The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that trade in processed wood products has increased 800% over the last 3 decades and small and medium-sized enterprises employ over 50% of the forest sector workforce.
The Rainforest Alliance estimates that wood products that have used sustainable forest management practices and have been certified as such can generate price premiums of up to 50% more than non-certified products, and that small and medium-sized enterprises have benefited the most from this process.
Sustainable forest management includes several activities to ensure harvesting is done at a sustainable rate and method, such as using reduced-impact logging techniques and implementing practices that reduce fire risks and conserve soil quality and biodiversity. Forests are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts such as insect outbreaks, fires, strong winds, droughts, and pathogen attacks.