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What is deforestation?
- Deforestation is the permanent removal of forests where the land is converted to other uses such as agriculture or land development. Globally, deforestation accounts for 20% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.
- Afforestation is the planting of trees on land that has been bare of trees for a long period of time, thus adding to the earth’s carbon sequestration pool. In 2005, over 9000 hectares of new forest was created in Canada.
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Sustainable forest management in Canada is not considered deforestation
because harvested areas are quickly converted back to growing forests. Canada has not suffered any significant deforestation in the past 20 years despite a thriving forestry and wood products industry - our country is a paragon of success in sustainable forest management!
How much carbon is stored in trees?Carbon dioxide emissions are the main cause of global warming. Trees capture carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and they store it in their biomass: stem, branches, leaves, bark and roots. Wood is about 50% carbon! |
Has climate change impacted Canada?Climate change is now largely accepted as fact. More than simply global warming, it refers to long-term fluctuations in temperature, precipitation, wind, and all other aspects of the Earth’s climate. The impacts of changing climate are unequivocal. |
Greenhouse effect
Glass panels of a greenhouse let in light and keep heat from escaping, providing warmth for the plants growing in them. A similar process occurs when the sun's energy reaches the Earth – some is absorbed by the Earth's surface, some radiates back into space, and some is trapped in the Earth's atmosphere, which keeps our planet warm enough for life to flourish. This is called the greenhouse effect.The carbon cycle and wood products
The carbon cycle affects the amount of energy trapped in the atmosphere. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen during photosynthesis; oceans also absorb carbon dioxide. Humans and other animals inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is also emitted when substances decompose or burn.When manufactured into wood products, the carbon is essentially inert and stable, and continues to be kept out of the atmosphere for the lifetime of the product—or longer, if the product is recycled for another use. Life cycle assessment (LCA) confirms the benefits of wood.
