WoodReconstruct
Project overview
Participants
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Global goals
- 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- 11. Sustainable cities and communities
- 12. Responsible consumption and production
- 13. Climate action
- 15. Life on land
Short summary
The project will investigate how wood can be used effectively for repairs, temporary housing, and long-term sustainable rebuilding in war-torn Ukraine. It will also strengthen Swedish preparedness within wood building.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine, that began in 2022, has caused immense human suffering and severe housing damage and forced millions of people to flee, creating urgent needs for repair and temporary housing. As the conflict subsides, long-term reconstruction becomes crucial. Moreover, Sweden’s heightened security threats highlight the importance of conflict preparedness in its wood construction sector.
Wood as a building material has several advantages. With its carbon-sequestering properties and versatility, wood offers a low-carbon option for construction and repair in crisis and conflict situations. The project will examine how wood and its value chains can be efficiently utilised in Ukraine for repairs, temporary housing and reconstruction.
The aim is to increase knowledge for sustainable and effective wood use in conflict-affected contexts, like the one of present Ukraine. Simultaneously, the project will, based on accumulated knowledge from Ukraine, facilitate the resilience of Sweden's timber construction sector in a deteriorated security situation. The results can facilitate Swedish and international contributions to Ukraine’s rebuilding process.
The project’s goals are to:
- Analyze functional, circular, and robust uses of timber in construction, repair, and reconstruction during conflict and long-term rebuilding, focusing on optimizing wood applications.
- Evaluate timber's climate and social performance to enhance its environmental and societal benefits.
- Identify feasible practices for timber construction during and after conflict, emphasizing functionality, sustainability, compatibility, acceptability, and societal relevance.
The results will suggest how to improve wood applications in Ukraine during the war and in reconstruction, enhancing housing quality and supporting sustainability transitions. It will also benefit Swedish stakeholders and policymaking by fostering bilateral exchanges on sustainable wood use, improving conflict preparedness in the country, and enhancing Swedish actors' capacity to support Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Read a news item about it: Timber Construction for Sustainable Reconstruction in Ukraine