Assessing the Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Potential of Harvested Wood Products in Romania and Their Contribution to Achieving Climate Neutrality

Cosmin Ion Braga, Stefan Petrea, Alexandru Zaharia, Alexandru Bogdan Cucu, Tibor Serban, Gruita Ienasoiu and Gheorghe Raul Radu ()
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Cosmin Ion Braga: National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Drăcea”, 128 Eroilor Boulevard, 077190 Voluntari, Romania
Stefan Petrea: National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Drăcea”, 128 Eroilor Boulevard, 077190 Voluntari, Romania
Alexandru Zaharia: National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Drăcea”, 128 Eroilor Boulevard, 077190 Voluntari, Romania
Alexandru Bogdan Cucu: National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Drăcea”, 128 Eroilor Boulevard, 077190 Voluntari, Romania
Tibor Serban: National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Drăcea”, 128 Eroilor Boulevard, 077190 Voluntari, Romania
Gruita Ienasoiu: National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Drăcea”, 128 Eroilor Boulevard, 077190 Voluntari, Romania
Gheorghe Raul Radu: National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Drăcea”, 128 Eroilor Boulevard, 077190 Voluntari, Romania

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-19

Abstract: Forests mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by capturing CO₂ and storing it as carbon in various forms, including living biomass, dead wood, soil, and forest litter. Importantly, when trees are harvested, a portion of the above-ground biomass is converted into harvested wood products (HWPs), which can retain carbon for decades. With approximately 7 million hectares of forest (30% of its land area), Romania significantly contributes to the country’s carbon budget through the HWP pool. Using country-specific data from 1961 to 2022 and an IPCC method, we tracked HWP carbon storage and projected future scenarios to evaluate the category’s significance in achieving the 2050 climate target. During this period, the carbon stored in Romanian HWPs more than doubled from 28.20 TgC to 60.76 TgC, with sawnwood products as major contributors. Fluctuations were influenced by domestic policies, market dynamics, and industry changes, notably after the 1990s. Annual carbon inflow dipped to 0.65 TgC in 1994 and peaked at 2.54 TgC in 2013. By analyzing the scenarios, we demonstrated that a moderate growth trajectory in carbon inflow, combined with a focus on producing long-lived wood products, could double carbon stock changes by 2050 to 4.4 TgC—roughly 4% of the country’s current total emissions excluding the LULUCF sector. Additionally, based on sustainable forest management practices in Romania, this approach would significantly enhance the carbon pool and its importance in achieving the country’s climate policies.

Keywords: harvested wood products; long-lived products; carbon stock; sustainability; projected emissions; carbon sequestration; climate policy; forest management strategies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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