JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2021, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (4): 219-228.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202006029

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Research trends and future key issues of global harvested wood products carbon science

YANG Hongqiang1,2(), YU Zhihan1   

  1. 1. College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Forestry University, Research Center for Economics and Trade in Forest Products, NFGA, Nanjing 210037,China
    2. Research Center for the Yangtze River Delta’s Socioeconomic Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
  • Received:2020-06-22 Accepted:2021-03-25 Online:2021-07-30 Published:2021-07-30

Abstract:

【Objective】Forests play an important role in the global carbon cycle. As an extension of forest resource utilization, harvested wood products are important carbon pools for climate change mitigation. By clarifying the main life cycle stages of harvested wood products, and summarizing the relevant research hotspots and possible future research directions of carbon in harvested wood products, it is of great scientific significance to rationally evaluate the climate function of harvested wood products. 【Method】Based on the life cycle process of harvested wood products, this paper summarizes the research trends and scientific challenges that may be faced in the future regarding the carbon science of harvested wood products in three stages: forest, in-use, and landfill. 【Result】 ① In the forest stage, existing studies mostly used the empirical model as a supplement to the process model to calculate and predict forest carbon stocks. The scenario simulation and material flow analysis can combine the forest stage with the in-use stage by using transport and production processes to seek the best forest management strategy. ② In the in-use stage, the choice of carbon accounting approaches is the focus of international controversy. The substitution effect of harvested wood products is also a major issue that cannot be ignored in the carbon accounting process because of its cumulative and permanent nature. ③ In the landfill stage, harvested wood products decompose slowly or do not decompose at all, consequently storing carbon for a longer time. The first-order decay method is a common model used for estimating the change in carbon storage in solid waste disposal sites. The key parameters associated with methane emission, such as the fraction of degradable organic carbon and the proportion of methane production, are the emphasis of the current study. 【Conclusion】① Improving the measurement model of forest carbon sinks can reduce the uncertainty of forest carbon accounting. ② Reasonable estimation of the displacement factors of harvested wood products and the time required to achieve “carbon neutrality” are conducive to the formulation of policies regarding the energy and forest management. ③ Considering the recovery and reuse of methane in solid waste disposal sites can improve the accuracy of carbon accounting in the entire life cycle of harvested wood products. ④ Improving forest inventory methods and perfecting the database of the forest product life cycle can facilitate a more accurate assessment of the mitigation potential of greenhouse gas emissions from harvested wood products. ⑤ Harmonizing carbon accounting methodologies on a global scale, equitably identifying the ownership of carbon stocks and as well as rationalizing the distribution of carbon emissions among trading countries, will help to accelerate international negotiations on issues related to harvested wood products.

Key words: harvested wood products, life cycle, carbon accounting, reduced emissions through wood substitution, carbon neutrality

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