Expanding wood pellet…

Expanding wood pellet production for burning to produce energy is a dumb and dangerous idea. Living trees absorb CO2 and as long as they are alive they are a carbon sink. Chopping them down and burning them puts all that carbon back into the atmosphere as CO2.

The definition of forest biofibre is far too general and loose: tree tops, cull trees or portions of trees, individual and stands of unmerchantable and unmarketable trees, and trees that may be salvaged as a result of a natural disturbance.

The policy should be tightened such that only dead trees are used for pellets. Treetops should be left in place to provide habitat for the many animals whose lives have already been turned upside down.

The logging industry has generally done a good job of creating new products from 'waste' e.g. finger jointed lumber and particle board and that type of innovation should be encouraged.

If the industry needs more energy, it should install solar panels on the cleared land.