Carbon Sequestration Potential of Forest Biomass in Turkey

The role of Turkish forests in mitigating GHG emissions under the present policy incentives is evaluated in this chapter. Currently, the forestry sector is an increasing sink whereas the GHG emissions of the energy, industry, agriculture and waste sectors are increasing faster. The main drivers of GHG removals by forests are the difference between wood increment and harvest rate, and ambitious afforestation/reforestation programs. Potentially, wood biomass could supply a significant part of the energy demand and could be a substitute for fossil fuels. However, the current policy framework does not reward the implementation of such initiatives. Renewable resources constitute some 9% of Turkey’s primary energy supply, and almost half of it is provided from biomass resources. Mostly agricultural and animal wastes are collected and converted into energy in this way but the amount decreases every year in contrast with the global trend. The use of forest biomass as an alternative energy source is very limited in Turkey and there is not much support from the government on this. The biomass energy sources are emphasized in the Climate Change Action Plan of Turkey prepared in 2011 but the government has failed to incentivize this with efficient policy approaches yet.