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Carbon Dioxide Offset Investment in the Asia-Pacific Forestry Sector: Opportunities and Constraints

Year of publication 1998

Author Anthony DiNicola, Don Justin Jones, Gerald Gray ;Forestry Group

Category Technical book

Series title RAP Publication

Series number 1020-6221|1014-2789|18194591|0428-9560

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Carbon dioxide offsets by investments in the forestry sector is a viable proposal. In fact, the global climate will benefit twice if the investments are directed to plantations that supply wood energy. First, by initial carbon sequestration when the trees are growing, and second, by avoiding emissions when the trees are used as a source of wood energy on a sustainable basis. The second effect reflects common practice in Asia. In Asia, about 2 billion people use fuels from wood or other biom ass for their daily cooking needs. Most of these fuels are indeed, used on a sustainable basis. (Contrary to widespread belief, woodfuel use is not a general cause for deforestation!) The beneficial implications for the global atmosphere can be estimated in terms of avoided emissions. If households used a fossil fuel like coal instead of wood, about 560,000 kton of carbon dioxide per year would be emitted into the atmosphere. In terms of money, this means that annually some US$ 20-30 billion for offsetting carbon dioxide is being avoided by current practices of woodfuel use amongst relatively poor households in Asia. It is recommended to develop wood energy in Asia further by modern applications, not only for increased carbon dioxide savings, but also for pursuing national interests like creating employment, managing the local environment, and reducing current accounts deficits. The Regional Wood Energy Development Programme in Asia links sixteen countries and is part of FAO’ s programme to jointly work with the member countries for the stated objectives.

Language English

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