Fuelwood, timber and climate change: Insights from forest sector modeling–An introduction

Increased demand for commercial fuelwood is a major trend impacting forest sectors worldwide. In Europe, the share of renewable in final energy consumption is due to increase dramatically to meet the objectives of directive 2009/28/EC, with potentially significant implications for fuelwood markets. For example, the European wood pellet production capacity has already grown by 160% between 2006 and 2009. In the U.S., similarly, renewable energy standards exist in as many as 36 U.S. States, with nation-wide renewable energy targets in discussion (UNECE/FAO, 2010).

Looking forward, it remains unclear whether forest sectors will be able to contribute as much...