Il vous manque le lecteur Adobe Flash pour visionner l'animation.

The French forestry industry

The French forestry industry generates a turnover of over 40 billion euros and accounts for 425,000 jobs. The industry provides for more jobs than the automobile industry and almost one French person in twenty owns a forest.

The activities associated with timber and forests are diverse, drawing on a wide range of industries, such as forest exploitation, timber sawing, the manufacture of timber panels and paper pulp, timber frames/joinery etc. This industry is characteristically present across the whole country and encompasses both artisans and processing industries, from large companies down to very small ones.

A diverse and abundant supply of forests

With 128 different species, French forests are home to an impressive biodiversity. They constitute Europe's largest hardwood forest, and boasts a huge variety of coniferous trees, such as pine, spruce, Douglas fir and maritime pine. Their surface area increases by around 40,000 hectares every year. This source of wellbeing constitutes a genuine asset for the country, which sees implementation of a major plantation policy as a key issue for the future.

A diverse range of sawn timber

Reflecting the French forests, the French sawmills offer a wide range of products in multiple species. These mills are extremely flexible and capable of producing extra long lengths and working to specific dimensions.

The construction and wood energy industry are constantly growing, in response to the development of the eco-construction sector. Since the turn of the new millennium the timber industry has benefited from the momentum of new construction start-ups, particularly the panel and timber framers manufacturers and the joiners. The current enthusiasm for timber construction has accentuated this growth. The last few months might have marked the end of this period of sharp growth, but the timber construction sector is better placed to cope with the current economic uncertainties than the traditional construction sector. The recent pro-environment measures should also bring about healthy growth in the eco-construction industry.

Every two years, the statistics department of the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, partner of The Carrefour International du Bois, publishes "Le bois en chiffres". (download the latest version of this survey by clicking on the appropriate link)

For its part, the Pays de la Loire INSEE has produced a survey on "La filière bois en Pays de la Loire" (4 page summary or 40 page survey).

Wood & Sustainable Development

The Grenelle de l'Environnement, (French environmental round table), the energy-climate plan and Fonds Chaleur (renewable heat fund) are just some of the many forces driving increased environmental awareness. The green revolution is well and truly under way, with timber blazing the trail.
Wood is a natural material that renews itself quickly through the tree growth cycle. Excellent forestry management, as is predominantly the case across France and Europe, ensures that this material is widely available. This vast expanse of forest constitutes a genuine asset. A continued programme of intense tree planting is required, as the demand for timber is set to increase in the coming years. Wood stores CO2 and consumes only small amounts of energy during processing.

As a construction material, it provides an easy means of building low-energy consumption houses. Examples of this type of construction can be seen both abroad and, more recently, in France.

When used as a source of heat, it does not contribute to carbon emissions, unlike fossil fuels. This biomass now constitutes the leading source of renewable energy produced in France.

Wood used as packaging provides hygrometric and hygienic qualities. Packaging wood can then be further processed into panels or used for wood energy.

This momentum is clearly evident at the trade show, where all the various elements of the timber industry come together under one roof.

Top