Modelling pathways for development of a new forest industry in Mozambique

Forest-based initiatives are receiving greater attention in global and national strategies on change and bio-economy. It is therefore vital to identify multi-win activities and strategies for the tropical forest industries within the context of global and national climate and bio-economy policy. The “Good Wood” value chain could be one of these solutions—restoring natural tropical forests, mitigating climate change, and improving livelihoods. The “Good Wood” value chain adopts an integrated timber processing business concept to tropical timber utilization. This concept contrasts conventional forestry practices—, which rely on logging large trees of a few species from relatively pristine natural forests—in that it is adapted to degraded natural forests with small and damaged trees of many species. It also includes a number of value-adding steps—such as drying and further finishing—to enable access to regional and export markets. Linking manufacturers directly with customers allows for product development and customized timber products, which maximizes both wood recovery and profit. Drying onsite dramatically improves quality and access to high-value markets reduces waste (e.g., warped, rotten, and low-quality timber), and allows for greater use in long-lived wood products (e.g., construction materials).

The overarching purpose of the study is to assess the extent to which the “Good Wood” timber processing business concept contributes to climate change mitigation, forest restoration, and sustainable development. We discuss emerging results from our empirical study in Mozambique. The main goal of the study is to contribute to the development of new forest management systems in accordance with the Good Wood timber processing business concept—integrated with a sawmill and market—to restore degraded forests and provide timber.

The intent is that findings will be used to support and promote the Good Wood concept to governments as a strategy for meeting sustainable development and Nationally Determined Contributions to the UN climate agreement and Forest Landscape Restoration commitments, and business entrepreneurs.