Dutch construction company VolkerWessels aims to climate-proof a minimum of 500 hectares of forests in the Netherlands during the next two years. To reach this goal, the company recently signed an agreement with FSC Netherlands. VolkerWessels wants to use wood from these climate-proof forests for its own construction projects. Source: Timberbiz
The signed agreement also includes Unie van Bosgroepen– a local cooperation providing support to forest and landowners in their land management – as a third partner.
VolkerWessels will invest up to 100,000 euros in climate-proof forest management until 2022.
Unie van Bosgroepen will take action in three FSC-certified forests in the Netherlands to enable the forest to capture more carbon, increase biodiversity and boost the positive perception of these climate-proof forests.
These measures include promoting natural regeneration of forests, planting tree species that are more resistant to climate change and strategies to promote more carbon storage in the soil.
“The use of materials and CO2 emissions are inherent in building and have a considerable impact on the natural environment. At VolkerWessels, using sustainable materials, including wood from well-managed forests, is therefore one of our top priorities,” said VolkerWessels CSR director, Lars van der Meulen.
“By contributing to climate-smart forest management, we are involved in the sustainable production of wood in the Netherlands and the capture of CO2 and we actually contribute to a healthier, sustainable living environment.”
According to FSC group certification manager for Unie van Bosgroepen, Gerard Koopmans, climate-proof forest management is desperately needed: “We are seeing a sharp decline in the quality of the forest, for example due to the drought in recent years. Tree species such as ash, Norway spruce, but also larch die off en masse. The Dutch forests need tree species that are more resistant to drought, but also tree species, such as winter lime and hazel, that promote the production of humus (a buffer against drought) and play an active role in making nutrients available.”
According to VolkerWessels and Unie van Bosgroepen, the involvement of FSC in this project ensures the sustainable management of these climate-proof forests due to its high standards.
