We would like to invite Latvian scientists, especially those in forestry and related fields, to delve into this issue and get involved responsibly. In both interviews and private conversations, more than one professional in the Latvian research sector has expressed direct or indirect criticism of the ineffective immersion of well-intentioned ideas into documents, regulations, and standards of varying quality.
Latvian scientists – and, to quote the author of the Call, everyone who works scientifically, not just in the forest sector – have the opportunity to participate in a nationally responsible manner and encourage their colleagues to do the same.
Dear colleagues in the world of science!
On 14 July 2021, the European Commission unveiled its new package of climate legislation, the 'European Green Deal', which includes the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), the EU Forest Strategy for 2030, and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. These new regulations affect forests and the timber industry. Previously, the guiding principle was sustainable forest management, which, in turn, aimed for multifunctionality. In contrast, there is currently a shift in the focus of EU forestry policy towards biodiversity and nature conservation, while the use of wood and the importance of forests in climate protection have been pushed into the background. This is why this letter was written.
The list of signatories will be sent to the President of the European Commission, U. von der Leyen, the President of the European Parliament, R. Metsola, and the President of the European Council, Ch. Michel.
All individuals working scientifically, not only in the forest sector (e.g., universities, state and private research institutes, but please, not industry and company representatives), are invited to share and sign this letter.
Letter on the need for climate-smart forest management
Dear President von der Leyen, dear President Metsola, dear President Michel!
Hot and dry weather in many parts of Europe and the world makes us worry about the future of our forests. Drought, disease, and fires are destroying entire landscapes regardless of their conservation or management status. It is obvious that forests are increasingly threatened by climate change, but at the same time, they are capable of mitigating these changes and increasing biodiversity if forests and forest products are managed and used correctly to ensure the bioeconomy and the supply of renewable energy in Europe. Forests have a great capacity to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Many European countries have already reached a high level of growing stock, which is why further biomass accumulation under climate warming conditions seems risky. If dry years become more frequent, we expect forest biomass to decrease rather than increase in the coming decade, regardless of its management and protection. Currently, in managed forests, the annual carbon increment is higher, and the maximum volume of wood is the same as in protected conditions. Without harvesting, forest volumes will become saturated. The carbon sequestration capacity will approach zero, as is seen in old-growth, untouched forests in Ukraine.
Wood from sustainably managed forests is CO2 neutral, taking into account ecosystem processes, replacing competition between individual trees and losses caused by natural disasters, and regulating stand density. On a landscape scale, there is no carbon 'debt'. In fact, it is precisely management that has historically promoted biodiversity in European forests.
The benefits of wood products, from a climate perspective, are diverse and stem from sustainable management. They depend on the amount of carbon that is transferred from the forest to timber, ideally over a very long period. The production process of wood products requires less fossil energy compared to concrete, steel, aluminium, and glass. This process, where energy-intensive structures are replaced by wooden structures, is called product substitution. The use of wood as a building material is not only an additional CO2 storage option, but it also provides urgently needed affordable housing, reduces the energy demand of buildings, and creates sustainable jobs in all regions of Europe.
In addition to replacing fossil resources with material use, there is also an increase in the volume of by-products and recycled wood available for the supply of renewable energy. When tending forests and harvesting trees for products, residues that are not suitable for products, such as tree tops or rotten roots or base parts, are always generated. There are tree species that are also harvested but cannot be used for products, mainly regarding broad-leaved trees. Part of this biomass remains in the forest for deadwood and species protection. Furthermore, the manufacturing of wood products creates other residues, such as offcuts, chips, and sawdust, which are suitable for energy production.
The energy content of wood product residues and waste at the end of their life cycle would ideally be recovered using 'bioenergy with carbon capture, utilisation and storage'. It is argued that wood is inefficient for energy production due to its low energy density compared to fossil fuels. However, such a comparison is not fair. Fossil fuels will not be available in the near future; when the energy transition in Europe has been successfully implemented, carbon capture and storage technologies based on the use of biomass will have the potential to produce hydrogen and biochemicals.
When managing a forest correctly, the use of wood for energy is a by-product of wood harvesting and processing. The use of wood for energy can replace fossil energy and is an important component of climate protection policy in all European countries. Energy substitution is an integral part of a managed forest and its associated wood products. Therefore, when conducting an analysis of managed forest sectors, all system material and energy flows related to the forest and its use must be taken into account.
Only in the case of forest management and the use of wood do we avoid fossil CO2 emissions. Increasing carbon storage in the forest only compensates for, but does not allow for the avoidance of, CO2 emissions with unpredictable risks. A ban on using wood for energy from sustainably managed forests and increasing the share of protected EU forests is not suitable for supporting European climate protection policy, does not provide additional benefits for biodiversity, and hinders the circular bioeconomy. It could even be concluded that ecologically oriented sustainable forestry, which maintains a constant volume of wood and uses the forest increment for products and energy, is 'climate-smart'.
Currently, the demand for wood exceeds supply. Therefore, the EU imports wood from other regions of the world. In this situation, it seems inadequate to allocate forest areas to pristine nature reserves, as it has not been proven that they can maintain additional species.
Prof. Roland Irslinger