Sir, While woody biomass undoubtedly has a role to play in a broader mix of renewable fuels, it is vitally important that a sense of perspective is maintained in relation to the availability of wood fuels in the United Kingdom and the needs of the existing domestic wood processing sector (report, Nov 16, and letter, Nov 18).

The seemingly never-ending list of proposed wood-fuelled energy plants is already estimated to require about 30 to 40 million tonnes of wood fuel a year; that is three to four times the total UK annual wood production. Furthermore, it is vitally important that the question of when to burn wood for heat and/or power purposes is fully understood.

Trees, woods, forests and the wood-based products derived from them play a key role in mitigating the effects of climate change and it is essential that the carbon that is stored in the growing tree remains “locked up” in a wood product for as long as possible. When that product reaches the end of its natural service life it can be recycled — perhaps several times — and only when the product has reached the end of its natural service life, should it be considered suitable for use as a wood fuel. This will ensure that we are able to maximise the value of the carbon stored within the wood. After all, you can only burn the wood once and it should be appreciated that, with the exception of dedicated energy crops, burning wood, which would otherwise have a valuable use as a product, should therefore be a last resort.

The rush to propose new wood-fired energy plants seems to be ignoring the fundamental question of wood fuel supply and the assumption that appears to be made by some, that if there is not enough within our own shores, then it will be readily available from “somewhere overseas”, would appear to be fundamentally flawed.

We must all ensure that we make the best use of our sustainably managed forests and woodlands, and the products they provide.

David Sulman
Executive Director, United Kingdom Forest Products Association

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