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Forest Guild establishes sustainable biomass policy |
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The Forest Guild, a national association of professional foresters and
resource managers, announces a new national policy statement on Forest
Biomass for sustainable use of forest resources for bioenergy and
climate change mitigation.
The conservation and management of
forests are increasingly the focus of national and state level policies
regarding climate change and renewable energy. "These impending policy
decisions will impact the health and integrity of forests for
generations to come," explains Michael DeBonis, Forest Guild Executive
Director. "Members of the Forest Guild want to be clear about the
opportunities, limitations, and risks involved in looking to our
forests as a source of energy while mitigating climate change; this
document accomplishes that."
The statement establishes the
Forest Guild policy on the promise and limitations of biomass for
energy and its role in an overall energy strategy. Adherence to this
policy will ensure that biomass can play an important role in our
energy future while improving the practice of excellent forestry.
Led
by Forest Guild Northeast Region Director, Bob Perschel, a 33 member
working group spent six months crafting the policy statement. "Our
diverse membership allows us to incorporate the experience of field
practitioners with cutting edge scientists and leading environmental
advocates," explains Bob Perschel. "The result is a perspective that
blends hope, caution, and experience earned through years of working
with our country's forests."
Dennis Becker, Assistant Professor
of Forest Resources at the University of Minnesota and a member of the
working group explains, "Biomass utilization has the potential to
simultaneously meet a number of import goals such as wildfire risk
reduction, forest health, Green House Gas mitigation, and community
development. This document helps to bring the various stakeholders
together in achieving those goals whereas in the past the issues would
have driven us apart."
Another working group member, Dylan
Jenkins, Director of Forest Conservation for The Nature Conservancys
Pennsylvania Chapter, emphasizes the need for the integration of
ecologically sound forestry practices in biomass utilization. "The
Guild's position on forest biomass acknowledges the rightful place of
sustainably harvested wood in meeting our nation's green energy needs.
It promotes a positive vision for forest biomass and emphasizes that
economic, ecologic, and social forest values must be maintained to
ensure wood energy is truly sustainable."
While biomass has been
traditionally removed from U.S. forests as a source of raw material for
wood and paper products, to reduce forest fire risk, and to improve
forest health and productivity, state and national policies are setting
the stage for increased biomass removals for energy and climate
mitigation. In the face of increased use of biomass for energy, the
Forest Guild Biomass Policy Statement addresses four major areas:
1.
Assurances for Sustainability - Public policy should limit demand for
biomass to the amount that can be grown, harvested, and supplied
sustainably. The first line of defense against over harvesting is
strong stand-level harvesting and management standards at the state
level. Each state should implement or amend best management practices
(BMPs) to include biomass harvesting standards appropriate for forest
types in that state.
2. Highest and Best Utilization - Forest
resources should be used as efficiently as possible. Efficiencies of
using biomass for energy can vary from 20 to 90 percent depending on
how the wood is used. Appropriately scaled heating and cooling or
combined heat and power applications are the most efficient energy uses
of biomass.
3. Climate change mitigation - Once the biomass
leaves the forest, its effectiveness as a renewable energy source to
help mitigate atmospheric carbon emissions and slow climate change
depends on its use and method of combustion.
4. Biomass removal
on public lands - Public forests are established to serve public
values, and those that are designated as management areas appropriate
for timber harvests should be available for sustainable biomass removal.
Forest
Guild Director of Research, Dr. Alexander Evans adds: "The available
research, while still limited, indicates there are considerable risks
associated with removing too much biomass. If we do this right and
follow sustainable harvesting standards our forests can play an
important role in these intertwined issues of energy and climate
change."
Michael Ferrruci, President and forester with
Interforest and a working group member reflects on the policy statement
from a field perspective. "The Guild's policy on forest biomass is
clear, compelling and timely. The issue is outlined and the best policy
and management actions are emphasized. Field foresters should pay
attention, and can use this information to inform their work."
The
Forest Guild is a national organization of more than 700 foresters,
allied professionals, and supporters who manage forestlands in the
United States and Canada and advocate for ecologically sound forest
practices. The mission of the Forest Guild is to practice and promote
ecologically, economically, and socially responsible forestryexcellent
forestry as a means of sustaining the integrity of forest ecosystems
and the human communities dependent upon them.
www.forestguild.org
More on best biomass practices in an interview with Zander Evans.
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