Innovative Wood Products are the future 11-14 October, Geneva, Switzerland

The UNECE Timber Committee of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe meets again this year at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, to review the latest international developments affecting the forest sector.
For the first time, the Timber Committee Market Discussions and Policy Forum will be held jointly with the international Society of Wood Science and Technology.
The theme of the week is “Innovative wood products are the future”.
The meetings will take place on 11-14 October 2010 (see detailed programme and related official documents). All sessions have simultaneous interpretation in English, French and Russian.

Market Discussions
The week begins with an opening session on Monday, 11 October, followed that afternoon by joint Market Discussions. This year’s theme is “Forest products markets rebound in the UNECE region: Innovative wood products lead the way”. Expert speakers will present traditional market sector developments and forecasts, as well as new market sectors, for example forest carbon markets. The focus will be on innovative products and processing. A detailed programme, with speakers, may be found here.

The annual Timber Committee Market Discussions are based on:
1.UNECE/FAO Forest Products Annual Market Review, 2009-2010
2.Country market statements
3.Country market forecasts for 2010 and 2011 (available after the meeting).

Policy Forum
A joint forum on “Building codes and standards: Influence on material use and construction practices” will be held on 13 October. (Provisional agenda)

Technical sessions
The Society of Wood Science and Technology will have joint and parallel sessions. Their parallel sessions include, in order from 12 October:

•Innovative Wood and Wood-based Materials and Their Use in Sustainable Construction
•Role of Nanotechnology in Green Materials and Sustainable Construction
•Structural Design for Sustainable Construction and Disaster Mitigation
•Current Challenges in Wood Science Education
•Dynamic-Vapor Sorption Analyses of Wood – a New Approach to Classical Problems (special luncheon presentation on 14 October.)