Journal of Forest Economics > Vol 34 > Issue 3-4

Impacts of Increasing Bioenergy Production on Timber Harvest and Carbon Emissions

Jinggang Guo, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden, Jinggang.guo@slu.se , Peichen Gong, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden, Runar Brännlund, Umeå University, Sweden
 
Suggested Citation
Jinggang Guo, Peichen Gong and Runar Brännlund (2019), "Impacts of Increasing Bioenergy Production on Timber Harvest and Carbon Emissions", Journal of Forest Economics: Vol. 34: No. 3-4, pp 311-335. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/112.00000500

Publication Date: 13 Nov 2019
© 2019 J. Guo, P. Gong and R. Brännlund
 
Subjects
 
Keywords
Carbon balancebioenergycarbon sequestrationenergy substitution
 

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In this article:
1. Introduction 
2. Previous Studies 
3. Methods 
4. Data and Scenarios 
5. Results 
6. Summary and Discussion 
A. Parameters Used in the Bioenergy Sector 
References 

Abstract

Using a partial equilibrium model of the Swedish forest sector, this study analyzes the impacts of an increasing bioenergy production on the timber harvest and forest growing stock. The impacts on the carbon balance of forests are also examined. The results suggest that, when compared with the base scenario, in which the current use pattern of forests continues, increased bioenergy production will lead to a 10–14 million m3 (Mm3) increase in the total harvest, depending on the extraction rate of forest residues. Increasing the use of forest residues will reduce the harvest and leave more room for accumulation of the forest stock in the early years, while the stock accumulation will be partially offset by the increased timber harvest in the long run. Increasing bioenergy production will have a negative impact on the carbon balance primarily due to a net loss of carbon stored in forests. Overall, the joint contribution of forest-based mitigation is significant, equivalent to or higher than 65% of the country’s annual GHG emissions. To achieve an ambitious bioenergy target in the long run, a fraction of pulpwood will be consumed as fuelwood that will inevitably intensify the competition between the two timber products, though increasing the use of forest residues could slightly reduce the competition in the short run.

DOI:10.1561/112.00000500

Companion

Journal of Forest Economics, Volume 34, Issue 3-4 Special issue - State of the art methods to project forest carbon stocks: Articles Overiew
See the other articles that are part of this special issue.