In order to reduce global greenhouse emissions, utilizing environmentally friendly wood construction materials from sustainably managed forests is “critical,” a report from the United Nations found.
For every kilogram of carbon in wood products used in construction as opposed to non-wood products, “carbon emissions are reduced by 0.9 kilograms,” the report stated.
“It is clearer than ever before that the increased utilization of wood products is critical to reducing global greenhouse emissions, but only when these products are derived from sustainably managed forests,” stated Rajat Panwar, a researcher at Oregon State University and co-author of the U.N. report.
The report also stated that every dollar invested in land restoration could deliver as much as a 30-fold economic return.
“Investments in developing value chains for traditional and innovative forest products will be critical to draw down growing emissions and to reduce poverty among many forest-dependent communities globally,” Panwar added.
