New beginnings

After twelve months marked by uncertainty, the year 2025 is ending in a rather unusual way for forestry and wood industry professionals, caught between hope and disillusionment. Just a few days before the end-of-year holidays, two major announcements have reshuffled the deck for a sector still seeking unity, harmony, and structure, between the announced end of the CNDB and the unexpected merger of the UICB and the LCB.
Created more than thirty years ago to promote our material in all its forms and uses, the CNDB has, over the years, become a cornerstone for many professionals both within and beyond the sector. After being saved once in 2016, its disappearance nearly ten years later represents a significant loss— all the more surprising given that forestry and wood have been at the heart of political, environmental, and societal debates for several years now. While the CNDB has played a major role in advancing the use of wood throughout its existence, the road still to be traveled in terms of training, education, job attractiveness, or, more fundamentally, market development remains long. More than ever, the sector needs a competent, recognized, and broadly supported communication body.
Such consensus is precisely what the UICB and Le Commerce du Bois managed to achieve when theycreated a surprise in mid-December by officially announcing their merger (see article on page 14). This well-considered rapprochement, the result of a year of discussions, reflects the determination of both organizations to go further, speak with one voice, and broaden their scope of action. It also lays a first and essential cornerstone toward simplifying the highly fragmented organizational structure of our institutions, and gradually moving toward the “large, unified sector” long hoped for by many professionals.
As a new year begins, the wood sector loses one of its “branches” but gains in unity. It is now up to the industry to rebuild itself and continue its growth on new foundations.

Wishing everyone a happy New Year!

Adèle Cazier

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