Options to improve the carbon balance of the harvested wood products sector in four EU countries

Harvested Wood Products (HWP) may contribute to climate change mitigation by storing carbon and by replacing energy-intensive materials and fossil energy, reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. However, when assessing improved HWP utilizations, interactions between wood use pathways, the carbon stock dynamics, and the resulting effect on the GHG balance are still not well understood. This research aims to assess the carbon sequestration effects of alternative wood product utilizations in four EU countries. We conducted a material flow analysis of wood uses in France, Finland, Germany, and Spain for 2017 taking into account national production, imports, and exports. Then, we quantified the future dynamics of carbon stock in the HWP through time, assuming the same as in 2017 input and ignoring the forest sink. We then ran six alternative scenarios: two energy-focused (Energy, Energy+), two material-focused (Cascading, Material), one with extended half-life of the wood products (HL) and ..., , , # Options to improve the carbon balance of the harvested wood products sector in four EU countries

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.vdncjsz1t](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.vdncjsz1t)

All the data utilized in this study are openly accessible through the online dataset specified in the readme file and the loaded file. The data retrieved from the online dataset underwent processing using Microsoft Excel. A comprehensive methodology description can be found in the Material and Methods section.

## Description of the data and file structure

In the \"Sharing/Access Information\" section, you can locate the following information:

* The first link grants access to Forest Product Statistics, encompassing Forestry Production and Trade, as well as Forestry Trade Flows. We've utilized data from Forestry Production and Trade, where you can customize your selection of items, countries, and years. After applying your filters, you can download the data in Microsoft Excel format.
* The second link dire...