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A total of 3.8 billion m3 underbark of wood was removed from global forests in 2016, of which around one half (50%) was for use as woodfuel and the remainder was industrial roundwood (for use by wood processors) (Table 9.4).

North & Central America and Europe together accounted for around three fifths (59%) of all industrial roundwood removals in 2016. Globally, removals of industrial roundwood increased by 3% between 2015 and 2016, resulting from increases in all regions except Africa.

Three quarters of woodfuel removals in 2016 took place in Asia and Africa. Globally, removals of woodfuel increased by 1% between 2015 and 2016.

Table 9.4 Wood removals by region, 1990-2016

Region 1990 2000 2010 2015 2016 
million m3 underbark
Industrial roundwood          
Europe          
UK 6 8 8 9 9
EU-281 317 344 339 351 358
Total Europe 517 521 532 578 595
Africa 61 71 72 74 74
Asia 268 269 362 377 393
North and Central America 595 632 485 516 522
Oceania 34 47 58 63 66
South America 110 147 198 217 227
World 1585 1687 1705 1826 1877
Woodfuel          
Europe          
UK 0 0 1 2 2
EU-281 68 71 89 109 107
Total Europe 138 95 127 157 157
Africa 445 542 631 666 673
Asia 897 808 764 732 727
North and Central America 162 129 129 136 151
Oceania 9 13 11 10 10
South America 162 185 162 171 171
World 1814 1772 1824 1872 1889
Total roundwood          
Europe          
UK 6 8 10 11 11
EU-281 385 415 428 459 465
Total Europe 655 616 659 736 751
Africa 506 614 702 740 746
Asia 1166 1076 1126 1109 1120
North and Central America 757 761 613 652 673
Oceania 43 60 68 73 76
South America 272 332 359 388 398
World 3399 3459 3529 3698 3766

Source: FAO.

Notes:

1. Cyprus is included in EU-28 total but is part of FAO’s Asia region.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter.

Figure 9.5 Wood removals by region, 2016

Fig 9.5.png

Source: FAO.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter.

Additional resources

Sources chapter: International Forestry

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