Wald 23. Februar 2026 Austria as a hub for the forest-based bioeconomy at the COLI Global Summit 2026 in Vienna

Under the title “Advancing Sustainable Forest-based Bioeconomy Approaches”, the summit brings together leading representatives from politics, business, administration, science, and civil society. Its objective is to foster innovative solutions, advance sustainable strategies, and strengthen international cooperation to further develop a climate-friendly and resource-efficient bioeconomy.

Austria’s Forestry and Environment Minister Norbert Totschnig emphasizes:
"The forest-based value chain is the most important resource for the bioeconomy and thus offers enormous potential for sustainable economic growth, effective climate protection, and the preservation of our natural resources. In view of increasing resource shortages and the finite nature of fossil raw materials, the bioeconomy opens up new perspectives for security of supply and value creation—especially in a forested country like Austria. In order to make the most of this potential, strengthening international cooperation, intensive knowledge exchange, and joint global action are more important than ever."

Pumeza Nodada, representing South Africa as Co-Chair of this Global Summit points out that “sustainable forest-based bioeconomy approaches are increasingly recognised as essential pathways towards climate neutrality, circular economies and more resilient societies, while strengthening the foundations of sustainable forest management. Forests offer not only environmental benefits, but also concrete economic and social opportunities from green jobs and sustainable value chains to innovation in bio-based products, renewable energy and ecosystem services”.

The Global Summit will take place in a hybrid format on site at the Orangery in Schönbrunn Palace and online, and will thus enable worldwide participation and networking. For three days, Vienna will become an international hub for exchange, knowledge transfer, and partnerships in the field of forest-based bioeconomy.

European Commissioner Jessika Roswall underlines:
“This Global Summit is an important opportunity to team up with partners from around the world and explore how we can make the bioeconomy thrive. And to turn ideas into concrete benefits for our forests and our bioeconomy. Here in Austria – and all over the EU – there are great examples of innovative entrepreneurship. That is why we launched an EU Bioeconomy Strategy to unleash this potential across Europe.”

“The forest-based bioeconomy must strengthen sustainable forest management, not strain it. Vienna has demonstrated that with the right governance, forests can be central to a resilient, inclusive and climate-positive global economy.” states Juliette Biao, Director of the Secretariat of United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF).

Zhimin Wu, Assistant Director-General and Director of Forestry Division (NFO) adds: “Sustainable forest-based bioeconomy approaches help to reduce carbon emissions, create economic value, support food security and nutrition, and safeguard ecosystems.”

Daniela Kleinschmit, Director of International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) emphasizes that, “Knowledge and global knowledge exchange are key drivers in advancing the forest‑based bioeconomy. Forest‑related sciences, including wood science, provide much of the essential expertise. International networks such as IUFRO play a vital role by connecting experts and helping to share this knowledge worldwide.”

Strengthening international cooperation

The Global Summit is being held as part of the Country and Organization-Led Initiative on Sustainable Forest-based Bioeconomy Approaches (COLI). COLI is a multi-year international initiative launched by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Climate, Environment, Regions, and Water Management (BMLUK) to strengthen global dialogue on sustainable, forest-based bioeconomy approaches. The Summit is co-chaired by Austria and South Africa and supported by so-called “Friends of COLI”:

- Australia (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry)
- Finland (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry)
- Japan (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries)Sweden (Ministry of Rural Affairs and Infrastructure)
- Türkiye (General Directorate of Forestry)
- FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
- IUFRO (International Union of Forest Research Organizations)
- UNFFS (United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat)

Program highlights and key topics

Alongside high-level keynote addresses, the program features expert panels, interactive sessions, and best practice examples from around the world. The focus will be on topics such as innovative wood use, bio-based value chains, sustainable resource availability, and the importance of forests for future-oriented social development.

The specific program items, guidance notes and background documents can be found at: http://www.coli-bioeconomy.org

Goals and outcomes of the summit

The COLI Global Summit 2026 aims to deepen cooperation between governments, international organizations, science, and industry in order to shape and implement sustainable bioeconomic strategies globally. The summit will result in two key outcomes: the Co-Chairs’ Summary and the Vienna Call for Action. The Vienna Call for Action addresses the following areas of action, among others:

1. Mainstreaming sustainable forest-based bioeconomy approaches through broad implementation, targeted financing, and integration across policy areas and economic sectors,
2. Promotion of equitable access to finance, markets, technology, and decision-making
3. Strategic realignment of financial resources—away from isolated individual projects and toward cross-sectoral transformation processes.
4. Promoting the sustainable supply and use of biogenic raw materials through efficiency improvements, innovative and supportive measures, and public and private procurement policies.
5. Strengthening forest-based bioeconomy approaches through strategic partnerships within international and multilateral frameworks.

The Co-Chairs' Summary and the Vienna Call for Action are important contributions to the work of the United Nations. They will be presented at the upcoming meeting of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF21) in New York and at the FAO's COFO28 meeting in Rome, thus feeding directly into international decision-making processes.

Austria as a hub for the forest-based bioeconomy

As a forest rich country with a dynamic forestry and timber industry, Austria plays a central role in promoting a sustainable, wood-based bioeconomy. By hosting the COLI Global Summit 2026, Austria is underlining its role as an important hub for the forest-based bioeconomy and as a driving force for active sustainable forest management. Austria’s Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig emphasizes that the global and international activities of Austrian forestry and timber policy are ultimately aimed at optimally strengthening the export-oriented, domestic forest-based value chain and thereby secure income and added value for the domestic forestry and timber sector.