The Growing Role of Forest Products in Climate Change Mitigation

This report explores the critical role of forest products in mitigating climate change and emphasizes the need for nationally determined forestry strategies to achieve net-zero emissions. Forests and their products, such as timber, paper, and wood fuel, play a significant role in carbon sequestration, contributing to global climate targets. The report identifies key challenges like the increasing demand for wood-based products and the anticipated supply shortages by 2050. It advocates for sustainable forest management practices and innovative policies to meet future demand without compromising environmental goals.

Key Takeaways

• Forest Products and Carbon Sequestration: Forest products, including timber and paper, sequester carbon, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Sustainable forestry is essential to maximize this benefit.
• Supply-Demand Gap: By 2050, the global demand for timber is expected to exceed supply by 3.1 to 4.1 billion cubic meters. Addressing this gap requires expanding planted forests and improving sustainable harvesting practices.
• Nature-Based Solutions: Forests provide nature-based solutions that can deliver up to 5-11.7 gigatons of CO2e emissions reductions annually by 2030, playing a vital role in meeting the Paris Agreement targets.

How It Can Help You

This report is valuable for policymakers, environmentalists, and industry professionals looking to:

• Understand the role of forest products in achieving climate goals.
• Explore policy recommendations for addressing the timber supply-demand gap by 2050.
• Leverage nature-based solutions to reduce emissions and promote sustainable development.

Key Learnings

1. Forests as a Climate Solution: Sustainable forestry management can help mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration, while also providing economic benefits like green jobs and sustainable materials.
2. Urgency of Action: Without policies to bridge the supply-demand gap, timber shortages could undermine global climate targets, leading to increased illegal logging and environmental degradation.
3. National Forestry Approaches: Countries must develop nationally determined forestry strategies to increase forest coverage, improve forest management, and promote sustainable economic growth.

Date: November 17, 2022