| There aren't many things more comforting than the | | | | When harvested responsibly burning firewood can be |
| feeling of warmth that comes from a wood fire. But | | | | a natural part of the carbon cycle and does not |
| in order to experience that warmth someone had to | | | | create a net increase in greenhouse gases the way |
| cut up a tree to make the firewood. Is burning wood | | | | fossil fuels do. When a tree is burned the trees that |
| damaging to the environment or could it actually be | | | | replace it absorb the CO2 from the atmosphere. |
| good for the environment? | | | | Firewood is also often produced as a byproduct from |
| It all depends on whether or not the trees are | | | | producing other forest products. When harvesting |
| responsibly harvested. If forests are being cleared to | | | | trees for making lumber there is typically a lot of |
| produce firewood and not being properly reforested | | | | wood in the forest that is not suitable for making |
| then burning firewood can be damaging to the | | | | lumber. This wood would be left in the forest to rot |
| environment. | | | | and go to waste. But when used for firewood this |
| In most cases forests are not being destroyed to | | | | material can be burned to produce heat instead of |
| make firewood. A lot of the time when trees are cut | | | | using fossil fuels or some other non renewable |
| into firewood they are replaced by new trees or | | | | source of energy. |
| existing trees that were once too crowded. When | | | | If you want to use firewood to heat your home and |
| responsibly harvested firewood can be a renewable | | | | are concerned about the environmental impacts, just |
| source of energy. With modern forestry practices | | | | make sure your wood comes from a responsibly |
| firewood often comes from poorly formed, dead or | | | | harvested and sustainable source. You can then |
| unhealthy trees that are removed to allow the | | | | enjoy your fire and the peace of mind from knowing |
| remaining trees to grow better. | | | | you are doing good things for the environment. |