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Peter Facey identify intensive forestry activity globally
The study employed satellite data to

and predicted land use changes for key
crops of rice, wheat, maize, soy and

potatoes between now and 2100.
Globally, timber is one of the world’s
most traded commodities, but the
increased impact of climate change
has put large areas of the northern
hemisphere’s forests under disease and
fire pressure, compounded by the slow
Wood Risks Losing Global Battle For growth patterns typical of many regions.
The researchers note that with wood
Land becoming more integrated into lives,

there is a need to develop strategies
The tension between wood harvesting to be more suited to agriculture. In their to ensure wood and food security in
and food production is likely to only best-case scenario, the researchers say future years.
grow between now and the end of there will be major changes in what Yvette Dickinson, portfolio leader for
the century, a University of Cambridge regions are ideal for timber and crop Scion’s forests design project, said the
research paper predicts, reported by production. agency is exploring multiple solutions

farmersweekly.co.nz. The authors note the contrast between to the food-timber tension.
Growing tensions between wood and cropping cycles for forestry versus food One project is aimed at reducing the
food production could see forests the crops, urging governments to start risk to the next generation of silvopastoral
size of India being lost between now thinking about their timber needs 50 systems, and has three-year funding for
and the century’s end. years ahead – meaning if timber is to research to explore the multiple benefits
A study from University of Cambridge be needed then, it has to be planted coming from integrating trees into farming.
researchers identifies the tensions that nowadays. “By integrating trees into farming,
exist with a finite supply of land that can The vast majority of timber-producing creating silvopastoral systems, there
produce both food and timber. forests most vulnerable to the land use is potential for wood production and

The report’s authors note that as change are in the northern hemisphere. carbon sequestration, but also benefits
climate change worsens and agriculture Russia is seen as a key driver of a move for the farm by improving animal welfare
expands northwards (in the northern out of timber and into food production, under extreme weather, protecting soil
hemisphere), timber production land is particularly since the Ukraine war started. and water, and providing economic
facing increasing pressure to be converted The report notes development of resilience through balancing multiple
to food production. mass timber buildings, biomass and income streams.”
Their worst-case scenario has a quarter cellulosic products are all expected to She said there should be no longer

of the world’s existing forested land area— grow demand for round wood by 49 “either-or” thinking, and instead integrating
equivalent to India’s landmass—evolving percent between now and 2050. land uses together.