It’s ready – this year’s programme at Elmia Wood!

With just over a month left until Elmia Wood, the programme has now been finalised. This year we see a stronger starting field than ever, featuring interesting speakers and debaters with a common focus: future innovation and sustainable forestry.

As the countdown continues there’s just over a month to go until Elmia Wood opens its doors this year on 2 June. Detailed planning is in full swing and the programme of the fair’s highlights is now final. With thousands of visitors expected from all over Europe, we’re looking forward to three eventful days in the fantastic and diverse forest of Bratteborg south of Jönköping. This year the focus will be on future innovation and sustainable forestry.

On hand for the three days of the fair will be moderator Ellinor Persson, known for being knowledgeable, clear and strong in her connection with the audience. She will lead a packed schedule of interviews and exciting debate panels from the heart of the fair, the Let’s Talk venue.

On 2 June the fair will be opened by Sweden’s Minister for Rural Affairs Anna-Caren Sätherberg. Day One continues with numerous exciting presentations. One of them is by Johan Börjesson of RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, who asks: “How many times and for what can we use a wood fibre?” The day concludes with the timber marketplace Virkesbörsen giving a speech on “The timber trade – price trends and future prospects”.

One of the most important items on the programme for Day Two is entitled: “How important is the forest industry from a climate and socioeconomic perspective?” The question is debated by Swedish politicians Mattias Karlsson (Sweden Democrats Party), Ulf Kristersson (Moderate Party), Isak From (Social Democratic Party), Jakob Olofsgård (Liberal People’s Party), Birger Lahti (Left Party) and Annie Lööf (Centre Party).
In another programme item, Magnus Berg of the Swedish Forest Industries Federation will give a historical review and also a future prediction about the importance of the forest.

On the last day of the fair we will meet representatives from various parties in the Swedish Riksdag debating the topic “How should Sweden’s forest owners think and act now and in the future?” Sharing the stage with Ellinor Persson will be Isak From (Social Democratic Party), John Widegren (Moderate Party), Jakob Olofsgård (Liberal People’s Party), Mats Nordberg (Sweden Democrats Party), and Maria Gardefjell (Green Party).

A number of the talks will be given in English. Examples include: “Ownership – managing or conserving”, which includes the speakers Tomas Lundmark from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Sven Erik Hammar, chairman of the board of the Confederation of European Forest Owners. Another talk is entitled “What can the forest resource be used for and how long will it last?” with Pål Börjesson of Lund University and Johan Börjesson of RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. Dr Thomas Bökmann will speak on “The bark beetle and the choice of tree species – the changing climate”.

Other highlights of the fair include the prizegiving ceremonies for the Golden Logger and Golden Axe of the Year awards, which will be held on the first day of the fair.

The Golden Logger goes to a forest contractor who has stood out within the industry in an extra positive way as a role model and source of inspiration.

The Golden Logger is organised by the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden – the Swedish forest industry’s reearch institute – together with Elmia. The Golden Axe award goes to a forest owner who in their production forestry has put in some extra thought and voluntarily adapted their forest management practices to benefit nature values or social values, with the purpose of making the forest a place where both the forest owner and outdoor living pursuits can thrive. The winner is chosen by Elmia together with the journal Land Skogsbrukand the Swedish forest industry organisation LRF Skogsägarna.

This year’s programme for Elmia Wood is now final and features a very strong collection of interesting debaters and speakers.

On hand for the three days of the fair will be moderator Ellinor Persson, known for being knowledgeable, clear and strong in her connection with the audience.

Programme