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Harvard Forest Symposium Abstract 2009
- Title: Wood Bioenergy Potentials in Southeast Asia between 1990 and 2020
- Primary Author: Nophea Sasaki (University of Hyogo, Japan)
- Additional Authors: David Foster (Harvard University); Wolfgang Knorr (University of Bristol)
- Abstract:
Southeast Asia has experienced deforestation and forest degradation over the last few decades, and because wood bioenergy plays a vital role in daily cooking and heating, the flow of wood biomasses out of forests is uncertain and needs to be assessed before policy intervention can be successfully implemented. Using forest area data dating from 1990 to 2005, we developed a forest land use model and projected changes in area of natural forests and forest plantations to 2020. We also developed woody biomass change and harvest models to estimate woody biomasses availability in the forests under the current management regime. Due to deforestation and logging, projected annual woody biomasses production in natural forests declined from 815.9 million tons (16.3 EJ) in 1990 to 359.3 million tons (7.2 EJ) in 2020. Woody biomasses production in forest plantations was estimated at 16.2 million tons yr-1 (0.3 EJ), but was strongly affected by cutting rotation age. Average annual woody biomasses production in Southeast Asia between 1990 and 2020, was estimated at 563.4 million tons (11.3 EJ) yr-1 declining about 1.5% yr-1. Without incentives to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, wood biomasses as well as wood production and carbon stocks will continue to decline, putting sustainable development in the region at risk as the majority of the population depend mostly on forest ecosystem services for daily survival.
- Research Category: International Research Projects
