Material flow analysis of the forest-wood supply chain: a consequential approach for log export policies in France

In the context of national policies for climate mitigation and energy transition, the forestwood sector is drawing increasing attention, not only for energy wood but also for longer-life timber products. At the same time, part of the French timber transformation industry suffers from difficulties to adapt to recent changes on global markets, which translates into net exports of raw wood and imports of transformed products, detrimental to both the trade balance and the local creation of wealth. This article first aims at objectifying this situation by undertaking the first material flow analysis of the French forest-wood supply chain. We then evaluate the potential consequences of various scenarios of raw wood exports reduction policies, namely subsidies for consumption or transformation and taxation of exports, on both economic outcomes for the different actors and material flows. We thus provide an example of coupling material flow analysis with economic modeling in an attempt to move from the diagnostic phase to the assessment of possible actions within a decision-making perspective.