Forest Bioenergy Feedstock Harvesting Effects on Water Supply

Neary, Daniel G.; Koestner, Karen A.

doi:10.1002/9781118957844.ch20

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Hence, forest management that delivers multiple benefits for the region can be a way to support both sustained employment and diverse ecosystem services (Meyer et al ., ). When residues are removed for bioenergy, economic and operational limitations, as well as BMPs, ensure that adequate woody debris remains on site to protect soil and water quality (Neary & Koestner, ; Evans et al ., ; Fritts et al ., ; Cristan et al ., ).…”

Section: Addressing Concerns About Environmental Effects Of Bioenergymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Best management practices define practices to minimize soil disturbance and water quality impacts from bioenergy operations, including timber harvest and residue removal (Ice et al ., ). Neary & Koestner () report that forest bioenergy production systems can be compatible with maintaining high quality water supplies in forest catchments. In their review of 30 research studies of BMPs in the SE USA, Cristan et al .…”

Section: Addressing Concerns About Environmental Effects Of Bioenergymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Status and prospects for renewable energy using wood pellets from the southeastern United States

et al. 2017

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The ongoing debate about costs and benefits of wood-pellet based bioenergy production in the southeastern United States (SE USA) requires an understanding of the science and context influencing market decisions associated with its sustainability. Production of pellets has garnered much attention as US exports have grown from negligible amounts in the early 2000s to 4.6 million metric tonnes in 2015. Currently, 98% of these pellet exports are shipped to Europe to displace coal in power plants. We ask, 'How is the production of wood pellets in the SE USA affecting forest systems and the ecosystem services they provide?' To address this question, we review current forest conditions and the status of the wood products industry, how pellet production affects ecosystem services and biodiversity, and what methods are in place to monitor changes and protect vulnerable systems. Scientific studies provide evidence that wood pellets in the SE USA are a fraction of total forestry operations and can be produced while maintaining or improving forest ecosystem services. Ecosystem services are protected by the requirement to utilize loggers trained to apply scientifically based best management practices in planning and implementing harvest for the export market. Bioenergy markets supplement incomes to private rural landholders and provide an incentive for forest management practices that simultaneously benefit water quality and wildlife and reduce risk of fire and insect outbreaks. Bioenergy also increases the value of forest Bioenergy (2017Bioenergy ( ) 9, 1296Bioenergy ( -1305Bioenergy ( , doi: 10.1111 land to landowners, thereby decreasing likelihood of conversion to nonforest uses. Monitoring and evaluation are essential to verify that regulations and good practices are achieving goals and to enable timely responses if problems arise. Conducting rigorous research to understand how conditions change in response to management choices requires baseline data, monitoring, and appropriate reference scenarios. Long-term monitoring data on forest conditions should be publicly accessible and utilized to inform adaptive management.

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Section: Addressing Concerns About Environmental Effects Of Bioenergymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Addressing Concerns About Environmental Effects Of Bioenergymentioning

confidence: 99%

Status and prospects for renewable energy using wood pellets from the southeastern United States

et al. 2017

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“…A series of workshops addressing the bioenergy–water nexus, organized since 2010 by IEA Bioenergy and other organizations and networks, have in this regard provided many interesting examples of analytical approaches and initiatives in support of stakeholder interaction to manage tradeoffs and also to identify opportunities for promoting positive outcomes for the state of water resources. Selected contributions can be found in Special Issue and in Focus Articles in the Wiley journal Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining as well as in dedicated reports …”

Section: Opportunities To Significantly Transform Bioenergy Production Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opportunities to encourage mobilization of sustainable bioenergy supply chains

Smith

Lattimore²,

Berndes

et al. 2016

WIREs Energy & Environment

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Significant opportunities exist to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase domestic energy security, boost rural economies, and improve local environmental conditions through the deployment of sustainable bioenergy and bio‐based product supply chains. There is currently a wide selection of possible feedstocks, a variety of conversion routes, and a number of different end products that can be produced at a range of scales. However, economic slowdown, low oil prices, lack of global political will, and lingering questions regarding land use change and the sustainability of bioenergy production systems provide a challenging global context to speed the pace of investment. The opinions expressed in this paper are derived from our collaboration within IEA Bioenergy to determine opportunities as well as barriers that need to be overcome to realize opportunities on a wider scale. This comprehensive and novel collaborative effort confirmed that feedstocks produced using logistically efficient production systems can be mobilized to make significant contributions to achieving global targets for bioenergy. At the same time, significant barriers to large‐scale implementation exist in many regions. The mobilization potential identified in the study will depend on both increases in supply chain efficiencies and profits and strong policy support to increase stakeholder and investor confidence. WIREs Energy Environ 2017, 6:e237. doi: 10.1002/wene.237 This article is categorized under: Bioenergy > Economics and Policy Energy Policy and Planning > Climate and Environment

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“…Forest bioenergy operational activities encompass activities of a continuing and cyclical nature such as stand establishment, mid‐rotation silviculture, harvesting, product transportation, wood storage, energy production, ash recycling, and then back to stand establishment. All of these have the potential to produce varying levels of disturbance that might affect site quality and water resources . There are a number of management practices that are accepted as means of reducing or eliminating the environmental effects of forestry operations and energy production .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Best management practices for forest bioenergy programs

Neary

2013

WIREs Energy & Environment

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Forest ecosystems produce the best quality and most consistent supplies of water for human use. The increase in the use of woody biomass as a feedstock for bioenergy production has raised questions about potential impacts on water quality. Best management practices (BMPs) have been developed and implemented since the early 1970s to ensure that forest harvesting can be conducted with minimum impact on water quality. Although BMPs were originally designed to minimize water quality impacts, they can be used for a variety of environmental concerns. The use of BMPs is widespread in developed countries and it varies from mandatory to voluntary. In many countries BMPs are incorporated in ‘Codes of Forest Practice’ that guide forest managers through the complete bioenergy life cycle. The development and application of BMPs is not a static process, but one that relies on a continual cycle of application, assessment and monitoring, and refinement. Although some countries have “national standards,“ the complex matrix of forest ecosystems, climates, soils and topography, and harvesting systems requires ongoing assessment, monitoring, and refinement to craft BMPs to best suit local conditions. Research and development studies play a key part in the refinement and communication of improved BMPs. They are also crucial in validating the effectiveness of BMPs. This is especially important where local environmental conditions or operational standards are unique. BMPs ensure that forest bioenergy programs can be a sustainable part of forest management and renewable energy production. This article is categorized under: Bioenergy > Science and Materials Bioenergy > Climate and Environment

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Forest Bioenergy Feedstock Harvesting Effects on Water Supply

Cited by 4 publications

References 36 publications

Status and prospects for renewable energy using wood pellets from the southeastern United States

Status and prospects for renewable energy using wood pellets from the southeastern United States

Opportunities to encourage mobilization of sustainable bioenergy supply chains

Best management practices for forest bioenergy programs

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