The best way to use forests as carbon sinks is to harvest the timber and convert it into products (which continue to store the carbon) while replanting more trees than before.

Growing trees absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere at a rate of 1 tonne for every m³ of growth and convert it into carbohydrates through photosynthesis, while releasing the oxygen we breathe.

The CO₂ is locked away for the tree's life and the life of the timber and paper products coming from the tree.

Almost all the wood we use in Europe originates from countries with strong forest governance and stable forest estates. 98% of softwood imports are from within Europe, and over half of the remaining 2% are from Canada and the USA.

Source: IIED and ECCM, Using Wood to Mitigate Climate Change, 2004

 

All European countries have policies and practices requiring reforestation. Although the number of trees planted per hectare will vary depending on the species, site and management system, it will always be more than the number cut, in order to allow for natural losses and for the forest to remain well stocked.

Currently just 64% of the annual increment of Europe’s forests is harvested and both forest area and standing stocks of timber are increasing annually.

Source: FAO, State of the World’s Forests, 2003

 

There are also good supplies of certified softwood timber. Ask your local merchant for more details.

When specifying hardwood timber, care needs to be taken to ensure the source is certified, or Verified Progress, such as is available under the Timber Trade Federation’s Responsible Purchasing Policy. For further advice, ask your specialist merchant (see ‘Specifying and buying timber’).

It is worth bearing in mind that only 16% of the hardwood timber used in Europe comes from outside Europe.

Source: IIED and ECCM, Using Wood to Mitigate Climate Change, 2004

 

CPET, the government’s Central Point of Expertise on Timber rates FSC, PEFC, CSA and SFI certified timber products as both legal and sustainable. Timber from these schemes is mandatory for all contracts under the UK Public Timber Procurement Policy for all government and government agency contracts (includes English Partnerships, NHS, MOD etc).