By 2020, one-fifth of Europe’s energy needs is expected to come from renewable resources, including wood, according to a pact signed on March 10 by all 27 states in the EU.
“Modern” wood energy production and consumption is fuelled by the renewable energy policies of the EU and successively by member states. Energy promotion policies take many forms, for example, tax benefits and subsidies.
The rise in demand for pelletised wood is a direct result of these policies, combined with record-high fossil fuel prices (graph 1).
Wood processing industries have already felt the pressure on their raw material, with some shortages and associated price rises (graph 2).
The rapidly increasing demand for wood from the energy sector has caused the greatest concern from wood industries, such as panel and pulp manufacturers, using that same fibre source. The wood industry wants to guarantee competitiveness in terms of sustainable economic development.
European supply
The question is, can Europe’s forests support increased harvests for energy? Answer: they can, but when? Currently, Europe harvests 63% of its annual allowable cut, the level prescribed for sustainable forest management. This ranges from a high of 72% in the Nordic and Baltic countries to a low of 45% in south-east Europe and 26% in south-west Europe.
At 63%, this means that annually 37% growth is added to Europe’s forests, and this has occurred for decades. Less than 3% of the standing timber is removed annually in Europe’s forests. Therefore, not only is the annual growth not fully harvested, but also the standing volume of Europe’s forests is increasing. The area of Europe’s forests is also increasing so, in the long term, the potential exists for greater harvests.
An immeasurable factor in these figures is the vast amounts of firewood harvested by individuals in Europe, both legally and illegally. Skyrocketing fossil fuel prices have stimulated homeowners to burn increasing amounts of wood, unfortunately much of of it in inefficient fireplaces.
Despite the potential availability of wood, prices are rising, signalling the problem of mobilising the wood from Europe’s forests. This was the subject of a workshop organised by UNECE/FAO and partners, and it will be the subject of a policy forum during the annual UNECE Timber Committee session in October.
The workshop participants recommended that governments consult all stakeholders to ensure comprehensive policies and strategies for the forest sector, rural development and energy. It is important to co-ordinate with other sectors to avoid contradictory policy effects. Forest owners should be trained and empowered to co-operate to manage and market their timber. Forest infrastructure and logistics need improvement. Promotion of the enhanced use of wood must be conducted within the forest sector, and to the public.
Searching outside the forest
Europe’s forests are not the only source of raw material supply for the wood processing and energy industry. Recovered wood and fibre have to play an increasingly important role in the supply. Wood can also be obtained from sources outside the forest, for example hedgerows. Cultivation of fast-growing energy and wood fibre crops are another solution, and European imports of wood and wood fibre from around the world are increasing.
In the longer term, wood supply can be increased through expansion of the forest area and enhancement of the productivity of the forest resource through silvicultural and genetic innovations.
How these challenges are resolved will have major consequences for employment, income and biodiversity in Europe. First and foremost, strategies to increase wood mobilisation must be within the limits of sustainable forest management, in all three ways: environmental, economic and social. More wood must be mobilised from Europe’s forests for both wood processing and energy, and sources of wood fibre outside of forests must be exploited too.
