Global wood fuel production estimates and implications
Abstract Global wood fuel production can indicate opportunities and also challenges in sustainable development, forest management, and energy access. Estimates of wood fuel removals and charcoal production are essential for tracking global goals yet reliable measurements are rare. We synthesize exis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59733-y |
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| author | E. Ashley Steel Oliver Stoner Harry Podschwit Bruno Paz Ilaria Bombelli Sophia L. Simon Erin Peterson Holger Weimar Sebastian Glasenapp Richard Sikkema Nazik Elhassan Rob Bailis Florian Steierer Leonardo R. Souza |
| author_facet | E. Ashley Steel Oliver Stoner Harry Podschwit Bruno Paz Ilaria Bombelli Sophia L. Simon Erin Peterson Holger Weimar Sebastian Glasenapp Richard Sikkema Nazik Elhassan Rob Bailis Florian Steierer Leonardo R. Souza |
| author_sort | E. Ashley Steel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Global wood fuel production can indicate opportunities and also challenges in sustainable development, forest management, and energy access. Estimates of wood fuel removals and charcoal production are essential for tracking global goals yet reliable measurements are rare. We synthesize existing understanding through a mechanistic, conceptual model and build on it to develop statistical models from official statistics and over 2000 newly identified data points. For 2019, we estimate 2525.7 million m3 of wood fuel removals globally, approximately 30% higher than previously understood. Our estimates are 50% higher in Africa and 40% higher in Asia, 10% lower in the Americas and 20% lower in Europe. Global production of wood charcoal is estimated at 70.5 million tonnes, approximately 50% higher than previous values; our estimates are 20% higher in Africa and 200% higher in Asia. These estimates describe global shifts in wood fuel removals and charcoal production and improve our understanding of the forest sector; they will likely underlie global models used to forecast future trends. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e995d30d15524e91a4c8d24291a8c7b1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-e995d30d15524e91a4c8d24291a8c7b12025-08-20T03:42:55ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111510.1038/s41467-025-59733-yGlobal wood fuel production estimates and implicationsE. Ashley Steel0Oliver Stoner1Harry Podschwit2Bruno Paz3Ilaria Bombelli4Sophia L. Simon5Erin Peterson6Holger Weimar7Sebastian Glasenapp8Richard Sikkema9Nazik Elhassan10Rob Bailis11Florian Steierer12Leonardo R. Souza13Forestry Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)Forestry Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)Forestry Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)Forestry Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)Forestry Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)Forestry Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)Forestry Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)Thünen Institute of ForestryThünen Institute of ForestryTall Forester Trees (advisory services)International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)Stockholm Environment InstituteUnited Nations Economic Commission for EuropeUnited Nations Statistics DivisionAbstract Global wood fuel production can indicate opportunities and also challenges in sustainable development, forest management, and energy access. Estimates of wood fuel removals and charcoal production are essential for tracking global goals yet reliable measurements are rare. We synthesize existing understanding through a mechanistic, conceptual model and build on it to develop statistical models from official statistics and over 2000 newly identified data points. For 2019, we estimate 2525.7 million m3 of wood fuel removals globally, approximately 30% higher than previously understood. Our estimates are 50% higher in Africa and 40% higher in Asia, 10% lower in the Americas and 20% lower in Europe. Global production of wood charcoal is estimated at 70.5 million tonnes, approximately 50% higher than previous values; our estimates are 20% higher in Africa and 200% higher in Asia. These estimates describe global shifts in wood fuel removals and charcoal production and improve our understanding of the forest sector; they will likely underlie global models used to forecast future trends.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59733-y |
| spellingShingle | E. Ashley Steel Oliver Stoner Harry Podschwit Bruno Paz Ilaria Bombelli Sophia L. Simon Erin Peterson Holger Weimar Sebastian Glasenapp Richard Sikkema Nazik Elhassan Rob Bailis Florian Steierer Leonardo R. Souza Global wood fuel production estimates and implications Nature Communications |
| title | Global wood fuel production estimates and implications |
| title_full | Global wood fuel production estimates and implications |
| title_fullStr | Global wood fuel production estimates and implications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global wood fuel production estimates and implications |
| title_short | Global wood fuel production estimates and implications |
| title_sort | global wood fuel production estimates and implications |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59733-y |
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