Threats and opportunities of a bioenergy market for the forestry sector Mark Broadmeadow...

Threats and opportunities of a bioenergy market for the forestry

sector

Mark BroadmeadowEnvironmental & Human Sciences Divison, Alice Holt

Research Station, Farnham

SNH Bioenergy eventBattleby, 2 November 2006

Potential woodfuel available from the existing forest estate in Scotland

Source: SDC ‘Wood for Warmth’ report


Opportunities: ‘business’

• Alternative/additional income stream– modernised old market - woodfuel– new products

• woodland improvement

• Diversification

• Local market for local needs

• Rural regeneration

• Bio-refineries/woodfuel stations– greater efficiency of resource use– standardisation of products/feedstocks


Opportunities: environmental

• Habitat improvement– regeneration– ground flora

• woodland creation– SRC/SRF– conventional woodland

• landscape diversification• promotion of sustainable

forest management• climate change education


Threats: environmental

• Forest degradation• habitat degradation

– deadwood– diversity– ground flora

• soil degradation– nutrient depletion– base cation loss– structure– carbon content

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

Needle

(1W

)

Needle

(TH)

Branch

(1W

)

Branch

(TH)

Bark

Brash

Root (fin

e)

Root (co

urse)

Stem

nit

rog

en c

on

ten

t (%

)


Threats: market development• Uncertainty• Lack of public understanding• bad practice/incompetence• Skills, logistics etc. insufficient• Waste designation/contamination• air quality regulations• carbon offsetting schemes• application of carbon accounting rules• competition for land• international trade• morass of grant-aid


Woodland creation

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

-2010

-2020

Low50 years

High50 years

Low100 years

High100 years

indirect FF substitution

direct FF substitution

sequestration


Management of existing woodland

-200

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Low2010

High2010

Low2020

High2020

Low50 years

High50 years

Low100 years

High100 years

indirect FF substitution

direct FF substitution

sequestration


Threats: long-term and unintended• Competition with existing

markets• collapse of existing markets• unsustainable demand• unsustainable supply

– uncertainty in resource– climate change impacts

1961-90 2050s High2050s Low


Challenges

• How do we ensure environmental considerations are not compromised?– Guidance– advocacy– certification– SFM

• How do we ensure that a sustainable woodfuel/ bioenergy market develops?– Skills/training– education/promotion– research and strategic planning


Burning wood as a fuel emits as much, if not more CO2 in to atmosphere than fossil fuels; how then does it mitigate climate change?

We have heard that cutting trees down is part of the reason for climate change. How then does cutting them down to enter the wood chain contribute to climate change mitigation?

If we accept that the use of wood as a renewable material and energy source, surely it must be be restricted to purpose grown plantations as cutting trees down in semi-natural woodland destroys biodiversity?

To achieve the woodfuel targets proposed by Government, will harvesting activity not have to increase dramatically in all our woodlands that have never been managed in the past?

Communication and engagement


Threats and opportunities of a bioenergy market for the forestry sector Mark Broadmeadow...

Documents

Transcript of Threats and opportunities of a bioenergy market for the forestry sector Mark Broadmeadow...