Pit Mischo, president of a non-profit advocating for sustainable forest management, discussed the state of Luxembourg's forests during an interview with our colleagues from RTL Radio on Tuesday morning.

The President of the non-profit association Fir en nohaltege Bësch FSC* Lëtzebuerg ("For a sustainable FSC forest Luxembourg") emphasised the need for a comprehensive round table discussion involving all stakeholders to chart the future of Luxembourg's forests. Currently, environmental and economic players operate separately, lacking a cohesive strategy. Mischo highlighted the importance of bridging this gap for effective forest management.

"While ministries and government departments often communicate digitally, forestry happens in the forest," Mischo underscored. To address this, FSC Luxembourg has sent a letter to five ministries (Environment, Energy, Economy, SMEs, and Education) calling for inclusive discussions with all stakeholders.

What is happening with Luxembourg's timber?

A significant concern raised by Mischo is the lack of comprehensive data on the utilisation and processing of wood from Luxembourg's forests. "We have very little information on how much wood is actually used and processed here in Luxembourg," Mischo criticised.

According to Mischo, despite data from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (STATEC) suggesting wood exports to Belgium and the Netherlands, it is common knowledge that much of the wood is treated with pesticides and fungicides, then shipped to Antwerp and Rotterdam ports. From there, it is exported to China for processing before potentially returning to Luxembourg.

Mischo lamented this practice, drawing a comparison to past practices at the Reunited Steelworks of Burbach-Eich-Dudelange (ARBED) where ore extraction and exploitation remained local. "It's tragic that we can't seem to achieve the same with our wood," Mischo remarked.

Making better use of Luxembourg's timber resources

FSC Luxembourg has long advocated for the establishment of a High Council for Forestry and Wood in Luxembourg. Currently, the country only has a High Council for Nature Protection, which, while including forests, does not adequately represent stakeholders involved in wood processing, according to Pit Mischo.

Mischo highlighted a critical issue: the scarcity of Luxembourg-sourced timber despite consumer demand. "That's the problem," Mischo emphasised.

An attempt to address this is the electronic wood market where products can be uploaded for purchase by carpenters. However, this platform currently faces operational issues. Similarly, the Nature and Forest Agency maintains a database with hundreds of products, but these cannot be integrated into the wood market platform due to incompatible systems.

Mischo expressed frustration over the lack of coordination between public administrations. "It's bewildering that two public bodies have no idea what the other is doing, hindering seamless implementation," Mischo remarked.

FSC Luxembourg believes Luxembourg is not fully capitalising on the added value generated from its 90,000 hectares of forested land. Mischo also noted the challenge posed by excessive game populations in the forests, advocating for increased hunting activities as a solution.

*FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council