OBJECTIVES .........................................................................................................back to top
To share, analyse, synthesize, disseminate and promote scientific knowledge and technical information leading to the economically and environmentally sustainable production of biomass for energy from integrated forestry systems.
WORK SCOPE .......................................................................back to top
The work of the Task involves criteria for sustainable forest management of bioenergy production systems involving multi-use forestry with primary production of traditional forest products. The scope is world wide, including boreal, temperate, subtropical and tropical forest regions. The work includes sharing and synthesis of research information, analysis of policy relevance, and dissemination of this information to help promote the sustainable development goals of national programs in participating countries. The basis of the approach is an integrated concept of biomass production systems incorporating biological, economic, environmental and social components. Multi-disciplinary partnerships of key research, government and industry stakeholders and policy-makers are fostered in forest biomass production research, planning and operations. The program and activities undertaken in previous Task periods are continued and enhanced.
TECHNICAL FOCUS...................................................................................................back to top
The task focuses on three distinct aspects of the production of biomass for energy from conventional forestry systems: the growing and cultural treatment of forest stands and plantations; the recovery of biomass for energy through forest operations; and consideration of questions of environmental sustainability of biofuel production. An integrated approach is taken to investigation and sharing of knowledge on these separate aspects.
1. Silviculture
Development of silvicultural systems that incorporate production of biofuels as an integral part of conventional forest management. This includes special focus on:
• effect of residue removal on stand establishment;
• early stand entry and intermediate stand treatments;
• expanded utilization of all species and stand components; and
• mixed-species stand management.
2. Forest operations
Development of forest operations, including intermediate stand treatments and harvesting, that enable cost-efficient and environmentally acceptable recovery of biomass for energy and conventional forest products. Areas requiring special attention include:
• early stand entry;
• division of available biomass between fibre and energy;
• biofuels compaction and transportation;
• enhanced logistical efficiency involving better coordination of flows of materials and information between forestry operations and consumers of biomass; and
• reduced cost and enhanced quality of biofuels.
3. Environmental sustainability
The focus of this aspect of the Task effort logically builds on the achievements during earlier periods, when there was evaluation of criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management, and development of guidelines for sustainable incorporation of bioenergy production systems in conventional forest management practices. The Task will continue to critically assess and refine site-specific Adaptive Forest Management systems to achieve environmentally sustainable integration of biofuel production in conventional forest management. This specifically includes forest ecosystem research on:
• nutrient management, including wood ash recycling and biosolids utilization;
• carbon sequestration;
• stand productivity; and
• soil and water conservation
End Users of Task Outputs:
The varied Task outputs are aimed at a broad range of audiences including forest managers, the research community and energy planners, as well as policy makers, bioenergy stakeholders and market participants generally.
WORK PROGRAM. back to top
The Task work program includes identifying research needs and opportunities, assimilating and synthesizing information, organizing annual workshops and field study tours, transfer of information to key stakeholders, and collaboration with other IEA Bioenergy Tasks and other scientific and technical organizations and institutions. Details of the work program were developed initially by the Task leadership with input from discussions during a Task planning meeting held in March 2007 and a Task business meeting held during the Task workshop in August 2007, revised and updated on the basis of progress and developments since then, including a Task planning meeting held in February 2008 in Toronto, Canada.
Scientific and technical information and policy:
The Task has limited funds for development of new knowledge and technology. However, it has a significant role in (a) identifying research needs and opportunities, (b) assimilating and synthesizing scientific and technical information, and (c) identifying breakthrough technologies. The primary means of accomplishing this role is through development of white papers, state-of-the-art assessments, synthesis reports and policy-related documents.
In 2008, the Task will continue to focus on means of removing some of the significant barriers that prevent increased use of forest biomass for energy in many regions of the world. Criteria and indicators for certification of sustainable forest management for biomass production for energy will be addressed specifically, completing work initiated in 2005 and on which significant progress was made in 2007. This work was undertaken in collaboration with the Wood Energy Program of FAO, with the idea of producing a major publication. This is intended to describe existing certification schemes and regulations affecting sustainable forest biomass production for energy, as well as to analyze environmental, economic and social criteria to assure sustainable forest management in conventional forestry systems with greatly increased use of biomass for energy. The Task objective for 2008 is to complete publication of the chapters on certification schemes and regulations, and environmental and economic criteria for which the Task has accepted responsibility. Such publication may be independent of FAO if necessary.
Case studies of successful implementation of and opportunities for sustainable biomass production for energy will be undertaken and disseminated, with the aim of completing one such study for each participating country during the current 3-year Task period. The first such case study has been drafted, and a template for others prepared. Several other case studies are in development and will be completed, reviewed and published. A plan will be developed for individual case studies from each participating country, dealing with issues of comparability, uniform design, dissemination and modality. Some of the case studies may be designed to complement the major publication on certification. Emphasis will be placed on synthesis efforts on topics likely to be part of the criteria for sustainability, including long-term site productivity involving forest biomass removal for energy use, and life cycle analysis of forest operations systems.
Country reports for all participating countries will be completed according to an agreed template. Completed reports will be posted to the Task website. Other formats for publication and distribution will also be considered.
Contributions will be made from the knowledge and information base of the Task to the preparation of policy-oriented papers as directed by ExCo. Specific topics to be addressed could include factors impacting on the availability of forest biomass for energy, integrating the forest biomass supply chain, and criteria for forest biomass sustainability. A paper on ‘Sustainable Forest Fuel Production’ presented to ExCo as a potential contribution to the IEA Energy Technology Essentials series will be revised and published. A technology progress report focusing on comparisons of nitrogen leaching from forestry and agriculture biomass production will be prepared for the October 2008 meeting of ExCo. This report will benefit from input from the USA and Sweden intended for presentation at the annual Task workshop.
Annual workshops:
The primary means of achieving the Task goals and outputs is a series of annual workshops. These involve invited and volunteer scientific and technical experts who present papers and contribute to assessments and discussions, and lead field study tours. Case studies of successful applications of sustainable forest management for increased ecosystem productivity, forest health and efficient utilization of forest resources, including biomass for energy, are examined. Formal workshop proceedings are published and distributed internationally.
In 2008 the Task will organize an international workshop jointly with IEA Bioenergy Tasks 38 (greenhouse gas balances) and 40 (biotrade) in Warwick, England from September 14 to 19. Local host for the workshop is Forestry Commission England with support from Forest Research and Advantage West Midlands. The workshop theme is ‘Woodfuel Supply Chain – Sharing Experience’. The workshop format includes 2 days of technical sessions, 2 days of field tour and a joint ‘Industry Day’ held at the biennial exhibition of the Association of Professional Foresters (of the UK). The tours will offer opportunities to see examples of operational bioenergy production in central England.
Planning will be initiated for the annual Task workshop in 2009, to be held in Germany, with decisions on date and location and distribution of a first announcement by the end of 2008.
The proceedings of past Task workshops will be published, following peer review, in an appropriate medium with international distribution. The proceedings of the workshop held jointly with Tasks 29 and 39 in Vancouver, Canada in August 2006 have been submitted for publication in Biomass and Bioenergy. The proceedings of the Task workshop held in Joensuu, Finland in August 2007 will also be published after peer review. Different peer-reviewed publication media will be considered, including on-line options. In addition to these formal publications, abstracts of presentations made at all recent workshops will be made available on the Task website. The PowerPoint presentations given by authors at the 2008 workshop will also be made available to workshop participants on CD.
Technology transfer:
Communication of the goals, activities and outputs of the Task is a vital element of the promotional aspect of the Task. A strong presence for the Task will be actively maintained on the Internet, primarily through the Task website: http://www.IEABioenergyTask31.org . The scope and depth of information available through the website will continue to be expanded in its role as a library of existing information sources. The website will also include workshop announcements and outputs. Reciprocal links to and from other related websites will be promoted and encouraged. The website will be actively updated and improved. A previous Task poster will be revised, updated and made available to Task participants as well as on the website. Current Task information will also continue to be maintained on the main IEA Bioenergy website.
Efforts will be continued to find the best means to share technical and scientific information from the Task’s workshops and other activities with policy-makers and practitioners rather than just the scientific community. The Task is participating actively in the planning and execution of a Canadian workshop on ‘The Scientific Foundations for Sustainable Forest Biomass Harvesting Guidelines and Policies’ taking place immediately prior to the Task planning meeting in Toronto. This workshop brings together scientists, policy makers and practitioners for presentations and facilitated interactive discussion, and may provide a useful example for similar events in other participating countries. The possibility of preparing short, accessible, management-oriented summaries of Task workshop presentations will continue to be explored.
A series of technology transfer events will be continued. These are designed to communicate through oral presentations, field visits and demonstrations the scientific and technical knowledge collected by the Task and its antecedents, and to provide strategic policy-oriented advice and guidance to planners and managers based on Task information. Opportunities will be sought to mount one or more technical seminars with stakeholder participation. One such half-day session will be organized in conjunction with the Task workshop in Finland , bringing together international experts with regional managers in a forum to address regional bioenergy issues.
A series of technology transfer events will be continued. These are designed to communicate through oral presentations, field visits and demonstrations the scientific and technical knowledge collected by the Task and its antecedents, and to provide strategic policy-oriented advice and guidance to planners and managers based on Task information. Opportunities will be sought to mount one or more technical seminars with stakeholder participation. One such full-day session will be organized in conjunction with the Task workshop in England,with an industry consultation event and a chance to visit the leading forestry show in Great Britain.
Collaboration:
The Task will continue to work collaboratively with other IEA Bioenergy Tasks focused on socio-economic aspects of bioenergy systems (Task 29), short rotation energy crop systems (Task 30), greenhouse gas balances (Task 38), and biotrade (Task 40) to provide technical information and mutual benefit. Successful collaboration will broaden the information base and reinforce the efforts in technology transfer. Specific activities will include joint workshops, work on studies and reports on topics of mutual interest, web-site links and other shared resources. A joint workshop with Tasks 38 and 40 will be organized in England in September. The Task will participate with Task 30 in a ‘Short Rotation Crops International Conference’ in Minnesota, USA in August focused on ‘Biofuels, bioenergy and bioproducts from sustainable agricultural and forest crops’. Efforts will be made to expand Task collaboration beyond resource-oriented and cross-cutting Tasks to technology-oriented Tasks, recognizing the need to integrate biomass resource supply with energy conversion and end-use.
As far as possible, the Task will continue its collaboration with the Wood Energy Program of FAO on a detailed analytical study of criteria required for certification of sustainable forest fuel production systems, including case studies of successful implementation. Opportunities for collaboration and cooperation with other international researchers, organizations (such as IUFRO) and activities will also be pursued, particularly where issues of sustainability of forest ecosystems are involved. The Task network of over 250 individual collaborators worldwide will be maintained and nurtured.
CANADA
