Forests Sourcebook - HCV Resource Network

ANNEX 6A.
TIMESCALE OF IMPACTS OF ENERGY SECTOR REFORM ON FORESTS AND
FOREST INDUSTRIES
The table below illustrates different timescales of the
impacts of energy sector reform on forests and forest industries.
Although numerous policy objectives have short-term
impacts, an equal number have medium-term impacts. This
underscores the need to have an effective model for predicting
these outcomes and monitoring them. A point that does
not appear in the table is that any matrix of this kind would
need criteria for weighting the importance of the links to
provide comparable information.
Policy Area C: Energy
Impact on the forest
and forest industries sector
Policy instrument/ (particularly on the supply Scale of impact a
Policy objective linkage and demand of wood) Timescale b Supply Demand
1. Diversify energy Taxes on use of fossil fuels; 1 (a) increased afforestation as energy *** M
sources (away from subsidies and grants for plantations
fossil fuel and toward research and develop- (b) increased harvesting of thinnings, **** S
alternatives) ment of alternative fuels small-sized, and low-quality wood,
including forest and logging residues,
for use as energy
(c) increased use of urban waste, *** S
notably waste paper, for heat and
power
(d) increased use of industry and ** S
post-consumption residues for
heat and power
(e) development of wood-based ** L
liquid and gas fuels for transport
and other uses
(f) fuller integration of electricity * M
generated by wood-processing
industries into national grids
2. Raise energy Subsidies and grants for 2 (a) as 1 above, esp. (a), (b), and (c) **** **** M
self-sufficiency and research and development (b) develop wood use for local ** M
security and use of domestically (community, institution, hospital,
available resources
farm, military, and so on) heat and
power generation
3. Improve energy Subsidies and grants for 3 (a) increased demand and production ** ** M
conservation research, development, and of sawnwood as low energy
use of energy-saving
cost product
technology, equipment, (b) greater use of wood-based ** M
buildings, and so on
products, especially sawnwood, for
insulation of buildings
... ...
... (up to 5) ... (up to 5.c)
Source: Peck and Descargues 1997: 79.
a. On a scale of * (= little impact) to ***** (= very significant impact). This is intended to show the possible extent of impact on wood supply and
demand should policy be changed from its present direction.
b. This column is intended to show how soon after a policy change has been initiated an impact might begin to take effect:
S = within 5 years; M = within 15 years; L = not before 15 years.
CHAPTER 6: MAINSTREAMING FORESTS INTO DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND PLANNING 213