biomass and the natural heritage snh sharing good practice event 2nd november 2006, battleby fiona...
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Biomass and the Natural HeritageSNH Sharing Good Practice Event
2nd November 2006, Battleby
Fiona McPhieNorthern WoodHeat Project Manager
Highland Birchwoods
Identifying and engaging with the emerging biomass industry to secure benefits for the
natural heritage
Highland Birchwoods
• Formed in 1992 as a partnership between the Forestry Commission, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise
• Promote best practice in woodland and forest management to
- improve conservation and biodiversity values
- deliver sustainable rural development
- enhance recreational, landscape and amenity facilities
Why use woodfuel?
•Widely available and versatile-different forms
•Range of scales
-domestic to district heating
•Proven technology-widely used across Europe
•Economical
-competitive with other fuels
Woodfuel
Environmentally sound
- Carbon Neutral
- ONLY IF WOOD COMES FROM A SUSTAINABLY MANAGED SOURCE
Further Benefits of Woodfuel Use
FORESTRY: create markets for thinnings
EMPLOYMENT: provide local opportunities
BIODIVERSITY: can improve habitat
Northern WoodHeat
Encourage establishment of sustainable local woodfuel supply chains
Use woodfuel production techniques that work with existing forest management goals
Design training programmes and publicise benefits of woodfuel markets
Scotland’s woodfuel resource
•The potential woodfuel resource in Scotland is
considerable
From FREDS report “Promoting and accelerating the market penetration of biomass energy in Scotland, Jan 2005
•Major part of the resource is owned by the private sector
Northern WoodHeat
Key sustainability issues:
-Local supply chains: limit transport and increase local benefits
-Match supply and demand: careful planning
-Integrate with other land-use goals: forest restructuring, creation of forest habitat networks, recreational use
Northern WoodHeat
Key environmental issues:
-Carbon saving
-Impact on habitats and biodiversity
Northern WoodHeat - Scotland
Current studies and trials
•Whole tree harvesting
•Residue recovery
•Thinning and biodiversity
•Debarking
Whole tree harvesting (sourfelling)
-How does leaving branches and needles intact affect drying rate?
-How long after felling does needlefall occur?
-How is the nutrient balance of the site affected?
Northern WoodHeat - Scotland
Northern WoodHeat - Scotland
Residue recovery – Enertree model
•Developed in Finland – adapted for use in Scotland
•Estimates forest stand biomass content and effects of residue extraction on soil conditions and future yields
•Estimates the removal and increment of biomass and nutrient contents during the stand development (growth, thinning and regeneration)
•Incorporates biodiversity and recreation values
Thinning and Biodiversity:
-Study of bird diversity and abundances with BTO Scotland on thinned and unthinned sites
-Current levels of thinning do not affect bird populations
-Increase likely to be beneficial
Northern WoodHeat - Scotland
Northern WoodHeat - Scotland
Environmentally sensitive harvesting methods:
Debarking:
-Increase drying rate
-Maximise nutrient retention
Northern WoodHeat - Scotland
•Woodfuel training course – 13th-16th November (Enertree)
•DWP Seminar – 17th November (sourfelling)
•Dunnet Forestry Trust – 6th December (woodfuel and forest management)
•Information Note: Local Environmental Impacts of Forest Woodfuel Harvesting in Scotland
01463 811 606