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The_camperdave t1_j1xxnof wrote

Reply to comment by TedwinV in ELI5: Why is burning wood (local, natural) considered bad for the environment, yet naturally occurring forest fires considered good for climate stabilization? by prendrefeu

> That's why you're not supposed to burn wood, it releases more CO2 into the atmosphere and makes it worse.

It only releases the carbon dioxide that the tree itself took out of the atmosphere while growing. That carbon is part of the current carbon cycle.

Coal and other fossil fuels are the problem. The carbon there has been out of the loop for so long that life's carbon cycle has adjusted for its absence.

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Dorocche t1_j1zps63 wrote

Wood is still a problem if it was taken from a recently deforested area (or transported long-distance, but that's true of everything). When taken from a local wood farm, then it's carbon-neutral, yeah.

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prendrefeu OP t1_j201qag wrote

So if I felled my own trees and they are the source of the wood I am burning (which is the case here), is my burning carbon-neutral?

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Dorocche t1_j2020u7 wrote

It will be carbon neutral in a few decades if you plant new trees to replace them. Otherwise, no.

I wouldn't stress about it too much, though; wood burning is not why the climate is changing, and climate change isn't why wood burning is illegal in your county.

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The_camperdave t1_j20t4uc wrote

> wood burning is illegal in your county.

Illegal?!? I've not heard of that before. In what countries is it illegal to burn wood?

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Dorocche t1_j20tdn3 wrote

County, not country. A minor municipal area that probably only covers a couple small cities and suburbs.

You'll have to ask OP which one, though. Probably multiple, there are over a thousand counties in the US

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The_camperdave t1_j214xqn wrote

> County, not country.

Ah! Gotcha. I guess I had a leftover R from last talk-like-a-pirate day, and it chose this moment to escape.

Yes, counties and municipalities can have bylaws banning wood burning, especially in hot, dry seasons and in dense sub-divisions. OP will have to consult his local town council (or equivalent) to get an explanation - probably an anti-nuisance bylaw, though.

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86tuning t1_j21e6q7 wrote

> So if I felled my own trees

or use deadfall when possible.

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