| Abstract: |
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the global energy production potential of woody biomass fromforestry for the year 2050 using a bottom-up analysis of key factors. Woody biomass from forestry wasdefined as all of the aboveground woody biomass of trees, including all products made from woody biomass.This includes the harvesting, processing and use of woody biomass. The projection was performed bycomparing the future demand with the future supply of wood, based on existing databases, scenarios, andoutlook studies. Specific attention was paid to the impact of the underlying factors that determine thispotential and to the gaps and uncertainties in our current knowledge. Key variables included the demand forindustrial roundwood and woodfuel, the plantation establishment rates, and the various theoretical, technical,economical, and ecological limitations related to the supply of wood from forests. Forests, as defined in thisstudy, exclude forest plantations. Key uncertainties were the supply of wood from trees outside forests, thefuture rates of deforestation, the consumption of woodfuel, and the theoretical, technical, economical, orecological wood production potentials of the forests. |
