Bioregions members
We connect forward-thinking regions across Europe to cooperate, share resources, and co-learn to accelerate the transition towards a forest-based circular bioeconomy in their regions.
Working at a regional level allows policymakers to take advantage of strong regional policy tools, such as urban and land-use planning, while being conscious of unique regional contexts and challenges.
Bioregions work together across regions to share ideas, experience, and good practices, allowing initiatives with regional roots to have an outsized impact across Europe.
Meet our members
Bioregions members and observers are European regions that have taken the lead in making transformative changes towards a circular, forest-based bioeconomy.
Our Bioregions members include the Basque Country, North Rhine-Westphalia, Catalonia, the Austrian regions, and Castile and León. Observers are Flanders and the Committee of the Regions – NAT Commission (COR).
Basque Country
North Rhine-Westphalia
Catalonia
Austrian regions
Castile and León
Regions
Basque Country
The Basque Country is an autonomous community in northern Spain, covering 7,234 square kilometres and with a population of approximately 2.2 million people. The region’s diverse landscape includes coastal areas and mountainous terrains, influencing its climate and natural resources.
The Basque economy is highly industrialised, with significant contributions from the manufacturing, energy, and technology sectors. The region has a strong innovation profile, and within the forest bioeconomy start-up ecosystem, most start-ups function in the biotech, agri-food, forestry4.0 and timber construction sectors.
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is a federal state in western Germany. It covers an area of 34,100 square kilometres and has a population of approximately 18 million people. Twenty per cent of all start-ups in Germany are in the region, making it an example of dynamic innovators in the federal government and Europe.
Forests in the region cover 935,000 hectares, about 27% of the state’s area, but it has a strong cluster of forestry and timber industries, which are of national and international importance. The industry employs about 162,000 full-time employees. In addition, the region is a hub for bioeconomy initiatives and innovation, leveraging its dense network of academic institutions and enterprises to promote sustainable economic practices.
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, covering an area of 32,113.86 square kilometres and home to approximately 8 million people. The region boasts a diverse geography, from coastal areas along the Mediterranean to mountainous zones inland. Forest and natural areas cover 64% of Catalonia, or 2.1 million hectares of forests.
The government launched the Catalan Bioeconomy Strategy 2030, an initiative to foster sustainable development by leveraging local biological resources, promoting innovation, and ensuring fair economic growth across rural territories. To ensure systemic collaboration, the strategy involves diverse stakeholders such as businesses, academia, public authorities, and citizens.
Austrian regions
Austria comprises nine federal states (Bundesländer), each contributing uniquely to the nation’s bioeconomy. The country’s total area is approximately 83,878 square kilometres, and its population is about 9 million people. Forests cover nearly 4 million hectares, accounting for 48% of Austria’s land area.
The Austrian bioeconomy is diverse, with strengths in sustainable forestry, agriculture, and industrial sectors. The region focuses on integrating bio-based industries, promoting renewable energy, and advancing wood processing and biotechnology technologies. Collaborative efforts between regional governments, research institutions, and industries aim to foster innovation and sustainability in the bioeconomy sector.
Castile and León
Castile and León is an autonomous community in northwestern Spain, covering 94.226 square kilometres. With a population of 2.408 million (2019) people, the region has an area of 9.422 million hectares and 4.807 million hectares of forest.
Agriculture is Castile and León’s primary economic sector. Still, it also has an essential industrial fabric, with food and automotive as the main sectors. It focuses on developing a knowledge-based economy and promoting, for example, the aerospace industry, renewable energy, health biotechnology, and ICTs.
Synthesis reports
