Conceptualizing the Education Roadmap to Support the Implementation of Circular Economy Principles in the Forestry Sector—A Case Study of the Baltic Sea Region

Environmental education, implemented at both formal and informal levels, plays a significant role in the transformation process towards a Circular Economy (CE). In the Baltic Sea Region (BRS), the significant role of the forestry sector is worth noting, as it contributes to strengthening the CE agenda through the sustainable and circular management of wood processing waste. However, currently, environmental education on the potential uses of this waste, for the general public (including youth), students, and professionals, is quite limited. Therefore, this paper presents a conceptual approach to developing an education roadmap. The scope of work includes identifying the education gap in the forestry sector using a questionnaire survey among residents of the Baltic Sea Region, and then developing a concept for an education roadmap consistent with the CE assumptions. The presented concept of roadmap is a comprehensive document that analyses the educational needs, challenges, and opportunities related to the sustainable use of forest biomass in a given region. Strategic assumptions and educational priorities were identified and implemented in this document. Our findings contribute to aligning forestry education with broader environmental and economic goals in the Baltic Sea Region and beyond. This study supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 15 (Life on Land) by providing practical insights for advancing circular economy education in natural resource management.