Biomass and the Natural Heritage SNH Sharing Good Practice Event 2nd November 2006, Battleby Fiona McPhie Northern 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

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

Environmentally sensitive harvesting methods: Debarking: -Increase drying rate -Maximise nutrient retention

Northern WoodHeat - Scotland Woodfuel training course – 13 th -16 th November (Enertree) DWP Seminar – 17 th November (sourfelling) Dunnet Forestry Trust – 6 th December (woodfuel and forest management) Information Note: Local Environmental Impacts of Forest Woodfuel Harvesting in Scotland