FOREST is very important resource because it can be used to generate energy for lighting, cooking, heating and many more.
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Forestry Vaeno Vigulu highlighted this on Wednesday during the International Day of Forest which was celebrated in Honiara.
The theme for the celebration was: ‘Forests and Energy.’
“Forest in many ways has impacted on our lives because our livelihoods have been entangled with its resources,” Mr Vigulu said.
He added one can testify of the wonderful uses he/she benefited from the forests from the commercial values of timber resources to the eco-system services the forests provides such as maintaining the cleanliness of water resources that our lives daily depends on.
Mr Vigulu highlighted some of the facts of the different energy generated from the forest resources and their uses that mankind have enjoyed and will continuously benefited from;
Wood provides the world with more energy than solar, hydroelectric or wind power, accounting for roughly 40 percent (%) of the current global renewable energy supply.
“It plays an important role in both developing and some industrialized countries.”
He added that about 50 percent (%) of global wood production (around 1.86 million cubic metres) is used as energy for cooking, heating, and electricity generation.
“For 2.4 billion people, wood fuel means a cooked and more nutritious meal, boiled water and a warm dwelling.”
It was highlighted approximately 883 million people in developing countries are employed in the wood energy sector on a full or part-time basis.
“Modernizing the wood energy sector can help revitalize rural economies and stimulate enterprise development, greater investment in wood energy production and advanced wood fuel can provide revenue to finance better forest management more growing forests and more jobs.
“Wood energy is a source and measure in mitigating climate change and fostering sustainable development.”
The PS added, globally, forests hold energy content approximately 10 times that of the world’s annual primary energy consumption.
“They thus have significant potential as renewable resources to meet global energy demand.
“Forests for energy are being promoted by many countries now and into the future to encourage and support global green economy.”
Mr Vigulu further added that investment in technological innovation and in sustainably managed forest is the key to increasing forests’ role as major source of renewable energy.
“In this way, we invest in our sustainable future, in the meeting several sustainable development goals and in growing a green economy.”
By LESLEY SANGA
