Font size:
Print
Global Wood Production Hits Record High and Set to Increase
Context:
According to the State of the World’s Forest report, wood production hit a record high of 4 billion tonnes in 2022 and is projected to rise further by 2050.
Historical Trends:
- Roundwood removals remained steady at about 3.5 billion cubic metres per year from 1990 to the early 2020s.
- The production of roundwood increased significantly around 2010, with a 13% increase in 2022 compared to 1990.
- This growth occurred despite a 50% increase in the world population and a 174% rise in GDP per capita during the same period.
Current Consumption:
- 82% of global woodfuel is consumed in Africa, Asia, and South America.
- Europe consumes 13%, North America 5%, and the rest of the world the remaining portion.
Key Highlights:
- In 2022, global wood production reached a record high of 4 billion tonnes. This production includes roundwood (unprocessed wood) used for various purposes.
- Woodfuel and Industrial Roundwood: Approximately half of the roundwood removals are used for fuel (woodfuel), while the rest serve as raw materials for industrial purposes (saw-wood, wood-based panels, and wood pulp).
- Woody Biomass (fuelwood and charcoal from forests): Crucial for cooking and heating, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. In 2021, it catered to 2.3 billion people (29% of the global population).
- The share of woodfuel in global roundwood production declined from 60% to 49.4% between 1961 and 2022.
- Environmental Concerns: Increased woodfuel use raises concerns about forest degradation and deforestation. Indoor air pollution from less efficient wood stoves is another challenge.
- Projected Growth: World roundwood production is estimated to increase by 4-8% from 2022 to 2030 and further by 6-32% from 2022 to 2050, with varying uncertainty over the longer period.
What is Roundwood?
Factors Affecting Future Trends:
- A potential decline in woodfuel use due to factors like population growth in Africa and South Asia, increased use of solar and wind energy, and efficient cooking stoves.
- Industrial roundwood demand might increase overall, but specific uses, like graphics paper production, could see a decline (projected reduction of 133 million tonnes by 2030).
Challenges and Uncertainties:
- Forests store significant carbon, and their loss contributes to climate change. Impacts like wildfires, pests, and extreme weather can affect wood supply.
- Forest Management: Regeneration, timber production, and forest plantations influence wood availability.
World Forest Report 2024
|
