Abstract - Fischlin & Bugmann, 1994

Article:

Fischlin, A. & Bugmann, H.K., 1994. Think globally, act locally! A small 
        country case study in reducing net CO2 emissions by carbon fixation 
        policies. In: Kanninen, M. (ed.), Carbon balance of world's forested 
        ecosystems: towards a global assessment. Academy of Finland, Helsinki, 
        Finland, pp. 256-266.

Abstract:

28.7% of Switzerland (41'284 km2) are forested and store 68.1 Mt C. Current annual Swiss net CO2 emissions totalled to 42.23 Mt CO2 or 11.51 Mt C in 1988. This corresponds to 6‰ of world's emissions, although the Swiss population is only ca. 1‰ of that of the world. Despite these small emissions, we analyzed the following carbon fixation policies for Switzerland as a case study for a highly industrialized country: 1) Reforestation of uncultivated land, 2) Elevation of standing crops by a forest management optimizing standing wood volume, 3) Maximization of harvested wood for either a) fixation in endurable wood products or b) fossil fuel substitution by firewood. First each policy is analyzed in isolation and its relative contribution to reducing annual net CO2 emissions is computed by using several simple mathematical forest growth models. The relative reductions expressed in percents of the gross CO2 emissions from fossil fuel burnings are for policy 1) ca. 11%, 2) 3.9%, 3a) 0.2%, and 3b) 3.5%. The non-conflicting policies (1,2,3b) were combined to project overall reduction in net CO2 emissions until the year 2150, which averaged ca. 5%. Around 2050 a consequent implementation could not only curb, but even reduce annual net CO2 emissions. However, this effect must not be misinterpreted, since it depends first on the questionable assumptions of no growth detrimental pollution or climate change and secondly is certainly not sustainable. Particularly the latter might cover up for the increasing long-term trend, which is still dominated by fossil fuel combustion, and might thus put the implementation of a consequent CO2 emission curbing policy at risk.

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