Abstract
Being competitive in processing and refining forest raw-material induces economic value (EV). Although the two value chains of wood chips and non-wood forest products (NWFPs), presented in this paper, operate under different conditions and business-strategies, it is equal to both that the added value they gain depends economically on the refinement strategy and socially on sustaining jobs and rural vitality. Thereby, technical and digital progress and the mutual dynamics of rural urban relationships are decisive to professionalize marketing and logistics for extending the demand of domestic forest products. The paper analyses key factors enabling sustainable bio-economic business-models, how they impact rural economy and if that is an appropriate recipe to diminish the rural urban divide. Case studies are taken as references to identify best ways to use funds and for defending exigency to introduce new forest and NWFPs products according the purpose assessment of resources and probable market opportunities. Thereby, light is shed on the horizontal and vertical contributions of actors and intermediate suppliers along the value added chain. By means of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) matrix, the growth rates of purchase, sales, domestic and export markets are evaluated. Additionally, the conflicts between micro-economic interests and macro-economic benefits are stated. Thereby, cascade timber-processing according to the materialistic or energetic timber-usage or interdependencies between silvicultural management and required site-conditions for NWFPs are also discussed.