Rising demand for and scarcity of wood - together with cost savings and resource efficiency requirements - have led to a constant increase in the use of wood processing residues, where appropriate, in the production of wood-based products. This chapter presents/reviews the available information and existing knowledge of residues at various regional levels. It describes the segment of wood processing residues as an important wood resource and the availability of data on a national and on a global level for the quantification and the projection of the resource. The chapter points out the importance of empirical data (collection). Furthermore, it provides a terminology concept for a harmonised use of the diverse assortments and production stages of wood processing residues.
Keywords: Assortments of wood-based residues; Data availability; Forest industry branches; Terminology of wood-based residues; Wood resource assessment.