Module 7: Environmentally Sustainable Bioenergy Production Systems.

Module 7: Environmentally Sustainable Bioenergy Production Systems

Objectives• Describe the concepts behind sustainable forest

management• Summarize the concept of Adaptive Forest Management• Recognize how the ecosystem and its components (soil,

water, biodiversity) are impacted by woody biomass production

• Describe low-impact management operations that enable sustainable biomass production.

• Emphasize the importance of sustainable woody biomass production


Outline• Sustainable Forest Management (SFM)

– History of SFM– Certification– Adaptive Forest Management

• Soils• Water• Biodiversity• Low Impact Operations


Sustainable Forest Management (SFM)

• Brundtland Report 1987– “Our Common Future” – World Commission on Environment and

Development– Sustainable development is development that meets

the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs


Sustainable Forest Management (SFM)

• Rio Earth Summit 1992– Statement of Forest Principles and Agenda 21– www.un.org/esa/sustdev/documents/agenda21/index.htm– Regional and international initiatives for criteria and

indicators


http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/documents/agenda21/index.htm

The Montreal Process

• International negotiations began in 1994

• Santiago Declaration in 1996– 7 National Criteria– 67 Indicators

• National reports

• www.mpci.org


Montreal Process

• National criteria– Conservation of biological biodiversity– Maintenance of productive capacity– Maintenance of forest ecosystem health and vitality– Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources– Maintenance of forest contribution to global carbon cycles– Maintenance and enhancement of long-term multiple socio-economic

benefits– Legal, institutional, and economic framework for forest conservation

and sustainable management.


National Report on Sustainable Forests - 2003

• http://www.fs.fed.us/research/sustain/


Certification ProgramsWidely Used in the South

• Forest Stewardship Council• Sustainable Forestry

Initiative Program• American Tree Farm System• Certified Logger Program• ISO 14001


Forest Stewardship Council

• 10 principles, 57 criteria

• National working groups

• 9 approved regional standards in US

• 3 tracking approaches

• 3 product labels

• www.fscus.org



• Chain of Custody– Inventory control system– Identify origin of source material

• Physical separation model– Separately stores and uses certified materials

• Mixed model– Certified and non-certified materials

• Batch model– Certified materials on a temporary basis



• FSC Pure label– 100% certified materials

• FSC Recycled label– 100% recycled materials

• FSC Mixed label– Minimum of 10% certified material


Sustainable Forestry Initiative• Origin as American Forest and Paper Association

program• Independent as of 2007

– Governed by Sustainable Forestry Initiative Board– 126 million acres certified

• Strict separation between standard setting and accreditation of certifying bodies

• www.sfiprogram.org


American Tree Farm System• Background

– Program of American Forest Foundation– World’s oldest sustainable forestry

certification program– Aimed at private landowners

• 73,000 family forest owners in 46 states• Required management plan • Inspection required every 5 years• www.treefarmsystem.org


Certified Logger Program


•American Loggers Council

•Master Logger Certification committee

•State run Master Logger Certification© programs

•3rd party audit required

•www.americanloggers.org

http://www.americanloggers.org/

ISO 14001

• Administered by the International Organization for Standardization

• Certified by an external certification authority


ISO 14001

• Requires that an organization– Implement, maintain, and improve an

environmental management system– Assure conformance– Demonstrate conformance– Ensure compliance with laws and regulations– Seek certification by a third party– Make a self-determination of conformance


Adaptive Forest Management

• Approach to management developed to improve sustainable land stewardship and the effectiveness of management systems through formal commitment to planning, performance evaluation procedures, and continual improvement




Plans (stakeholders set goals, indicators and targets)

Operational guidelines (implementation)

Monitored outcomes (use of indicators)

Evaluation processes (comparison with goals, targets)

Agreed responses (adaptation of plans or guidelines)

Reports to stakeholders


• Plans – Setting goals and objectives

• Operational Guidelines– Implementation

• Monitored Outcomes– Ensure compliance



• Evaluation Processes– Determine plan effectiveness– Consider alternatives

• Agreed Responses– Adapt plans

• Reports to Stakeholders– Accountability


Ecosystem Components• Many of the sustainability practices used in

forests managed for conventional products can be used in bioenergy production systems

• Specific differences due to intensity of management and biomass utilization can have effects on:– Soil productivity– Water quality– Biodiversity


Ecosystem Components

• Soil

• Water

• Biodiversity


Soil Values

• Biophysical foundation for forests

• Fundamental to the hydrologic cycle, biodiversity, and productivity

• Composition

• Function

• Productivity

• Affects of forestry practices


Soil Composition• Surface horizons – topsoil

– High in organic matter– Plants and animals live here– Most important rooting zone– Can be altered with amendments

• Lower horizons – subsoil– Important for total soil rooting volume

• Consider size of pot for plant– Supply of water and nutrients– Can be altered by amendments, subsoiling and

ripping


Soil Function

• Medium for plant growth

• Recycling system

• Water supply regulator

• Soil organism habitat

• Engineering medium


Soil Productivity

• Soil Productivity– Capacity of soil to contribute to the production of a

crop and support ecosystem health

• Properties affecting soil productivity• Supply of nutrients• Balanced supply of water and air• Symbiotic biological relationships• Extensive and deep rooting


Forestry Operations That May Affect Soils

• Types of operations which may affect soil properties throughout the rotation include:– Harvesting, delimbing and forwarding– Site preparation and planting– Fertilizer, insecticide and herbicide applications– Thinning

• Effects may be positive or negative


Effects of Mechanical Operations on Soils

• Organic matter disturbance

• Alterations of nutrient balance

• Soil displacement and compaction


Organic Matter Disturbance• Functions of organic matter

– Important supply of nutrients• E.g. most soil nitrogen

– Increases water infiltration– Food and energy for soil

organisms– Moderates soil temperature

• Removal or decrease may have negative consequences

• Must be carefully managed and conserved


Organic Matter Disturbance• Reduce machine traffic and site disturbances• Tree crown biomass is relatively nutrient rich

– Retain onsite if possible• Pines – consider conducting delimbing operations on-site• Deciduous trees – harvest after leaf fall


Source: Metz and Wells, 1965

Nutrient Management• Whole-tree harvesting can deplete site nutrients if not

managed properly• Practice site-specific nutrient management

– Leave foliage on site

– Nutrient replenishment through appropriate use of chemical fertilizer, biosolids or wood ash

– Monitoring

– Use of appropriate harvesting and site preparation techniques

– Control weed competition


Soil Displacement, Compaction and Erosion

• Soil displacement– Removal of topsoil by machinery

• Soil compaction– Use of heavy machinery during

thinning, site preparation and harvesting

• Soil erosion– Surface water flow on slopes


Soil Displacement, Compaction and Erosion

• Minimize bare soil exposure

• Orient operations along slope contours

• Minimize harvesting in steep slopes

• Limit activities to seasons when soil moisture is low

• Use Best Management Practices for your area– www.forestrybmp.com


http://www.forestrybmp.com/

Maintaining Soil Productivity• Manage on a site-specific basis for nutrients, organic

matter, compaction and erosionhttp://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/

• Amend soil to improve physical, chemical and biological properties


http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/

Hydrologic Values• Water quantity

– Total yield of water from a watershed

• Water quality– Suitability from

ground and surface

supplies for drinking

water, recreational

uses, and habitat


Practices Affecting Hydrology

• Clearcutting or afforestation • Soil Damage - compaction - erosion• Road building• Harvesting in riparian areas• Inappropriate application of pesticides,

fertilizers, and wood ash



• Clearcutting or afforestation• Changes rates of

interception and infiltration

• Can raise or lower water tables



• Soil Damage• Compaction can result in

decreased soil porosity and puddling

• Erosion can lead to increased sedimentation, turbidity, and nutrient fluxes to water



• Road building• One of the major causes of

reduced water quality• Increases compaction and

erosion• Stream crossings must be

designed with care



• Harvesting in riparian areas• Temperature changes• Decreased buffering

capacity of soils• Increased erosion• Reduction of suitable

habitat for streamside organisms


Practices Affecting Hydrology• Inappropriate application of chemicals and

fertilizers• Nutrient flushes• Possible eutrophication• Toxic compound accumulation


Maintaining Hydrologic Values

• Be aware of local hydrological conditions when planning harvests or plantations (e.g., potential for raised water tables or groundwater shortages)

• Plan clearing or afforestation activities with these conditions in mind


Maintaining Hydrologic Values• Prevent soil erosion and compaction


Maintaining Hydrologic Values

• Use of Best Management Practices– Site-specific management– Take care with stream crossings– Techniques for road construction

• www.forestrybmp.com


Maintaining Hydrologic Values• Streamside Management Zones (SMZs)

– Key component of Best Management Practices– Retention of riparian areas adjacent to surface

water and aquatic habitats


Biodiversity

• Diversity of species, genes, ecosystem function, and habitats

• Habitat plays the largest role in maintaining biodiversity– Provides food, shelter

and protection from predators

– Size– Quality– Connectivity


Biodiversity Conservation Tools

• Landscape perspective

• Umbrella species concept

• Stand structure and configuration– Creation of structurally complex stands– Habitat creation– Use of long rotations


Landscape Perspective

• Recognizing the importance of scale

• Placing a forested stand into the larger regional context

• Important for species with larger habitat requirements


Umbrella Species Concept

• One species receives primary focus

• Assumes multiple species benefits realized

• Selection of umbrella species a critical process


Structurally Complex Stands

• Create multiple age classes• Harvest patches over time• Consider un-even aged

management• Retention of suitable

habitat– Large old trees– Snags– Dead and downed wood


Habitat Creation• Considers food, shelter and

protection from predators• May involve introduction of

native animal and plant species• Includes artificial and natural

structures– Installation of nest boxes

• Use of buffer zones and streamside management zones


Long Rotations

• Allows for development of structurally complex stands

• Useful in buffer zones and streamside management zones

• Creation of large old trees and standing and downed dead wood


Dead Wood

• Possibly attractive for bioenergy but often of poor fuel quality

• Highly prized for habitat

• Evaluate prior to harvest

• Retain if possible


Disturbances to Wildlife

• Noise and harvesting activities

• Disruption during critical breeding times

- Calving

- Nesting

• Plan accordingly


Protected Areas

• Knowledge of unique and sensitive ecosystems

• Attention to species needs

• Adequate size, shape, ecosystem representation


Invasive Species• Spreading at rate of 1.7 million acres/year

• Prevention and control is over $137 billion each year (USDA Forest Service, 2007)


•Threat to:•Ecosystem function•Native biodiversity

Source: James H. Miller 2006

Invasive Species

• Possible source of biomass for bioenergy– Maintain native plant and animal communities– Rehabilitation of infested stands


Conclusions

• Soil, water, and biodiversity values can be maintained and improved through careful forest bioenergy management


Conclusions• Many of the sustainability practices used in

forests managed for conventional products can be used in bioenergy production systems

• Specific differences due to intensity of management and biomass utilization can have effects on:– Soil productivity– Water quality– Biodiversity


Conclusions

• Site-specific management is required to ensure environmental sustainability

• Best Management Practices designed to protect water quality in forests managed for conventional products should be applicable to bioenergy production systems.


Conclusions

• Adaptive Forest Management and certification programs can be applied to bioenergy production systems


Photo Credits

Slide 6: The Montreal Process

Slide 9: Forest Stewardship Council, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, American Tree Farm System

Slide 10: Forest Stewardship Council

Slide 13: Sustainable Forestry Initiative

Slide 14: American Tree Farm System

Slide 19: John Raison

Slide 22: Chyrel A. Mayfield, Texas Cooperative Extension


Photo CreditsSlide 29: Eric Taylor, Texas Cooperative Extension

Slide 32: C. Darwin Foster, Texas Cooperative Extension

Slide 34: Eric Taylor, Texas Cooperative Extension

Slide 35: C. T. Smith, University of Toronto

Slide 36: University of Minnesota

Slide 37: Haywood Waterways Association



Slide 40: C. T. Smith

Slide 43: C. Darwin Foster, Texas Cooperative Extension


Photo CreditsSlide 44: C. T. Smith, University of TorontoSlide 46: Chyrel A. Mayfield, Texas Cooperative ExtensionSlide 48: Al Lucier, National Council for Air and Stream ImprovementSlide 49: Erich G. Vallery, USDA Forest Service,

www.forestryimages.org, 4178032Slide 50: C. T. SmithSlide 51: U. S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceSlide 52: U. S. Forest ServiceSlide 53: C. T. SmithSlide 54: Southeastern OutdoorsSlide 55: Florida Department of Environmental ProtectionSlide 57: James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service,

www.forestryimages.org, 2132025


http://www.forestryimages.org/

http://www.forestryimages.org/

Module 7: Environmentally Sustainable Bioenergy Production Systems.

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Transcript of Module 7: Environmentally Sustainable Bioenergy Production Systems.