4. Other Issues
There are a few other issues that require consideration. It is worth recalling that the accounting approach is being developed for national entities. The impacts of the approach only affect individuals' behaviour through national policies. While the international accounting system for carbon may not be ideal, it is the national policies that affect consumer behaviour.
4.1. Global HWP Stocks
There is very little "evidence" of the magnitude of wood product stocks globally or in individual countries. Most of the estimates have been derived from models such as those described above, including a number of assumptions and limited scientific data. Most of the estimates produced suggest the product stocks are significantly smaller than the stocks in forests, but some (e.g. USA submission) note that the stock changes are higher in the products. This is not surprising given the methods commonly used to calculate changes in product stocks, which often do not address inherited emissions appropriately. Furthermore, the use of exponential decay rates and inclusion of product stocks in solid waste disposal sites will ensure that some of the harvested carbon is not reported as an emission for several decades, if ever.
The magnitude of the stocks or the stock changes may be irrelevant to this discussion. There are a number of ways of estimating the magnitude, but few ways to verify the results. The IPCC LULUCF Special Report (IPCC, 2000) estimates wood products could increase the potential amount of "carbon storage" in Annex I countries by 210 MtC/yr with a further 90 MtC/yr in non-Annex I countries. Since there is no sink in products this statement refers to an increase in carbon stocks, presumably from all sources (i.e. not restricted to Kyoto Protocol activities). The values given suggest the amount of carbon that might not be emitted instantly.
4.2. Good Practice Guidance
The IPCC Good Practice Guidance (GPG) report on Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry is currently in preparation. The first draft of this report was sent for Government/Expert review and extensive comments were received on the section on harvested wood products. In the submissions, there were conflicting views on the inclusion of a harvested wood products section of the GPG report. Australia and NZ both suggest it is inappropriate for wood products to be considered in the GPG. Canada, Denmark and the USA welcome the input as part of the ongoing process.
It would seem inappropriate to have Good Practice Guidance for wood products before there has been full consideration of the issues and options. The guidance provided currently only covers a limited number of approaches, and is sufficiently complex to render it incomprehensible to most readers. There are several elements that could be disputed.
Contact for Enquiries
Policy Analyst - Forestry
Innovation and Research
MAF Policy
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Tel: +64 4 894 0100
Fax: +64 4 894 0741
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