If demand for wood fuel continues to rise relative to the baseline
year of 2010, imports and substitute products will also have to
be factored in to the overall equation along with the resulting
ecological, economic and social consequences.

Building with wood for a better carbon balance

In their sustainability calculations, the researchers show that
using non-wood alternatives such as steel or concrete in the construction
sector increases greenhouse emissions. In terms of fuel, however,
wood replaces fossil fuels and so total greenhouse gas emissions
remain more or less the same. However, burning more wood does increase
levels of particulate matter. The researchers were unable to determine
how decreased utilization of wood as a commodity affects particle
emission levels.

In the scenarios, less wood is utilized when oil and wood prices
rise. This means that more carbon is stored in forests. However,
there are also two other factors that have a larger impact on the
carbon balance of the entire system. Firstly, the amount of carbon
stored in wood products and, secondly, the utilization of wood instead
of more energy-intensive materials such as concrete or steel and
the utilization of wood instead of other fossil fuels.

In the case of the Bavarian Forestry and Wood Cluster Initiative,
the researchers calculated that the long-term storage of carbon
translated into economic gains of up to EUR 150 million per year
based on current prices in CO2 emissions trading.

More jobs in the wood fuel sector

According to the scenarios, jobs would be created in the wood fuel
sector, for example in the felling and processing of wood fuel and
in logistics. In contrast, the number of people employed in the
sawmill, wood-based panel, paper and printing industries could fall.
Overall, more jobs would be lost than would be created by the expansion
of the wood fuel sector.

When examining the utilization of wood, the conversion of forests
also has to be taken into consideration. Foresters in Bavaria, for
example, are increasing the proportion of deciduous trees, in order
to increase biodiversity and robustness of forest ecosystems. Since
2002, the proportion of broadleaf, in particular beech trees, has
increased by seven percent. According to Richter, however, “Spruce
has certain properties that make it the preferred wood for the construction
industry. And so we need to find new applications for wood from
broadleaf trees.”