Wood industries, ranging from pulp and paper mill to saw mills, were among the hardest-hit by the global recession in 2008-09 and finally are recovering, says the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Growth in wood products ranged from 1 to 5 percent depending on the sector in 2014, surpassing the rates seen in 2007, before the recession. The fastest growth was reported in the Asia-Pacific and in the Latin America and Caribbean regions. Wood production is important to millions of people around the world who rely on forests for their livelihood. Production of wood pellets, used as a fuel, hit a record 26 million tonnes in 2014, mainly due to increased consumption in Europe, up 78 percent. “The demand for wood pellets as a green energy source has increased significantly since 2008 and is expected to grow as more and more countries commit to mitigation actions on climate change,” said FAO.