It is generally agreed by both energy and forestry scientists
that, provided harvesting is conducted in a sustainable manner, the combustion
of wood for energy production is essentially carbon dioxide neutral when the
normal forest regeneration period is considered. When wood combustion replaces
the consumption of fossil fuels, however, the net reduction in carbon dioxide
release is almost immediate.
In addition to the requirement of sustainable forestry practices, the maintenance
of site biodiversity must also be considered. A preliminary review of the
litreature reveals that periodic selective harvesting can actually have a
positive impact on the biodiversity of the forest. Despite the fact that the
harvesting, processing and transportation of wood fuel invariably consumes
fossil fuels, it has been shown in case studies that the energy return on
investment can easily exceed a ratio of 25:1.
Approximately 20 percent of the single family dwellings in Canada are heated
to some extent with wood and the potential exists for an increasing contribution
of wood fuel to residential energy requirements. However, there is evidence
of confusion among the public regarding the environmental impact of woodburning,
particularly as it relates to CO2 emissions and carbon storage in forests.
This confusion could impede the increased use of wood for residential heating
because it calls into question the appropriateness of using wood for energy
purposes.
The forms of residential wood energy use that have evolved in rural North
America provide important but neglected models of sustainable development.
This could serve as the central theme of a public information program to clarify
the role of wood energy in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Wood fires that fit
Half of humanity cooks over woodfires -- the poorer half. Nearly half the world's wood supply is used as fuel.
But it's not enough -- more than 2 billion people are facing fuelwood shortages. Forests in the developing countries are shrinking by more than 15 million hectares a year. The ratio of forests-to-people is less than half what it was in 1960.
For most, there's no alternative to burning wood -- wood energy is here to stay.
In fact burning wood is no bad thing: the efficient use of wood fuel is much more eco-friendly than more efficient and convenient fuels like kerosene and natural gas (LPG). LPG emits 15 times more CO2 (carbon dioxide) per kg than wood, and kerosene nearly 10 times as much. CO2 is the main source of global warming.
And as long as wood burning is sustainable and doesn't cause deforestation, its CO2 emissions are neutral -- the CO2 released in the fire simply gets recycled back into more trees.
