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: If catastrophic fires do not occur and forest regrowth after harvest is not considered, saving CO 2 by not harvesting the forest growth is slightly more efficient than harvesting just for wood energy-but generally less efficient than harvesting for construction products.
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: 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) . If catastrophic fires do not occur and forest regrowth after harvest is not considered, saving CO 2 by not harvesting the forest growth is slightly more efficient than harvesting just for wood energy-but generally less efficient than harvesting for construction products. This efficiency of CO 2 storage in unharvested forests also assumes none of the wood blows over or otherwise rots in the forest-an unrealistic assumption in most of the world.