The socio-economic component of the global forestry

13 million people are employed in the formal forestry sector (forestry management, production of lumber and wood products, pulp and paper industry). More than 50% of the officially employed people in the forestry sector are in Asia. 2.8 working places in the field of primary processing account for one working place in the field of forestry management. Every fourth employee in the formal forestry sector is a woman.

Revenues from the production of forest products in the informal sector constitute $ 125 billion per year. No less than 41 million people are employed in the informal forestry sector, it is three times more than the number of people employed in the formal sector. In Africa, 5% of the population works in the informal forestry sector, mainly in the production of energy from wood. In general, the production of 1 mᶾ of business logs gives an income of $ 325 during harvesting and initial processing.

In 29 countries of the world, more than half of the whole energy production depends on wood, 22 of these countries are in Africa. In general, more than half of the timber produced in the world is used for energy purposes. Every third household in the world uses wood as the main fuel for cooking.

In 13 European countries more than 10% of energy is timber –based energy. At least 90 million people in Europe and North America use wood for home heating.

1.3 billion people live in homes where wood (forest) products are the main materials for the floor, roof and walls. Around 765 million people use firewood for boiling drinking water. 700 million of women and children collect firewood, for this activity they spend 5% of their time. In less developed countries, women and children collect 85% of fuel wood, which they use at home.

Information provided according to http://derevoobrobnyk.com/