Green building and fuel wood
The important role of forests as provider of ecosystem services, including mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, is highlighted in two recent press releases from the The Timber Committee of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
UNECE points to the very significant amount of carbon sequestered in the living forest: Europe's forests alone hold seven times the total annual emmissions of greenhouse gases from all anthropogenic sources. However, not only conservation and sustainable management of the living forest has an impact on the carbon balance of the atmosphere. Even forest products can play a positive role.
Green building - a driver of forest certification
According to UNECE, green building using wood materials assists in combating global warming, as the energy efficiency of wood buildings often rate higher in life cycle analyses than those with steel, concrete or brick. UNECE reports that green building is becoming a part of corporate responsibility programs for companies and other organisations. As some green building policies require the use of certified wood, green building is also a driver of forest certification.
Increasing demands for energy wood
Wood-based fuel is also mentioned as a means to mitigate climate change.
Increasing demands for wood material for energy production enable the forest owner to make profits based on low-value roundwood. According to UNECE, demands for wood energy - already making up about 65% of all renewable energy sources in Europe - are growing. However, this has created concern among pulp and paper manufacturers about the competition for their raw material.
