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Sustainable Timber Consumption
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Sustainable Timber Consumption

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2018) | Viewed by 26212

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Meghan O’Brien

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, Research Unit Circular Economy
Interests: bioeconomy; circular economy; resource efficiency; eco-innovation; land use targets; forest footprints
Prof. Dr. Stefan Bringezu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Environmental Systems Research, University of Kassel
Interests: socio-industrial metabolism; global land use; indicators and targets for sustainable development; integrated sustainability scenarios; economy-wide resource management; environmental and resource policy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

What makes the consumption of timber and timber products sustainable? What are the criteria, how can sustainability be measured, monitored and evaluated from the forest through production and consumption to final disposal, and how can a sustainable supply of timber – from within and beyond national borders – be ensured well into the future? These are questions that the Special Issue “Sustainable Timber Consumption” shall tackle. Researchers are invited to submit articles addressing the multi-faceted challenges and “solutions” related to timber consumption across supply chains and at multiple levels of analysis. 

In particular, contributions addressing how timber consumption contributes and / or competes with the goals of a circular economy and renewable energy transitions in national economies and across the world are welcome. Such submissions may focus on different aspects of the challenge, such as re-use, recycling, cascades, regional supply chains, durability and longevity, innovation, structural change and future scenarios. Reflections on how national economies perform as regards timber consumption, in light of e.g. the Sustainable Development Goals as well as criteria for sustainable forest management are also encouraged. Articles spanning multiple disciplines, employing a range of tools and approaches and concentrated on the micro to the macro level of analysis are welcome.

Dr. Meghan O’Brien
Prof. Dr. Stefan Bringezu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Bioeconomy
  • Forest product innovation
  • Cascades
  • Circular economy
  • Scenarios and modeling
  • Monitoring
  • Sustainable forest management
  • Renewable energy
  • Targets
  • Certification
  • Supply chains
  • Sustainable consumption and production

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1914 KiB  
Article
An Example of Uneven-Aged Forest Management for Sustainable Timber Harvesting
by Jan Banaś, Stanisław Zięba and Leszek Bujoczek
Sustainability 2018, 10(9), 3305; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10093305 - 15 Sep 2018
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4399
Abstract
This paper presents a system of uneven-aged forest management consistent with the principles of close-to-nature silviculture with treatments adopted to the requirements of individual tree stands, depending on their development phase, growing stock volume, DBH distribution and regeneration status. The study involves an [...] Read more.
This paper presents a system of uneven-aged forest management consistent with the principles of close-to-nature silviculture with treatments adopted to the requirements of individual tree stands, depending on their development phase, growing stock volume, DBH distribution and regeneration status. The study involves an experimental forest (property of the University of Agriculture in Cracow, Poland) with an area of 455.86 ha, located in the Western Carpathians. Data about stand characteristics and development processes, including regeneration, survival and removal, were obtained by measurements conducted at 10-year intervals on 413 permanent sample plots in the years 1976–2016, resulting in a total of four measurement periods. In the first period (1976–1986), harvesting intensity was low at 2.16 m3/ha/year but subsequently increased with the development of growing stock, higher volume increments and improved age and species structure, to finally reach 10.34 m3/ha/year in 2006–2016. The mean volume of timber harvested over the entire study period was 6.12 m3/ha/year, corresponding to 65.2% of the volume increment and 2.8% of the total growing stock. Management by the close-to-nature silviculture method had a positive impact on the forest characteristics. The improved species and age structure and the increased volume increment and growing stock translated into greater stand productivity without detriment to the implementation of non-timber forest functions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Timber Consumption)
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15 pages, 2572 KiB  
Article
Changes in the Assortment and Species Structure of Timber Harvested from the Polish Managed Part of Białowieża Forest
by Dariusz Zastocki, Hubert Lachowicz, Jarosław Sadowski and Tadeusz Moskalik
Sustainability 2018, 10(9), 3279; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10093279 - 14 Sep 2018
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3317
Abstract
The subject of the research, which is the Polish managed part of Białowieża Forest together with Białowieża National Park, a remnant of primeval forests, is one of the most valuable forest areas in Europe. This article presents the history of the use of [...] Read more.
The subject of the research, which is the Polish managed part of Białowieża Forest together with Białowieża National Park, a remnant of primeval forests, is one of the most valuable forest areas in Europe. This article presents the history of the use of these forests. The assortment and species structure of the harvested timber was analyzed in detail for the Białowieża, Browsk, and Hajnówka Forest Districts from 2008 to 2017. The research is based on data from the State Forests Information System (SILP) and Forest Management Plans (PUL), as well as Nature Conservation Programs (POP). The volume of harvested timber was diversified. In 2011–2013, it was limited by a decision of the Minister of the Environment from 110,000 m3 in 2010 to 48,500 m3. This contributed to the increase of the European spruce bark beetle gradation, causing the death of spruce stands. By an annex to the Forest Management Plan issued in 2016, the Minister of the Environment increased the amount of the timber harvest. In 2017, it amounted to almost 190,000 m3, where 91% of the harvested volume was spruce, but the wood was markedly inferior in technical quality compared to previous years. Such a large increase in harvesting aroused the opposition mainly of environmental organizations and the European Commission. In April 2018, the EU Court of Justice decided that Poland violated EU law by increasing the number of felled trees in Białowieża Forest. After this decision, the Minister of the Environment repealed the earlier decision, the basis for conducting the increased wood harvesting in Białowieża Forest. Changes in the timber harvested in terms of volume, quality, and assortment, are due to the specificity of managing environmentally valuable areas. This relates to the many limitations on commercial forestry, which must take into account the need to protect nature and the legal acts regulating timber harvesting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Timber Consumption)
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22 pages, 772 KiB  
Article
Frame Analysis of ENGO Conceptualization of Sustainable Forest Management: Environmental Justice and Neoliberalism at the Core of Sustainability
by Nenad Šimunović, Franziska Hesser and Tobias Stern
Sustainability 2018, 10(9), 3165; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10093165 - 04 Sep 2018
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4470
Abstract
Normative judgments on sustainability underpin concepts that shape the supply scenarios of timber consumption. The modern understanding of sustainable forest management is shaped by a diverse spectrum of social demands, going beyond the principle of sustainable yield management. Rival stakeholders compete to incorporate [...] Read more.
Normative judgments on sustainability underpin concepts that shape the supply scenarios of timber consumption. The modern understanding of sustainable forest management is shaped by a diverse spectrum of social demands, going beyond the principle of sustainable yield management. Rival stakeholders compete to incorporate their ideas and interpretations of sustainable forest management into policy institutions. Environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) have emerged as one of the dominant stakeholders in the forest-based sector. We set out to explore ENGO-specific conceptualizations of sustainable forest management and investigate differences in understanding among various ENGOs. By conducting a frame analysis of ENGO press releases, we identified two master frames: environmental justice and environmentalist frames. A difference in the emphasis placed on procedural and distributive justice as well as a different standpoint in the commons versus commodity debate emerged as the main divergences between the master frames. The results of our study demonstrate how the differences between the master frames underpin different conceptualizations of sustainable forest management. On the one hand, the ENGOs associated with the environmental justice master frame advocate for the broader implementation of community forest management based on power-sharing. On the other hand, the ENGOs associated with the environmentalist master frame promote a wide range of approaches associated with ecosystem management and social forestry paradigms. Moreover, the ENGOs associated with the environmentalist master frame challenge the concept of sustainable forest management as defined by the Helsinki and Montreal process by advocating for ecosystem management. The ENGOs associated with the environmental justice master frame reject the mainstream concept of sustainable forest management in any guise. Future research on ethical issues underlying forestry concepts may provide more conceptual and operational clarity for both forest managers and policy-makers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Timber Consumption)
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273 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Chain-of-Custody Certification in the Czech and Slovak Republic
by Hubert Paluš, Ján Parobek, Roman Dudík and Mikuláš Šupín
Sustainability 2017, 9(10), 1898; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9101898 - 21 Oct 2017
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4153
Abstract
Forest certification is a voluntary verification tool that has been gaining importance within the global sustainability issues as an independent verification tool for sustainable forest management and wood processing industry and as an influencer in private and public purchasing policies and a component [...] Read more.
Forest certification is a voluntary verification tool that has been gaining importance within the global sustainability issues as an independent verification tool for sustainable forest management and wood processing industry and as an influencer in private and public purchasing policies and a component of emerging wood harvesting and trade legality schemes. This study focuses on the chain-of-custody (CoC) component of forest certification. A survey of CoC certified companies in the Czech Republic and Slovakia was carried out to explore the understanding of the concept and role of forest and CoC certification as an environmental, economic, and social tool. It aimed to determine expectations following from the implementation of CoC certification by companies and to identify difficulties in existing certified wood product supply chains and costs related to purchase and sales of certified forest products, respectively. Results indicate that respondents demonstrated a high level of understanding of the CoC concept and that they link forest certification mainly to the issues of legality, tracing the origin source of supply and promotion of sustainable utilisation of wood. The main expected benefits are linked to the improvement of an external company image followed by penetration of new markets and increase of sales volume. CoC is not considered a tool to improve internal company performance and efficiency. The key problems connected to certified supply chains relate to the sufficient quantity of certified forest products, low margins and overpriced certified material inputs. Respondents reported none or minimum price premiums for their certified products over non-certified alternatives. Several differences related to the understanding of the sustainable forest management concept and the level of price premium paid for certified inputs were identified between the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified companies as well as between the different forest products sectors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Timber Consumption)

Review

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19 pages, 48303 KiB  
Review
Adapting Chinese Forest Operations to Socio-Economic Developments: What is the Potential of Plantations for Strengthening Domestic Wood Supply?
by Stephan Hoffmann, Dirk Jaeger and Wu Shuirong
Sustainability 2018, 10(4), 1042; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10041042 - 01 Apr 2018
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5545
Abstract
Over recent decades, China’s forestry sector went through a transition phase characterized by a management and institutional reform process, with a constant rethinking of the ecological and societal role of forests within a unique political system. Nevertheless, despite impressive achievements in forest restoration [...] Read more.
Over recent decades, China’s forestry sector went through a transition phase characterized by a management and institutional reform process, with a constant rethinking of the ecological and societal role of forests within a unique political system. Nevertheless, despite impressive achievements in forest restoration and conservation efforts, the enhancement of ecosystem services and forest area expansion through plantation development, China was not able to improve its domestic timber supply capacities according to its demands. Consequently, the continually growing wood processing industry is facing a severe demand-and-supply gap, causing high dependencies on timber imports. Outdated forest operations practices, dominated by manual labour, are not able to meet supply demands or to implement new silvicultural strategies for enhancing forest quality and productivity and are a widely unnoted disruption of a sustainable development. Therefore, this review presents the status quo of China’s forest operations sector, how it is shaped by forest policy reforms and recent socio-economic developments. In addition, suggestions are developed how the sector can progress through policy adaptations in order to develop sustainable timber supply capacities based on a domestic plantation sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Timber Consumption)
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Other

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15 pages, 3760 KiB  
Case Report
A Spatial Forestry Productivity Potential Model for Pinus arizonica Engelm, a Key Timber Species from Northwest Mexico
by Martin Martínez-Salvador, Ricardo Mata-Gonzalez, Alfredo Pinedo-Alvarez, Carlos R. Morales-Nieto, Jesús A. Prieto-Amparán, Griselda Vázquez-Quintero and Federico Villarreal-Guerrero
Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 829; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030829 - 05 Feb 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3630
Abstract
Pinus arizonica is a widely distributed tree species growing in temperate forests of Northwest Mexico where it is utilized through different regeneration harvest methods. Yet, management models based on estimations of its productive potential are sorely lacking. In this study, a procedure to [...] Read more.
Pinus arizonica is a widely distributed tree species growing in temperate forests of Northwest Mexico where it is utilized through different regeneration harvest methods. Yet, management models based on estimations of its productive potential are sorely lacking. In this study, a procedure to create a productive map using site index (SI) equations and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was developed. A SI model for P. arizonica was created for the study area and used to classify a group of randomly sampled plots on three productivity categories (High, Medium, and Low) for management purposes. Climatic, topographic and edaphic variables were determined on the sampled plots. Then, a statistically-based analysis was performed to identify the climatic, topographic and edaphic variables significantly influencing the productivity levels. Based on the values of these significant variables, a map of productive potential was elaborated for the whole study area. Sites with the highest productivity were those with slopes ≤12°, soil depths ≥0.46 m, minimum and maximum mean annual temperatures of 5 °C and 18 °C respectively, and precipitation ≥900 mm. This methodology could be considered for similar species/conditions where productivity models do not exist or to update old models rendered obsolete by climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Timber Consumption)
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