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Estimates of CO2 from wood fuel based on forest harvest data

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Abstract

Wood continues to be a major fuel source for vast numbers of the world's people. Even in the highly industrialized countries, use of wood and wood wastes as fuel produces a small (in comparison to fossil fuels) but non-negligible amount of CO2. Although information on the worldwide harvest and use of wood is not as complete or as reliable as fossil fuel data, this paper uses what is available and develops annual estimates of CO2 emissions for the period 1968–1983. Woods are separated into two types, coniferous and non-coniferous, and average content and carbon amounts are estimated for each type. Wood utilization is divided into several categories, e.g., fuelwood, lumber, poles, and use of wood wastes as fuels in the lumber and paper industries is included. Results are given for major world regions. In recent years the worldwide CO2 emissions from wood used as fuels is estimated to be about one-tenth as much as CO2 emissions from fossil fuels. This does not include fires in the forests, either associated with forest clearing or those from natural causes.

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Author notes

  1. Ralph M. Rotty

    Present address: Mechanical Engineering Department, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, U.S.A.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Energy Analysis, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge, U.S.A.

    Ralph M. Rotty

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  1. Ralph M. Rotty
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This manuscript has been authored by a contractor of the U.S. Government under Contract No. DE-ACO5-760R00033. Accordingly, the U.S. Government retains a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to publish or reproduce the published form of this contribution, or allow others to do so for U.S. Government purposes.

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Rotty, R.M. Estimates of CO2 from wood fuel based on forest harvest data. Climatic Change 9, 311–325 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00139075

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00139075

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