Wood as energetic biomass – threats and opportunities

Zdeněk Poštulka

Hnutí DUHA – FoE ČR

What are the threats?

1. Forest over cropping – using all the biomass – causing erosion, nutrient imbalance, decrease of biodiversity

2. Establishing monocultures and plantations of non native species

Addressing threats of 1. Strict forest categorization (specific

zones) using multi variant analysis and spatial planning methods.

Addressed variables: soil erosion, run off, water quality, slope stabilisation, soil nutrients, biodiversity, recreation

Adressing erosion, water retention and water quality - protective forests along streams

Adressing threats of 2. Based on the previous zonation of forest, there should be

worked out areas 1. suitable for plantations (energy first), 2. suitable for biodiversity rich energetic woods (balanced

wood production, biodiversity, erosion-flood control) 3. areas with close to the nature forests without energetic

use (soil, biodiversity protection first, wood for constuction, fuel second)

4. no-go zones with ancient forests (soil, water protection, biodiversity, carbon sequestration).

What are the opportunities?

Landscape restoration, implementing adaptation measures

Developing carbon credit systém and offsetting schemes for landscape and ecosystems

1 tree -20 – 30 kW, 10 air condition units

• "Our work suggests that the impacts of human-caused landcover changes on climate are at least as important, and quite possibly more important than those of carbon dioxide," said Roger Pielke, Sr., an atmospheric scientist at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo.,

.

"Through landcover changes over the

last 300 years, we may have already

altered the climate more than would

occur associated with the radiative

effect of a doubling of carbon

dioxide."

Forests and peatlands have a unique role to play in the battle against climate change. Living forests and peatlands can sequester carbon emissions, while dying ones release previously stored carbon.

Every year the annihilation of these two habitats generates more greenhouse gas than every car, truck, train and plane on earth. This is roughly the same as the amount of CO2 that is emitted by the United States or China each year.

In the UK alone, biofuel subsidies cost £550 million annually. In 2005, a similar investment in preventing forest and peatland deterioration could have offset the equivalent of up to 37% of all UK CO2 emissions. Yet current government policy places no value on restoring forests and peatlands.

Supporting EU policies

Water framework directive – water quality

Flood directive – water quantity

Natura 2000, Convention on biological diversity

Climate adaptation and mitigation policies – carbon

sequestration, energetic biomas, microclimate

Basic variables – multicriteria analysis

Life cycle analysis

Cost benefit analysis

Biodiversity, Natura 2000 impact assesment

Carbon sequestration, climate change adaptation and mitigation

Water retention, flood and drought prevention, erosion protection

Win-win systems

1. river-floodplain restoration,

coppice, coppice with standards

2. No intervention forests (carbon

sinkm erosion prevention...)

3.Unstable plantations´ diversification

4. coppice with standards (coppice)

on deep fertile soils

6. High forest on slopes

7. Untouched areas (carbon sink)

Areas suitable for coppice (willow plantations)

Examples: Plantations -coppice (willows, alnus,

poplar)

Diverzification of unstable forests

Close the the nature forests „coppice with standards“

Mountain high forests – selective management

No – go forest zones

Achieving targets-assumptions Adaptation measures closely linked to flood

protection and water quality

Offsetting schemes aimed at carbon sequestration

Offsetting schemes aimed at sustainable biomass production

Biodiversity is a landmark for sustainable production systems(site specificity means low energetic inputs and maximal net production)

Support needed

Framework policies supporting carbon sequestration and landscape restoration schemes, linked to water and biodiversity policies

Thank you for your attention!