Domestic wood fuel production 18 times sustainable level, report finds

South Korea's production of wood fuel, or biomass, is estimated to be 18 times greater than what is ecologically and economically sustainable, according to a new report. This surge is largely fueled by government subsidies that classify biomass as a renewable energy source, making the harvesting of wood profitable even when it is not economically viable on its own.

The report, titled "From Burning Forests to Storing Forests: Reducing Forest Biomass and Transitioning to Sustainable Forest Policy," highlights that last year's forest biomass production reached 1.67 million tons. However, only 92,000 tons, or 5.5%, were produced at a level considered sustainable without subsidies. The remaining production relied on government incentives, including renewable energy certificates and funding for afforestation, forest management, and road construction.

Analysis indicates that harvesting young trees for biomass or pulp is economically unfeasible. Forests aged 20-30 years for biomass or pulp production showed negative returns, with losses of -14% and -5% respectively. Profitable forestry operations involved much older, high-quality timber forests (2% return for 60-year-old timber forests) or forests used for non-timber products like shiitake mushrooms (36-54% return for forests used for garlic and butterbur farming).

Furthermore, the report argues that using young trees for biomass and pulp has significant negative impacts on carbon emissions. While processed timber used in construction and furniture can store carbon for decades or centuries, burning wood for fuel or using it for pulp releases carbon back into the atmosphere quickly. Currently, 66% of domestic wood consumption in South Korea is used for fuel (36%) or pulp and paper (30%), leading to rapid carbon release. The report suggests that converting 50% of wood used for fuel to sawn timber and wood panels could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80.67 million tons by 2044, equivalent to about 12% of South Korea's annual emissions.