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pexels.com results to a specific range of building types within particular
timeframes and spatial constraints; or the use of material
quantity indicators that need to be extrapolated from other
contexts.

These limitations highlight the need for methodologies that
address gaps in the quantification of urban wood use and
reduce uncertainty, particularly in developing countries with
limited data on construction materials and their environmental
impacts.
This study focuses on Santiago City as a case study
due to its unique urban characteristics, including a growing
use of timber in construction and its role as the capital of a
of decades, are more appealing from this perspective than developing nation with ambitious carbon neutrality targets.

forests that are centuries old, where the slower regeneration By examining Santiago, this research provides insights
of carbon capture may outweigh the benefits. applicable to other rapidly urbanising regions with similar
In this context, wooden constructions within the urban constraints, offering a replicable framework for understanding
environment of a specific city act as a biogenic carbon stock the environmental potential of urban timber.
that endures over time and varies depending on the longevity The concept of Santiago as a ‘Second Forest’ reflects the
of wooden construction elements in the built environment. premise that urban timber structures can replicate the carbon
Moreover, the integration of new wooden buildings can storage capacity of natural ecosystems.

potentially offset carbon released into the atmosphere or This concept suggests that urban environments, when
increase urban carbon storage. designed with an emphasis on wood-based construction, have
Furthermore, if wood surpasses the replacement rate of the potential to become significant carbon sinks, simultaneously
equivalent carbon harvested from the original tree through the reducing emissions while enhancing carbon storage.
planting of a new tree, it could provide a long-term benefit to By envisioning cities as anthropogenic extensions of natural
the global carbon balance. This not only represents a transfer carbon storage systems, this study highlights the need for a
of biogenic carbon from the forest to the city but also creates paradigm shift in urban planning where built environments
a carbon reservoir independent of the original forest stock. actively contribute to climate change mitigation by retaining
part of the original forest’s carbon through harvested wood

Methodologies & Aim products while allowing the development of low-emission
In this regard, previous research has attempted to quantify buildings in emerging nations.
the amount of wood in urban environments using various Furthermore, this perspective emphasises the broader
methods but has encountered challenges that have constrained potential of urban wood use in reducing reliance on carbon-
the results. intensive materials such as concrete and steel.
Most of these challenges are associated with limitations in Additionally, as a forest-rich country, Chile depends on the
the availability of public data on the materials used in buildings, maintenance and expansion of its forests to offset at least 50

making it difficult to represent material quantities on a large percent of its growing emissions and achieve carbon neutrality,
scale and track their evolution over time; the restriction of underscoring the need for an industry that promotes long-