five pillars of sustainability: challenges and...

1

Five Pillars of Sustainability:Challenges and Opportunities for

Biomass Energy in Remote First Nations

Steph Seymour, PhD Student. [email protected]

Introduction Overview of M.Sc research Challenges and Opportunities Pillars of Sustainability Moving Forward Questions

2

Overview

3

Thanks, Team!

Stephanie Seymour Icebreaker

4

Introduction

Intro Research Challenges Pillars Next Steps Questions

Collaborative Research Confederation College Lakehead University Industries, Government

Pre-feasibility Study Biomass District Heating Solar Opportunities

5

Introduction


Does...The amount of forest & solar resources available for use in a district heating plant

Equal...The amount of energy spent in the community on heating and hot water?

6

Project Description


Sachigo Lake First Nation

Remote; ice roads Outside area of active

forest operations (AOU) No forest inventory Diesel-generators Some firewood, fuel-oil

Lac Seul First Nation

Rural; all-weather roads Within AOU Has forest inventory Holds forest license On-grid; electric heat

7

Study Areas

Sachigo LakeLakeheadSteph’s homeTorontoAOU


Sachigo Lake First Nation

Remote; ice roads Outside area of active

forest operations (AOU) No forest inventory Diesel-generators Some firewood, fuel-oil

Lac Seul First Nation

Rural; all-weather roads Within AOU Has forest inventory Holds forest license On-grid; electric heat

8

Study Areas

Lac SeulLakeheadSteph’s homeTorontoAOU


To assess locally available natural resources Solar Wind Forest biomass

To determine energy/heat usage Homes Community Buildings

Determine the social, economic, environmental, political constraints on using biomass in communities

9

Study Objectives


GIS Data Delineated into Strata FRI-style Additional measures Non-destructive sampling Thermal testing

10

Data Collection MethodsForest Resources


Volume/ha x kJ/m³ = kJ/ha estimates Annual Allowable Cut Integrated Wood Supply

11

OutcomesForest Resources


12

Results

Does...The amount of forest & solar resources available for use in a district heating plant

Equal...The amount of energy spent in the community on heating and hot water?

YES! ... butIntro Research Challenges Pillars Next Steps Questions

Lack of Capacity

Policy burden

Lack of access to resources

13

Challenges


Social EnvironmentEconomic

Costly Lack of

infrastructure

Slower growing conditions

Location, Location!

Local employment “Brain drain”

Less dependence on imported fuel source

14

Opportunities

Intro Research Opportunity Pillars Next Steps Questions

Social EnvironmentEconomic

Money circulated in local economy

Support local development

Manage for natural disturbances

Increased access to traditional territories

CO 2, GHG reduction

15

Five Pillars of Sustainability


Soci

al

Econ

omic

Envi

ronm

ent

Cultu

re

Gove

rnan

ce

Reconnect with culture Think maps, hunting, back

to the land

Feeling of purpose Stewards of the earth

16

Opportunities


Culture Governance

Greater say in local, regional policies

Greater role in local development

Assertion of rights

Spin-off Benefits

Trucking

Logger

Forest Planner

Forest Technician

Millwright

Mechanic

Engineer

Electrician

Carpenter

Plumber

Finance

Business Admin

Economist/Analyst

Health and Safety

Security

Mill workers

Products and Marketing

Biologist/ Environmental assessment

Consultant

Auditor

Policy

Intro Research Opportunity Pillars Next Steps Questions 17

Next Steps...

Intro Research Opportunity Pillars Next Steps Questions 18

Keep researching! Boots on the ground Work together, stay in

touch Listen, learn from

other experiences

19

Questions?

Stephanie SeymourMScF, BScF, Forestry Technician

Lakehead UniversityFaculty of Natural Resources

[email protected]


Albert, S. 2007. Transition to a forest bioeconomy: A community development strategy discussion. Journal of Rural and Community Development 2():64-83 Arriaga, M., C.A Canizares, and M. Kazerani. 2013. Renewable energy alternatives for remote communities in northern Ontario, Canada. IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy. 4(3):661-670.Carlson, M. and C. Chetkiewicz. 2012. A fork in the road: Future development in Ontario's far north. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Boreal Initiative.Hall, H. and B. Donald. 2009. Innovation and creativity on the periphery: Challenges and opportunities in northern Ontario. Working paper series: Ontario in the creative age. Miller, A.C. 2011. From the Indian Act to the Far North Act: Environmental racism in First Nations communities in Ontario. Thesis. Department of Environmental Studies. Queen’s University. Kingston, Ontario. 55 pp. Puddister, D., S.W.J. Dominy, J.A. Baker, D.M. Morris, J. Maure, J.A. Rice, T.A. Jones, I. Majumdar, P.W. Hazlett, B.D Titus., R.L. Fleming and S. Wetzel. 2011. Opportunities and challenges for Ontario’s forest bioeconomy. The Forestry Chronicle 87(4):468-477.Smith, M.A. 2014. A reflection on First Nations in their boreal homelands in Ontario: Between a rock and a caribou. (in press)Youden, H.L. 2010. Planning in Ontario’s Far North: Preservation, development and culture in policy. Thesis. Queen’s University. Kingston, Ontario, Canada. … and many more!

20

Sources

Project Overview Methods Results Discussion

five pillars of sustainability: challenges and...

Documents