The German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia has long supported the reforestation of hardwood tree species to foster storm-resilient and functional forests. At the same time, the wood is increasingly used as a sustainable source of energy. As these hardwood forests mature, their wood becomes increasingly harvestable. Already today, there are untapped wood reserves from older deciduous forests. The Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Agriculture, Nature Conservation and Consumer Protection of North Rhine-Westphalia has contracted UNIQUE and Forst-Holz-Markt Consulting to conduct a study estimating the expected increase in volume of hardwood and analyze how to achieve the highest added value possible.

• Selection of key actors in the hardwood cluster for expert interviews.
• Estimation of the potential hardwood supply.
• Description of national and international future markets for hardwood products.
• Detailed account of current hardwood usage according to areas and industries.