> far better in terms of emissions

Particle emissions isn't what I responded to .. in terms of carbon and greenhouse gases what matters more is trees not being replaced.

In the course of, say, plantation growing timber for lumber generates sufficient burnable wood for landowners and a wider community - the final lumber trees are the ones that weren't weeded out earlier (and burnt) and have been routinely lopped of branches (more burnable wood) to minimize knots, etc.

Forrest management is a thing, timber for lumber, coppicing for regrowth, et al has been going on for several thousand years and has been part of traditional surface carbon cycle.

As has large scale grassland (and forest undercover) burning off for fire management.