The Carbon Impacts of Wood Products

Bergman, Richard; Puettmann, Maureen; Taylor, Adam; Skog, Kenneth E.

doi:10.13073/fpj-d-14-00047

Cited by 114 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Sawn wood products kept carbon out of the atmosphere longer compared to that of pulp/paper products. This was because of their longer lifespan [33,[58][59][60]. Thus, the increase in carbon stock of sawn wood has positive impacts on climate change mitigation in addition to substitution benefits, which has also been found in previous studies [42,61,62].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

Climate Change Mitigation Potential in Boreal Forests: Impacts of Management, Harvest Intensity and Use of Forest Biomass to Substitute Fossil Resources

Baul

Alam

Ikonen

et al. 2017

Forests

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Abstract:The impacts of alternative forest management scenarios and harvest intensities on climate change mitigation potential of forest biomass production, utilization and economic profitability of biomass production were studied in three boreal sub-regions in Finland over a 40-year period. Ecosystem modelling and life cycle assessment tools were used to calculate the mitigation potential in substituting fossil materials and energy, expressed as the net CO 2 exchange. Currently recommended management targeting to timber production acted as a baseline management. Alternative management included maintaining 20% higher or lower stocking in forests and final felling made at lower breast height diameter than used in the baseline. In alternative management scenarios, logging residues and logging residues with coarse roots and stumps were harvested in final felling in addition to timber. The net CO 2 exchange in the southern and eastern sub-regions was higher compared to the western one due to higher net ecosystem CO 2 exchange (NEE) over the study period. Maintaining higher stocking with earlier final felling and intensified biomass harvest appeared to be the best option to increase both climate benefits and economic returns. Trade-offs between the highest net CO 2 exchange and economic profitability of biomass production existed. The use of alternative displacement factors largely affected the mitigation potential of forest biomass.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

Climate Change Mitigation Potential in Boreal Forests: Impacts of Management, Harvest Intensity and Use of Forest Biomass to Substitute Fossil Resources

Baul

Alam

Ikonen

et al. 2017

Forests

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“…However, our results and those of others (Ager et al 2010a) indicate that the magnitude of benefits outside of treated areas does not make up for carbon removed by harvesting and prescribed fire. Accounting for the carbon stored in wood products manufactured from timber harvested in the course of fuels treatments would increase the total carbon stored under the treatment scenarios (Bergman et al 2014), potentially altering the carbon accounting results.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using an agent-based model to examine forest management outcomes in a fire-prone landscape in Oregon, USA

Spies¹,

White²,

Ager³

et al. 2017

E&S

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. 2017. Using an agent-based model to examine forest management outcomes in a fire-prone landscape in Oregon, USA. Ecology and Society 22 (1) ABSTRACT. Fire-prone landscapes present many challenges for both managers and policy makers in developing adaptive behaviors and institutions. We used a coupled human and natural systems framework and an agent-based landscape model to examine how alternative management scenarios affect fire and ecosystem services metrics in a fire-prone multiownership landscape in the eastern Cascades of Oregon. Our model incorporated existing models of vegetation succession and fire spread and information from original empirical studies of landowner decision making. Our findings indicate that alternative management strategies can have variable effects on landscape outcomes over 50 years for fire, socioeconomic, and ecosystem services metrics. For example, scenarios with federal restoration treatments had slightly less high-severity fire than a scenario without treatment; exposure of homes in the wildland-urban interface to fire was also slightly less with restoration treatments compared to no management. Treatments appeared to be more effective at reducing high-severity fire in years with more fire than in years with less fire. Under the current management scenario, timber production could be maintained for at least 50 years on federal lands. Under an accelerated restoration scenario, timber production fell because of a shortage of areas meeting current stand structure treatment targets. Trade-offs between restoration outcomes (e.g., open forests with large fire-resistant trees) and habitat for species that require dense older forests were evident. For example, the proportional area of nesting habitat for northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis) was somewhat less after 50 years under the restoration scenarios than under no management. However, the amount of resilient older forest structure and habitat for white-headed woodpecker (Leuconotopicus albolarvatus) was higher after 50 years under active management. More carbon was stored on this landscape without management than with management, despite the occurrence of high-severity wildfire. Our results and further applications of the model could be used in collaborative settings to facilitate discussion and development of policies and practices for fire-prone landscapes.

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“…Life cycle assessments, which categorize energy consumption and emission profiles for products over their whole life cycle, 1,2 consistently show that many wood-based materials use less fossil fuels to produce than do competing materials. 3,4 Using wood products can also lower atmospheric carbon dioxide levels because growing forests capture carbon and harvested wood products store the accumulated carbon while in service.…”

Section: Wood's 390 Millionth Birthdaymentioning

confidence: 99%

Not Just Lumber—Using Wood in the Sustainable Future of Materials, Chemicals, and Fuels

Jakes

Arzola-Villegas

Bergman

et al. 2016

JOM

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Forest-derived biomaterials can play an integral role in a sustainable and renewable future. Research across a range of disciplines is required to develop the knowledge necessary to overcome the challenges of incorporating more renewable forest resources in materials, chemicals, and fuels. We focus on wood specifically because in our view, better characterization of wood as a raw material and as a feedstock will lead to its increased utilization. We first give an overview of wood structure and chemical composition and then highlight current topics in forest products research, including (1) industrial chemicals, biofuels, and energy from woody materials; (2) wood-based activated carbon and carbon nanostructures; (3) development of improved wood protection treatments; (4) massive timber construction; (5) wood as a bioinspiring material; and (6) atomic simulations of wood polymers. We conclude with a discussion of the sustainability of wood as a renewable forest resource. WOOD'S 390 MILLIONTH BIRTHDAYWood is one of the major innovations of land plants ''invented'' some 390 million years ago. Wood enabled individual plants to increase their stature and persistence in the environment, facilitating the ability of trees to play roles in landscape change and biome composition and to fundamentally alter the global cycling of water, minerals, and carbon. Since prehistoric times, humans have found wood invaluable for meeting many of their needs, including energy, tools, and shelter-not surprising given its near-ubiquity, versatility, and renewability. Only in the comparatively recent past have other nonrenewable natural resources, such as fossil fuels or metal ores, become the resources of choice to meet our material needs. We postulate that wood will play an increasing role in the sustainability of our future materials through both expansion of uses for current forest products and development of alternatives to materials currently derived from nonrenewable resources. Life cycle assessments, which categorize energy consumption and emission profiles for products over their whole life cycle, 1,2 consistently show that many wood-based materials use less fossil fuels to produce than do competing materials.3,4 Using wood products can also lower atmospheric carbon dioxide levels because growing forests capture carbon and harvested wood products store the accumulated carbon while in service.Historically, wood research has been the purview of wood technologists; however, we see the future of wood research as interdisciplinary, collaborative, quantitative, and meaningful, both scientifically

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The Carbon Impacts of Wood Products

Cited by 114 publications

References 15 publications

Climate Change Mitigation Potential in Boreal Forests: Impacts of Management, Harvest Intensity and Use of Forest Biomass to Substitute Fossil Resources

Climate Change Mitigation Potential in Boreal Forests: Impacts of Management, Harvest Intensity and Use of Forest Biomass to Substitute Fossil Resources

Using an agent-based model to examine forest management outcomes in a fire-prone landscape in Oregon, USA

Not Just Lumber—Using Wood in the Sustainable Future of Materials, Chemicals, and Fuels

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