Is the use of wood for energy sustainable? Is there a possibility of deforestation?

The use of wood as an energy resource will always be sustainable as long as society places value on the other ecologic, economic, and social benefits of trees. Sustainability is ensured through policies, laws, and good management practices that balance the use of a resource with its competing values and the continued availability of the resource. Forest certification by a credible organization can help ensure sustainability. There are three programs available in the United States to help landowners develop management plans, conduct sustainable management practices, and require landowners to meet various standards for long term sustainability. The Forest Stewardship Council (http://www.fsc.org/en/about/accreditation), the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (http://www.sfi program.org/certification.cfm), and the American Tree Farm System (http://www.treefarmsystem.org/cms/pages/26_19.html) offer accreditation programs. Deforestation, or the permanent conversion of forested areas to non-forest use such as cropland, pasture, urban use, or wasteland, across large areas of the US in response to energy needs is extremely unlikely because of the values of our society. The removal of trees and biomass performed during forest management operations that follow best management practices (BMPs) is NOT deforestation. This FAQ was adapted from Wood to Energy, and used with permission.

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