Carbon dioxide offsets by investments in the forestry sector is a viable proposal. In fact, the global climate will benefit twice if the investments are directed to plantations that supply wood energy. First, by initial carbon sequestration when the trees are growing, and second, by avoiding emissions when the trees are used as a source of wood energy on a sustainable basis. The second effect reflects common practice in Asia.
In Asia, about 2 billion people use fuels from wood or other biomass for their daily cooking needs. Most of these fuels are indeed, used on a sustainable basis. (Contrary to widespread belief, woodfuel use is not a general cause for deforestation!) The beneficial implications for the global atmosphere can be estimated in terms of avoided emissions. If households used a fossil fuel like coal instead of wood, about 560,000 kton of carbon dioxide per year would be emitted into the atmosphere. In terms of money, this means that annually some US$ 20-30 billion for offsetting carbon dioxide is being avoided by current practices of woodfuel use amongst relatively poor households in Asia.
It is recommended to develop wood energy in Asia further by modern applications, not only for increased carbon dioxide savings, but also for pursuing national interests like creating employment, managing the local environment, and reducing current accounts deficits.
The Regional Wood Energy Development Programme in Asia links sixteen countries and is part of FAOs programme to jointly work with the member countries for the stated objectives.
W.S. Hulscher,
Chief Technical Adviser,
Regional Wood Energy Development Programme in
Asia
List of Abbreviations
AGBM |
Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate |
AJI |
Activities Implemented Jointly |
AOSIS |
Alliance of Small Island States |
APEC |
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation |
APHI |
Association of Indonesian Forest Concession Holders |
CDM |
Clean Development Mechanism |
CFC |
Chlorofluorcarbon |
CIFOR |
Center for International Forestry Research |
CJII |
Canadian Joint Implementation Initiative |
COP |
Conference of the Parties |
CROJI |
Costa Ricas Office for Joint Implementation |
CTO |
Certifiable Tradable Offsets |
EAC |
Environmental Auditing Committee |
EEI |
Edison Electric Institute |
ERC |
Emission Reduction Credit |
EU |
European Union |
FACE |
Forests Absorbing CO2 Emissions |
FCCC |
Framework Convention on Climate Change |
FONAFIFO |
Costa Rican National Forestry Financing Fund |
FPL |
Fiji Pine Limited |
FSC |
Forest Stewardship Council |
GHG |
Greenhouse gas |
GIS |
Geographic Information System |
INE |
Instituto National Ecologica |
IPCC |
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change |
ITTO |
International Timber Trade Organization |
JI |
Joint Implementation |
MITI |
Ministry of International Trade and Industry |
MOP |
Meeting of the Parties |
NEES |
New England Power Company |
NGO |
Non-governmental Organization |
OECD |
Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development |
PFP |
Private Forestry Project |
PPP |
Pilot Project Program |
QELRO |
Quantified Emission Limitations and Reduction
Objectives |
RBCMA |
Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area |
RIL |
Reduced Impact Logging |
TEI |
Thailand Environment Institute |
TNC |
The Nature Conservancy |
UFCMP |
Utility Forest Carbon Management Program |
UNCED |
United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development |
USAID |
United States Agency for International Development |
USCSP |
United States Country Study Program |
USIJI |
United States Initiative on Joint Implementation |
VCR |
Voluntary Challenge and Registry |
WBCSD |
World Business Council for Sustainable Development |
WEPCO |
Wisconsin Electric Power Company |