The Utilization of European Beech Wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Europe

Pramreiter, Maximilian; Grabner, Michael

doi:10.3390/f14071419

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…Sustainable sourcing and management entails optimizing environmental advantages, ensuring that the wood utilized in glamping structures originates from responsibly managed forests [102]. In this instance, sourcing wood from thinning activities, during which trees sequester the most CO 2 in their initial growth stages [103], exemplifies best practices.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the Carbon Footprint of Wooden Glamping Structures by Life Cycle Assessment

Sebestyén

2024

Sustainability

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Despite the increasing popularity of glamping structures, empirical studies often overlook the carbon impact of wood in these constructions, creating a significant research gap. Understanding the net carbon effect of wood in glamping structures is crucial for informing sustainable building practices. This paper aims to quantitatively compare the net carbon impact of wood in glamping structures, filling a notable gap in the current research literature. The investigation undertakes a thorough evaluation employing a life cycle methodology, appraising the emissions linked with the complete glamping life span. Seven Romanian companies are examined vertically within the glamping production chain and horizontally across the supply value chain. The investigation unveils a notable discovery: the integration of wood within glamping yields considerable carbon sequestration, wherein the wood employed sequesters 36.83 metric tons of CO2 per glamping unit. This surpasses the carbon emissions entailed throughout the entirety of the glamping life cycle, ranging from 9.97 to 11.72 metric tons of carbon. Remarkably, a single wood-incorporated glamping structure has the capacity to sequester approximately 25 metric tons of carbon within a span of 50 years. In summary, the investigation underscores the capacity of responsibly sourced timber to function as a carbon reservoir, proficiently counterbalancing emissions across the entirety of the construction life cycle. The findings underscore the importance of sustainably sourced wood in achieving carbon neutrality and provide valuable insights for promoting sustainable building practices. This methodology has broad applicability beyond glamping structures, holding potential for replication and scalability across various sectors and regions, thereby contributing to global efforts towards mitigating climate change and fostering positive environmental change.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the Carbon Footprint of Wooden Glamping Structures by Life Cycle Assessment

Sebestyén

2024

Sustainability

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“…First, beech wood is currently much less used in long-lived woods than fuel wood. For example, only 1.3% of the total sawmill Roundwood in Austria was beech in the year 2021 [162]; two-thirds of the harvested beech wood directly goes towards bioenergy use. Second, the majority of the European wood industry is adapted to Norway spruce [29].…”

Section: Climate Mitigation With Beech Wood Products and Substitution...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, increased imports of spruce timber from other regions (e.g., northern Europe) would also be undesirable from a climate change perspective and would have a negative impact on the income of Austrian forest owners. Research efforts to improve the suitability of European beech wood for load-bearing applications and engineered wood products have recently increased [162]. Even though for engineered wood, beech offers an even higher mechanical performance compared to spruce, further improvements are necessary to be competitive.…”

Section: Climate Mitigation With Beech Wood Products and Substitution...mentioning

confidence: 99%

How to Optimize Carbon Sinks and Biodiversity in the Conversion of Norway Spruce to Beech Forests in Austria?

Kobler,

Hochbichler,

Pröll

et al. 2024

Forests

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Assessments of synergies and trade-offs between climate change mitigation and forest biodiversity conservation have focused on set-aside areas. We evaluated a more comprehensive portfolio of silvicultural management adaptations to climate change and conservation measures exemplary for managed European beech forests. Based on the available literature, we assessed a range of common silvicultural management and conservation measures for their effects on carbon sequestration in forest and wood products and for substituting more carbon-intensive products. We complemented this review with carbon sequestration simulations for a typical mountainous beech forest region in Austria. We propose three priority actions to enhance the synergies between climate change mitigation and biodiversity. First, actively increase the proportion of European beech in secondary Norway spruce forests, even though beech will not be unaffected by expected water supply limitations. Secondly, optimize the benefits of shelterwood systems and promote uneven-aged forestry, and thirdly, enhance mixed tree species. Targeted conservation measures (deadwood, habitat trees, and old forest patches) increase the total C storage but decrease the annual C sequestration in forests, particularly in wood products. The establishment of a beech wood market with an extended product portfolio to reduce the use of fuelwood is essential for sustainable climate change mitigation. Since there are limitations in the production of saw timber quality beech wood on low fertility sites, C accumulation, and biodiversity can be emphasized in these areas.

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“…The wood is appreciated for indoor use and musical instruments, as well as for plywood, veneering and pulp. Due to its high energetic potential, beech is coppiced for firewood, and charcoal and is expected to increase its role as a construction material [1,2]. Beech favors a humid atmosphere and well-drained soils which its roots easily penetrate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The future role of beech is determined by management decisions of predominantly private forest owners who are heterogeneous with respect to their individually managed forest area, their engagement in active forest management and forest policy, their participation in the timber market, and their formal education in forestry issues. The presented text is related to other studies on an analysis of timber market opportunities for beech products, and silvicultural peculiarities (in this Special Issue: [2]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

European Beech Forests in Austria—Current Distribution and Possible Future Habitat

Jandl,

Foldal,

Ledermann

et al. 2023

Forests

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A change in tree species composition in Central Europe to increase the resilience of forests when coping with climate change effects is imminent. We evaluated the present and expected future role of the European beech, (Fagus sylvatica L.), with respect to the expansion of its habitat and its stem. We assessed the current relevance of beech from data of the Austrian Forest Inventory 2007/09, and analyzed forest policies promoting the establishment of beech forests. We simulated forest growth with the model CALDIS, linked with the timber-market model FOHOW2. We used a business-as-usual (BAU) forest management strategy under moderate (RCP 4.5 BAU) or extreme (RCP 8.5 BAU) climate change. We also simulated an extreme climate change scenario with a forced change in the tree species composition (RCP 8.5 Change Species). Beech occurs in Austrian forests over the elevational gradient of 250 to 1600 m a.s.l. In low elevation, it forms beech-dominated forests, often for the supply of the domestic fuelwood demand. In mountain regions, beech enriches the diversity of Norway spruce, (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.)-dominated forests. In a BAU setting, the habitat of beech increases only slightly in both climate scenarios. The scenario ‘RCP 8.5 Change Species’ increases the habitat of beech in the next 60 years considerably. With progressing warming, other broadleaved tree species gain relevance. The vulnerability to drought and pathogens are limiting factors for Austrian beech forests. The future habitat depends on many factors such as the ability of forests to cope with climate change, the confidence to arising market opportunities of beech timber in the wake of technological progress, and financial and non-financial incentives for the implementation of adaptive forest management.

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The Utilization of European Beech Wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Europe

Cited by 9 publications

References 72 publications

Evaluation of the Carbon Footprint of Wooden Glamping Structures by Life Cycle Assessment

Evaluation of the Carbon Footprint of Wooden Glamping Structures by Life Cycle Assessment

How to Optimize Carbon Sinks and Biodiversity in the Conversion of Norway Spruce to Beech Forests in Austria?

European Beech Forests in Austria—Current Distribution and Possible Future Habitat

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