Niet alleen natuur: in bos groeit hout: Pleidooi voor een herwaardering van houtoogst in Nederlandse bossen

Dutch forests, despite their small size, play a crucial role in biodiversity onservation, recreation, and carbon cycling. However, their role in the provisioning of wood is increasingly disregarded or even rejected.
This essay advocates a renewed appreciation of sustainable wood harvesting as a key resource for the bioeconomy. Wood harvest in the Netherlands has declined by 25% in the past decade due to complex regulations and negative perceptions. Yet, the demand for wood is rising. Misconceptions equating wood harvesting with deforestation or destruction of nature hinder balanced forest management. In reality, responsible harvesting can contribute to carbon mitigation and nature conservation. Historically, Dutch forests have been shaped by human intervention, and continued forest management - including wood harvest - can enhance both ecological and economic
benefits. Rather than relying almost exclusively on
imports, the Netherlands should integrate sustainable
wood production into its forest policy, ensuring a
multifunctional approach that balances conservation,
recreation, and resource use.