Beyond Wood

My article, “Migrating Most US Fiber Production From Forests to Farms” was published by Elsevier, Inc. in their online Encyclopedia of the World’s Biomes.” While not yet released, a hardcopy version will go for a mere $424.82 (new).

You can download a pdf of just my article here for $31.50 (nothing goes to me). Below is the readily available summary.

Synopsis

There is an irreconcilable conflict between society's highest and best uses and the most common use of forests: conservation values versus logging. This conflict can be resolved by the widespread use of alternative nonwood fibers for the manufacture of construction and paper products. Such substitution is technically feasible and can be economically feasible, if markets demand it and/or government requires it. If large-scale fiber switching occurs, (1) forestlands would be better conserved for carbon sequestration and storage, biological diversity, ecosystem function, watershed integrity, and aesthetic enjoyment; and (2) farmlands would be better managed for profit and sustainability.

Abstract

The highest and best uses of US public and private forestlands (e.g. carbon sequestration and storage, biological diversity, ecosystem function, watershed integrity, and aesthetic enjoyment) are severely diminished by the most common uses of forests: logging for the production of fiber for construction and paper products. This irreconcilable conflict between the value of private forestlands for private profit and their societal value by the provision of nonraw material ecosystem services can be ameliorated by large-scale fiber switching from trees (multidecadal, centennial and even millennial fibers) to fiber grown on farms (annual, biennial and at most decadal fibers). Such a transition is technically feasible and can be economically feasible if markets demand it and/or government requires it. Many species can be farmed for fiber that can make comparable or superior construction and paper products. No conflict with food production is projected. As private forestlands are retired from fiber production they can be dedicated to their highest and best uses by conversion to public ownership by sale from willing sellers. Workers that lose jobs in the transition would be compensated, as would local governments for lost tax revenues. Funding for a migration of most US fiber production from forests to farms can be met by either a modest increase motor fuel taxes or a very modest tax on carbon emissions.

Keywords

Alternative fibers, Carbon sequestration, Carbon storage, Farm fiber, Fiber substitution, Forest conservation, Forest fiber

It has been my experience that when I want a journal article that is behind a paywall, I can simply email the lead or corresponding author directly and request a copy. Some journal pages even provide the email with a single click, or I just search for it using my favorite search engine. Author’s love to have their paper’s read (better yet cited!) and may, under generally accepted practices, provide gratis pdfs to individuals that request.

Here is the Excel spreadsheet of the calculations used in the article: Migrating Most US Fiber Production from Forests to Farms: A Model.