as renewable. Some people also believe that forests are not managed sustainably. He consequently emphasized that the way of communicating sustainability must be improved.

"We know that our segment has a great story to tell about contributing to a better world with forest products. Today, planted forests account for only seven million hectares in Brazil, less than 1% of the country’s territory. We see opportunities as the country changes economically. Ranching is growing more in the north of Brazil, where there is no winter, and these areas are spaces where we are expanding. We also have opportunities to develop productivity. In this scenario, we believe that research and development will support our technology and our future growth," he added.  
Daniela Kleinschmit closed the panel by saying: "We need a global approach, not only in forests but also in agriculture, to unite the two. The importance of research and science also needs to be publicized, and this is the reason why we are here."