The CO2 mitigation benefits of forests

G I Crawford's criticism of wood for fuel (Letters, March 25) is misplaced. Given the foresight of previous generations in planting, we have a readily available stock of wood now. In a natural cycle trees will keep growing till they are too tall and then fall over, decay and release their CO2. Thus a forester can intervene and use this material profitably. When we harvest a tree in the UK the Forestry Commission ensures there is sufficient replanting to replace that tree, if not two or more. A tree can be thought of as providing several useful products. The best parts of that tree can be used for construction timber and then the remainder can be used for fuel wood or to make chipboard or paper. It is the essence of local sustainability and has been properly managed by good foresters in this way for centuries.