Threats and opportunities of a bioenergy market for the forestry sector Mark Broadmeadow Environmental & Human Sciences Divison, Alice Holt Research Station, Farnham SNH Bioenergy event Battleby, 2 November 2006

Potential woodfuel available from the existing forest estate in Scotland Source: SDC ‘Wood for Warmth’ report SNH Bioenergy event Battleby, 2 November 2006

Opportunities: ‘business’ Alternative/additional income stream –modernised old market - woodfuel –new products woodland improvement Diversification Local market for local needs Rural regeneration Bio-refineries/woodfuel stations –greater efficiency of resource use –standardisation of products/feedstocks SNH Bioenergy event Battleby, 2 November 2006

Opportunities: environmental Habitat improvement –regeneration –ground flora woodland creation –SRC/SRF –conventional woodland landscape diversification promotion of sustainable forest management climate change education SNH Bioenergy event Battleby, 2 November 2006

Threats: environmental Forest degradation habitat degradation –deadwood –diversity –ground flora soil degradation –nutrient depletion –base cation loss –structure –carbon content SNH Bioenergy event Battleby, 2 November 2006

Threats: market development Uncertainty Lack of public understanding bad practice/incompetence Skills, logistics etc. insufficient Waste designation/contamination air quality regulations carbon offsetting schemes application of carbon accounting rules competition for land international trade morass of grant-aid SNH Bioenergy event Battleby, 2 November 2006

Woodland creation options SNH Bioenergy event Battleby, 2 November 2006

Woodland creation SNH Bioenergy event Battleby, 2 November 2006

Management of existing woodland SNH Bioenergy event Battleby, 2 November 2006

Threats: long-term and unintended Competition with existing markets collapse of existing markets unsustainable demand unsustainable supply –uncertainty in resource –climate change impacts s High2050s Low SNH Bioenergy event Battleby, 2 November 2006

Challenges How do we ensure environmental considerations are not compromised? –Guidance –advocacy –certification –SFM How do we ensure that a sustainable woodfuel/ bioenergy market develops? –Skills/training –education/promotion –research and strategic planning SNH Bioenergy event Battleby, 2 November 2006

Burning wood as a fuel emits as much, if not more CO 2 in to atmosphere than fossil fuels; how then does it mitigate climate change? We have heard that cutting trees down is part of the reason for climate change. How then does cutting them down to enter the wood chain contribute to climate change mitigation? If we accept that the use of wood as a renewable material and energy source, surely it must be be restricted to purpose grown plantations as cutting trees down in semi-natural woodland destroys biodiversity? To achieve the woodfuel targets proposed by Government, will harvesting activity not have to increase dramatically in all our woodlands that have never been managed in the past? Communication and engagement SNH Bioenergy event Battleby, 2 November 2006