14 DAY TRIAL // In a recent paper in the Journal of Sustainable Forestry, a team of researchers led by specialists at Yale University argues that using more wood in constructions would yield noteworthy benefits in terms of reducing global carbon emissions.
Besides, the paper argues that, all things considered, one such change in construction policies would also help reduce fossil fuel consumption. In doing so, the move would further help limit climate change and global warming.
In their report in the Journal of Sustainable Forestry, the specialists who worked on this research project explain that, according to information at hand, the amount of wood harvested on a global scale on a yearly basis is one of 3.4 billion cubic meters, Click Green informs.
When compared to the annual wood growth, which is one of 17 billion cubic meters, said amount represents the equivalent of about 20%, the same source details.
The Yale University-led study makes a case of how, should the yearly wood harvest be increased to the equivalent of 34%, maybe even more, of annual wood growth, the move would translate into a series of benefits as far as environmental protection is concerned.
Thus, it is argued that, by using more wood and less steel and/or concrete to erect buildings and bridges, by storing carbon dioxide in the cellulose and lignin of wood products, and also thanks to several other factors, some 14% - 31% of the global carbon dioxide emissions might be avoided.
Besides, 12% - 19% of the world's yearly fossil fuel consumption would be avoided, both because scrap wood and unsellable materials could be burned for energy, and because, presently, the manufacture of steel, concrete, and bricks makes up 16% of the global fossil fuel consumption.
“Forests historically have had a diversity of habitats that different species need. This diversity can be maintained by harvesting some of the forest growth. And the harvested wood will save fossil fuel and CO2 and provide jobs – giving local people more reason to keep the forests,” specialist Chadwick Oliver said in a statement.
“Forest harvest creates a temporary opening that is needed by forest species such as butterflies and some birds and deer before it regrows to large trees. But conversion to agriculture is a permanent loss of all forest biodiversity,” he added.
Given the predicted economic development in Asia, Africa, and South America, it is to be expected that the demand for new infrastructure will also up. Hence, reducing the fossil fuels consumption and carbon emissions associated with constructions will soon be mandatory.
According to the Yale University-led study, said reduction could be achieved by means of a sustainable management of wood resources, and by limiting the use of steel and concrete in constructions.