3 Surprising Products Forestry Creates
In Nova Scotia, the forestry sector takes more carbon out of the environment than it emits. That means we are a net carbon sink. We can do this while creating more than 6,000 jobs throughout the province.
Forestry is a green sector - the most green sector in the province. How are we able to make that claim?
First, we plant over 12 million trees every year. Millions of additional trees grow naturally on the land our sector manages yearly. Our industry helps grow nearly 20 million trees annually between our planting and land management efforts.
Growing trees consumes carbon and filters the air. This makes the forests we manage effective air filters. When trees consume carbon, they lock it away for the tree's life.
If we were to let the trees age and die, they would fall on the forest floor. Once dead, they would release most of their stored carbon back into the atmosphere and add to forest fire risk. Instead of letting the trees die and the carbon escape, our sector creates products from the trees we grow, and the carbon gets stored in the products we make. While those products store carbon, we continue growing forests to capture even more.
We all realize that forestry produces lumber for homes. Solid wood products (like lumber) lock carbon away for a long time. Our sector is connected to numerous other products that may surprise you. Let’s take a look at a few of those products.
1 | Biofuels
Low-grade wood and the leftovers (sawdust, chips and bark) from the creation of lumber can help create different fuels used by vehicles and machinery. This is one of the most promising new markets connected to forestry. There is a growing global demand for the commodity, and we can create it here in Nova Scotia.
There are two main types of fuel: renewable diesel and sustainable airline fuel. There are only a handful of producers, and global production isn’t enough to meet the growing demand. Canada imports much of the renewable diesel used in the country, but we can change that.
These fuels generate more than an economic benefit - they are better for the environment because they replace fossil fuels. According to Biden’s energy department, these fuels can reduce greenhouse gases by as much as 86 percent.
2 | Biochar
Biochar is a versatile compound. One of the most common uses is improving the soil for agriculture. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recognized biochar as a promising tool in the fight against climate change. It benefits crops and helps the soil lock away more carbon.
It could improve Nova Scotia's agricultural output and help us grow more local food.
3 | Bioplastics
Low-grade fibre and wood left over from lumber production can help create plastics. Wood is a possible substitute for using oil or fossil fuels to produce plastics. Creating biodegradable plastics would be less harmful to the environment once we finish using them.
Green Products, Green Growth, Green Jobs
The forestry sector can help our province in many ways. We can produce environmentally friendly fuels, products to help grow more local food, and reduce harmful plastic waste.
