Is It Kinder to Cut Down a Tree or Hug It?
Published by Until recent years much of our native woodland has been left untouched as we have been encouraged to love our trees. Surprisingly, felling trees and burning wood could actually be good for the environment.
Burning Wood
How does burning wood help the environment? As the tree grew it absorbed carbon dioxide, as it is burned it gives off heat and carbon dioxide which is in turn is absorbed by other trees. If a tree dies it rots and gives off carbon dioxide anyway, so by burning the wood the same carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere but through a different process. If the wood is locally sourced it is also economical as well as ecological.
Local estates can manage their own heating and woodlands as well as contribute to the forestry industry and local environment. Although not as easy as purchasing gas, oil or coal it does find a use for woodland ‘thinning’ from coppicing which would normally have very little value. The wood can be chipped for modern wood burners and can work out considerably cheaper than fossil fuels and of course it is renewable. When managed, it is a sustainable, low carbon and renewable source of energy as trees are constantly harvested and replanted.
A recent estimate claims 60% of woodland in England has been left untouched, which gives a potential of two million tonnes of fuel available, enough to heat as many as a quarter of a million homes; but as many new homes do not have chimneys this wood fuel would not be suitable for everyone. There have been some concerns regarding air quality as burning wood does release fine particles into the air, but the government is aware this and it will be taken into consideration with the design of woodstoves and burners.
Woodland is already available and wouldn’t involve any change of land use. Some woodland management already produce their own charcoal. Usually the timber used to produce charcoal results from the sustainable management of the woodland and is a by-product of this process. Non-native, invasive trees species such as sycamore are removed and replaced with more wildlife friendly species like oak and rowan, and species such as the sycamore are then used to produce charcoal.
By selling off wood for fuel the finance raised sustains the management of the woods. Using wood alone as a fuel is not a complete answer, but combined with other renewable energy sources such as solar and wind it could make a considerable impact on carbon emissions and help the environment.
Liked it
On November 28, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Tx for your well composed sharing article. I think we should plant a tree for the ones we cut down.
On November 28, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I enjoyed the article and thougt I was written well.
On December 4, 2009 at 9:09 pm
cutting is to be done after hugging it
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On December 5, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Good article, many people including my brother-in-law forget that trees are a renewable resource.
On January 2, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Wonderful article friend. Great theme on environment
On July 8, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Well written article on woodland management. I believe that we need to stay alert to what we are doing to our environment.