Wood industry clusters and their optimal location for the efficient use of forest raw materials

Abstract

World experience in the creating of clusters in different industries has shown their effectiveness. This paper investigated the resource potential for creating a cluster designed for wood processing and to process wood waste from the timber industry of the Krasnoyarsk Territory of Russia. Static indicators were assessed, representing a quantitative characteristic of forest raw material resources: total and operational reserves of wood available in the region. While studying the state and use of forest resources, significant reserves of forest resources and secondary raw materials were revealed. Main indicators of the forest industry of the region over recent years were analyzed. The main systemic issues hindering the development of the timber industry were exposed. It was concluded that the region has raw material potential and industrial infrastructure necessary for the formation and sustainable development of a cluster for processing waste from the timber industry. Analysis of the producers and harvesters of forest products’ locations revealed potential wood industry clusters, and areas suitable for cluster economic development were proposed. The average figures of the nearest neighbor were used and analyzed to examine the spatial distribution of raw material harvesters and enterprises that produce finished products with respect to transport infrastructure, staffing, and raw material availability.