Unlocking Sustainability: How Increasing UK Timber Production Can Help Achieve Climate Goals – Insights from New Research

Wood has gained recognition as a clean alternative to steel, concrete, and plastic. It plays a key role in the UK’s strategy to achieve net-zero emissions. However, there’s a big problem: the UK doesn’t grow enough trees.

Currently, only 14% of land in the UK is forested, putting it among the lowest in Europe. This has made the UK the second-largest wood importer globally, meeting just 20% of its wood needs through domestic resources. This heavy reliance on imports not only exposes the country to fluctuating global markets but also raises concerns about “wood security.”

A study reveals that depending on timber from slow-growing boreal forests in Scandinavia and the Baltic can counteract the climate benefits of using wood. These forests take decades to recover carbon levels after logging. In contrast, the UK’s conifer forests grow back much faster, making them a better fit for sustainable wood production.

To boost domestic wood use without worsening climate change, researchers developed a model tracking the carbon footprint throughout a tree’s life—from growth to harvest and eventually usage. Their findings suggest that ramping up domestic wood production could positively impact national and global climate goals, but only with significant increases in tree coverage.

Increasing demand even slightly would require expanding productive forestland by 50% over the next 50 years. A more ambitious goal, like doubling forest area and improving growth rates by 33%, could enhance wood’s contribution to combating global warming by 175%. However, achieving this will necessitate large shifts in forestry practices and land use policies.

On the other hand, high demand growth could diminish the benefits, emphasizing the need for strategic planning about forest growth and management to meet future needs.

Three major hurdles must be addressed:

1. Stalled Growth of Parks: The pace of expanding productive conifer forests has stalled over the last 30 years, and projections indicate a decline in available wood for harvest after 2039. Solutions will require balancing land use among forestry, farming, and nature recovery.

2. Forest Management: Improving management practices is vital for maintaining productivity in the face of threats like pests and climate change.

3. Efficient Use of Wood: It’s crucial to maximize the use of wood products, minimizing waste and designing items to last longer.

The UK’s net-zero strategy should focus on effectively using more wood alongside a solid plan for managing and growing forests. Policymakers need to consider the full impact of logging, not just the immediate loss of trees, but also how wood is used, its carbon storage capacity, and how it replaces pollution-heavy materials.

Research such as this underscores the importance of a comprehensive view to ensure wood’s sustainable role in fighting climate change.

For more details on forest statistics, visit Forestry Statistics 2024.

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