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Global patterns and trends of wood harvest and use between 1990 and 2010

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  • Bais, Anna Liza S.
  • Lauk, Christian
  • Kastner, Thomas
  • Erb, Karlheinz

Abstract

Wood biomass forms the basis for a variety of products and it represents an important source of technical energy. Woodfuels and forests play an important role for climate change mitigation, by their ability to replace fossil fuel and sequester atmospheric carbon. At the same time, wood extraction is an important driver for deforestation. However, large uncertainties relate to the amount and spatio-temporal pattern of wood use. We here present a comprehensive assessment of wood biomass flows in 11 world regions from 1990 to 2010. We found that global total biomass appropriation (TBA) amounts to 1.81GtC/year in 1990 and 1.94GtC/year in 2010 (+7%). In 2010, TBA represents 4% of the global forest net primary production. Only 54% of TBA enters socioeconomic systems while 46% remain in forests or represent waste flows. About 56% of economically used wood biomass enters the energy sector. There are considerable regional variations in wood biomass flows among world regions, owing to differences in population, affluence, and area. Global demand for wood is expected to increase in the near future, putting additional pressure to forest ecosystems. We discuss the potential of cascading use of wood as a means to reduce impacts related to resource use.

Suggested Citation

  • Bais, Anna Liza S. & Lauk, Christian & Kastner, Thomas & Erb, Karlheinz, 2015. "Global patterns and trends of wood harvest and use between 1990 and 2010," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 326-337.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:119:y:2015:i:c:p:326-337
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2015.09.011
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    1. Weisz, Helga & Krausmann, Fridolin & Amann, Christof & Eisenmenger, Nina & Erb, Karl-Heinz & Hubacek, Klaus & Fischer-Kowalski, Marina, 2006. "The physical economy of the European Union: Cross-country comparison and determinants of material consumption," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(4), pages 676-698, July.
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    2. José Oliveira & António Azevedo & João J. Ferreira & Sofia Gomes & João M. Lopes, 2021. "An insight on B2B Firms in the Age of Digitalization and Paperless Processes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-21, October.
    3. Rory J. Layton & Rachel Horta Arduin & Haji Yazdeen & Regis Pommier & Guido Sonnemann, 2021. "Material Flow Analysis to Evaluate Supply Chain Evolution and Management: An Example Focused on Maritime Pine in the Landes de Gascogne Forest, France," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-12, April.
    4. Owoyemi Jacob Mayowa & Zakariya Habeeb Olawale & Elegbede Isa Olalekan, 2016. "Sustainable wood waste management in Nigeria," Environmental & Socio-economic Studies, Sciendo, vol. 4(3), pages 1-9, September.

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