Carbon balance in the life cycle of wood: targeting a timber check dam

Focusing on a timber check dam, this study evaluated the carbon balance in the life cycle of wood, taking into account both carbon emissions and reductions associated with fossil fuel use and carbon stocks in wood and forests. A significant difference can occur because the net carbon balance may be either on the emission side or on the reduction side, depending on the implementation of reforestation after harvesting, the use of forest-residue- and sawmill-residue-based energy, and the difference in the evaluation period. Thus, it is necessary to examine which framework should be used to conduct an evaluation. Post-harvesting reforestation is essential to achieve net carbon emission reduction effects by substituting the concrete check dam with the timber check dam. Then, with the energy use of forest and sawmill residues, the net carbon emission reduction effects per dam can be expected after an evaluation period of 35 years, and 28 t-C/dam of those can be obtained during an evaluation period of 100 years. From mid- to long-term perspectives, carbon emission will be reduced more if the carbon balance of wood and forests is taken into account rather than focusing only on fossil fuel consumption.