Is Stump Harvesting a Remedy for the Climate Crisis or a Curse for Biodiversity? An Interdisciplinary Study of Conflicting Goals

Erik Geijer (), Jon Andersson (), Göran Bostedt (), Runar Brännlund () and Joakim Hjältén ()
Additional contact information
Erik Geijer: CERE, Centre for Environmental and Resource Economics, Postal: Dept. of Forest Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-901 83 Umeå, Sweden, http://www.cere.se
Jon Andersson: Dept. of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Postal: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-901 83 Umeå, , Sweden, http://www.slu.se
Göran Bostedt: CERE, Centre for Environmental and Resource Economics, Postal: Dept. of Forest Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-901 83 Umeå, Sweden, http://www.cere.se
Runar Brännlund: CERE, Centre for Environmental and Resource Economics, Postal: Dept of Economics, University of Umeå, S-901 87 Umeå, , Sweden, http://www.econ.umu.se
Joakim Hjältén: Dept. of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Postal: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-901 83 Umeå, , Sweden, http://www.slu.se

No 2012:5, CERE Working Papers from CERE - the Center for Environmental and Resource Economics

Abstract: Dead wood is recognized as being one of the most important factors for forest biodiversity for many organism groups. One of the Swedish official environmental objectives is therefore to increase dead wood volume. However, reducing climate impact through increased use of forest biofuels is likely to work against this objective. The analysis is based on a regional economic forest sector model, focusing on northern Sweden, that includes suppliers and major users of roundwood and ecological results of stump harvest on forest biodiversity. The parameters of the model are estimated with a data set spanning 28 years. We simulate the effects of an increased demand for wood fuels in northern Sweden, with or without stump harvest. The two scenarios have different effects on all major roundwood markets in the region, as well as on biodiversity. More specifically, in our model, the scenario with stump harvest implies a 0.3 percent decrease in the emissions of greenhouse gases and a 4.12 percent reduction in overall population density of saproxylic beetles on each years future clear cuts. Thus, a clear goal conflict exists.

Keywords: Goal conflicts; Stump harvesting; Biofuels; Biodiversity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D61 Q23 Q57 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 30 pages
Date: 2012-02-03
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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