Intensive logging has a good climate balance

Through its Forest Strategy 2030, the European Union hopes to preserve as much forest as possible. But is the EU barking up the wrong tree? After all, at the same time, wood is to increasingly be used as a substitute for plastic, aluminum and steel, all of which are produced using CO2-intensive methods. Experts at the University of Hamburg’s Institute of Wood Science have looked into which approach is ultimately better for the climate. Drawing on data gathered by the foresters at Germany’s National Forest Inventory, they measured the carbon content for all forests in Hamburg and 18 districts throughout its metropolitan area, before using a computer model to test a range of future scenarios – from 100 percent protection with no logging, to 100 percent logging.

What they found: intensive logging actually has the best climate balance. Nevertheless, nature conservation is an important aspect. As such, a smart solution could look something like this: all woods with trees more than 120 years old will be protected; the rest will be fair game for forestry. In northern Germany, this would make 87 percent of the woods available for logging. This would bolster Germany’s wood industry, which, in international comparison, is highly sustainable – and many companies in the sector are currently discussing the options with the Hamburg-based researchers. In turn, a stable wood market would encourage other sectors to produce more wood products. Plus, it would be good for the climate: manufacturing window frames from wood, for example, generates 40 percent less CO2 than using plastic or aluminum.