Carbon footprint of lumber production from falcata [Falcataria moluccana (Miq.) Barneby & J. W. Grimes] in the CARAGA Region, Philippines

Dalisay Espiritu-Cabral; Diomedes Racelis; Canesio Predo; Myrna Carandang; Wilfredo Carandang; Elenita Racelis; Vanessa Palma-Torres

Dalisay Espiritu-Cabral Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
Diomedes A. Racelis Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines
Canesio D. Predo Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines
Myrna G. Carandang Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines
Wilfredo M. Carandang Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines
Elenita L. Racelis Training Center for Tropical Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna
Vanessa M. Palma-Torres Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines

Keywords: carbon stocks, CO2e, falcata lumber, GHG inventory

Abstract

The CARAGA Region, known as the “timber corridor” of the Philippines, is well known for its Industrial Tree Plantations (ITPs) that produce falcata [Falcataria moluccana (Miq.) Barneby & J. W. Grimes] lumber for the veneer and plywood industry. However, the carbon footprint of this falcata-based industry has not yet been accounted for. This study calculated the greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes of its production chain – from harvesting to processing – following the IPCC (2006) and EMB (2011) guidelines for greenhouse gas inventory that trace the sources of emissions at all stages of operation. This study estimated that the total emissions for a 1 m3 kiln-dried lumber were about 0.317 Mg CO2e m–3. The greatest emissions came from major transportation from plantation site to sawmill (49%) while the lowest emissions came from sawmill processing (12%). This was mainly due to the use of waste materials for the boiler, which lowers the sawmill’s electricity consumption. Opportunities to reduce emissions within the production chain were also identified, for instance during sawmilling where airdrying and more efficient vehicles and equipment may be used. This study serves as a baseline in determining the emission contribution of other types of wood products using other tree species. Future studies, however, will be further enhanced by incorporating the carbon footprint of the end-of-life emissions of lumber products to establish its full cradle-to-grave life cycle.