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Using wood to combat climate change

Combating human-caused climate change is a key challenge, and requires a wide range of actions. Increasing use of wood, increasing the longevity of wood products and improving the sustainability of forest management can all help to reduce climate change. Under certain circumstances, they can also help to promote sustainable development. With many differing views on the management and use of wood supplies, it is important that people are clear on the best ways of achieving this.

Research from the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), UK, looks at the benefits of this approach and identifies clear guidelines. Forests and trees absorb up to 25 percent of global emissions of carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse gas that drives climate change. They convert the gas into solid carbon in the form of wood during their growth. Fast-growing plantations are responsible for the storage of 0.2 billion tonnes of carbon per year. However, at the same time, deforestation is responsible for the emission of 1.7 billion tonnes per year.

Contrary to common belief, deforestation is not usually caused by a demand for wood. Often, it is simply that the land is more valuable when used for a different purpose, such as agriculture. Boycotting wood products can reduce timber prices and make forests even less valuable. It is more important for international groups to support the better management of forests, rather than boycott products from deforestation areas.

One constructive approach is to use wood rather than alternative industrial materials. For example, using one cubic meter equivalent of timber instead of concrete blocks in buildings can save between 0.725 and 1.01 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Using wood products (such as cardboard and paper) instead of woods substitutes (such as plastic, steel or aluminium) for packaging can also make significant savings. The research notes that:

Current policies still disregard the climatic benefits of wood.
The use of wood substitutes is increasing despite negative environmental impacts.
Many people still erroneously believe that using wood substitutes are better for the environment as they reduce deforestation.
Recycling and recovery programmes for wood are often inexplicably dismissed in favour of incineration or landfill.
Consumers are unaware of the benefits of using timber and insisting on products from sustainable forest management.

The sustainable management of natural forests is a particularly promising strategy towards win-win outcomes for the environment and sustainable development. As well as being good for the environment, these provide benefits for local people such as employment, food, medicines, construction materials, soil stability, cultural identity and landscape beauty. However, managing these natural forests is complex and costly. They will continue to be replaced with lucrative but less diverse plantations, or other land uses unless subsidies compensate managers for the wider development benefits of their management.

To promote more sustainable management of natural forests, policymakers need to understand the following about climate change:

While 90 percent of cuts in carbon emissions must come from cleaner fossil fuels and greater energy efficiency, halting deforestation and instigating forest expansion are also vital and necessary steps.
While fast growing plantations can act as a useful carbon store, their impact is currently dwarfed by the loss of natural forests.
While selective logging for timber in natural forests does have some negative environmental impact, this pales into insignificance compared with forest conversion for agricultural or forest plantations.

Forest projects should not be seen as replacing other measures to reduce climate change; a combined approach is needed. However, it is vital that more people understand how forests and wood products can act as carbon stores and support sustainable development. The challenge is to enlighten consumers to support policy changes.

Source(s):
‘Could wood combat climate change? And could this help sustainable development?’ IIED, Edinburgh, by D. Macqueen, J. Mayers and H. Reid, 2004 Full document.
‘Using wood products to mitigate climate change: a review of evidence and key issues for sustainable development’, IIED, London, by H. Reid, S. Huq, A. Inkinen, J. MacGregor, D. Macqueen, J.Mayers, L. Murray and R. Tipper, 2004 Full document.

Funded by: Nordic Timber Council

id21 Research Highlight: 15 January 2005

Further Information:
Duncan Macqueen
Forestry and Land Use Programme
International Institute for Environment and Development
4 Hanover Street
Edinburgh
EH2 2EN
UK

Tel: +44 (0) 131 226 6860
Fax: +44 (0) 131 624 7050
Contact the contributor: Duncan.macqueen@iied.org

International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), UK

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