Wood climate change credentials endorsed

A report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlights the necessity of reducing emissions and provides strong endorsement of wood’s environmental credentials.

“Wood is the ultimate material for the age of sustainability which is now upon us. The environmental credentials of forests and wood are excellent, and wood has a vital role to play in the transition of the world’s economies to greater sustainability,” said Geoff Henley, programme manager, NZ Wood.

The report summarises earlier findings from the IPCC that detail the role that forests and wood will play in the fight against climate change.

“If the most serious effects of global warming are to be avoided, it is critical that the world acts now to reduce emissions and moves towards sustainable practices such as greater use of wood,” said Henley.

The report states that sustainable forest management of both natural and planted forests is essential to achieving sustainable development. It is a means to reduce poverty, reduce deforestation, halt the loss of forest biodiversity, reduce land and resource degradation and contribute to climate change mitigation.

However, the report also emphasises that forest management practices need to assess the potential impact on soils, water cycles and biodiversity caused by forestry.