News Finding: Through efficient harvesting and product use, more CO 2 is saved through the avoided emissions, materials, and wood energy than is lost from the harvested forest.
Paper Finding: The greatest CO 2 and FF savings from wood use are by avoiding the excess FF energy used to make steel and concrete structures (avoidance pathway).
News Context: Wood-based construction consumes much less energy than concrete or steel construction. Through efficient harvesting and product use, more CO 2 is saved through the avoided emissions, materials, and wood energy than is lost from the harvested forest. "This study shows still another reason to appreciate forests -- and another reason to not let them be permanently cleared for agriculture," said Chadwick Oliver, the Pinchot Professor of Forestry and Environmental Studies, director of the Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry at F&ES and lead author of the new study.
Paper Context: Consequently, efficient wood use could make an important but not overwhelming contribution to saving CO 2 and FF globally, even if only part of its potential savings were realized. The greatest CO 2 and FF savings from wood use are by avoiding the excess FF energy used to make steel and concrete structures (avoidance pathway). Wood products are more efficient than wood energy for CO 2 and FF savings; however, up to 37 % of the world's annual CO 2 emissions and 27% of the FF use could be saved if all wood growth not used in construction were used for energy (energy pathway; Figure 6b-c) .