*Dr. W. R. J. (Wink) Sutton

Wood has been one of human civilisation’s most important raw materials. The continued use of wood is not assured because there are suitable (and increasingly cost competitive) substitutes for every wood use. Most wood substitutes require either fossil fuels or the energy from fossil fuels.

The major advantage of wood is its environmental friendliness. Although it involves forest felling (which may increase atmospheric emissions of carbon dioxide) wood differs greatly from wood substitutes made from fossil fuels. The carbon dioxide from the use of wood is, within a few decades, recycled back into more wood by the regenerating forests. In contrast, the carbon dioxide from fossil fuels remains a permanent addition to the atmosphere. Wood is very energy efficient. Wood requires a tenth or less of the energy needed to make wood substitutes such as steel and concrete. Further substitution is unlikely because of the huge energy requirements and because of concerns about further increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (from the use of fossil fuels).

If the world wishes to reduce fossil fuel use while improving average standards of living, the future world could require more wood than is used now. However, let us assume that there is no future increase in the average per capita use of wood and that it remains at 0.6m3 per person per year.

The increase in the global population alone (expected to be ten billion by the middle of the new century) will require at least two billion m3 more wood each year than can be supplied from those forests existing at the end of the twentieth century. Globally, an additional 100 million hectares of very productive managed plantations will be required to meet even this conservative increased demand projection.

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Does the world need plantations?