[Index]
Forests – critical for energy
supply this winter?
Geneva, 4 April 2006 - Winter
2005/2006 has been harsh in most of Europe:
the Central European States and Countries
in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central
Asia (EECCA) have suffered more than
most, some have seen threats to supplies
of conventional energy like gas and petrol.
What could local people especially in
remote and rural areas do to heat their
houses and flats? Wood from the local
sources has provided the answer for many
people in rural parts of Europe.
The United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE), with the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations (FAO), have made a rapid assessment
in cooperation with the Heads of Forestry
and the related Ministries to see if
people have really made use of wood energy,
and whether this is harming forests.
Wood when properly managed, as is the
case in most of the UNECE region, is
a sustainable and renewable source of
energy and raw material.
The result confirms that wood energy
use has increased more than any other
fuel source during this winter in the
region. Of the 20 countries evaluated,
14 countries reported an increased use
of wood energy of which 9 considered
the increase to be “significant”.
In addition, 17 countries confirmed that
wood is a significant source of energy
in rural areas. Thanks to local distribution
systems already in place, wood could
easily be provided to the consumer. Only
one of the countries observed slightly
higher illegal exploitation activities
than in other years.
Despite the changes that have been
seen this winter, only five countries
have adopted measures to improve or regulate
wood energy supply and use.
Kit Prins, Chief of the Timber Section,
believes on the basis of the survey that
- Wood energy is a significant source
of energy, especially in rural
areas;
- Wood energy use responds to changes
in demand, without the need for policymakers
to provide directions;
- Wood can be a useful reserve fuel
in times of energy supply problems;
- Few countries have systems in place
to monitor or control the use of wood
for energy;
- Policymakers should pay more
attention to wood’s role
in mitigating energy supply problems
in rural areas.
For further information please contact
Mr. Christopher Prins
Chief,
UNECE/FAO Timber Section
Palais des Nations, room 456
CH-1211
Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: +41
(0) 22 917 0041
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.unece.org/trade/timber/Welcome.html
Ref: ECE/TIM/06/P01