Supply of wood energy from the forest related to climate

and sustainability Hillevi Eriksson,

Swedish Forest Agency

Contents

• Climate– Mitigation, debate– Effects on production

• Sustainability– Where are we now– What may change?

Mitigation

• Climate mitigation policies will discriminate fossil fuels– C emission trading, C tax, less subsidies..

• Knowledge development and debate on GHG impact of biomass fuels– Direct/indirect, incl relative undisturbed forest– Reflected in policies, control systems,

36 %

Pulp & Paper

16 % Pulp chips

13 % energy (bark, sawdust, etc)

20 %Sawn wood46 %

Saw logs

8 % energy (direct harvest)

23 %

energy (black liqour, etc)

46 %pulpwood

Annual harvest~ 90 mill m3

Source: Skogsindustrierna, 2003 and Official Statistics of Sweden

Wood use in the Swedish forest sector~6-8 % of tot biomass harvest: energy (branches and tops (and stumps))

4

Bioenergy development in

Sweden 1970-2005

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1970

1973

1976

1979

1982

1985

1988

1991

1994

1997

2000

2003

2006

TWh

Share of domestic energy consumption

•1970: 9%

•1980: 11%

•1990: 15%

•2000: 20%

•2009: 29%

Impact of climate change on forests- growth- damage- management

Growing season (days > 5°C)

• •

B2

A2

Källa: Rossby Centre, SMHI

1961-90 2011-40 2041-70

year

8

Swedens annual air temperatures 1860-2008

Relative production increase [%] (B2)Picea abiesPinus sylv.Betula verr.

Källa: Johan Bergh, SLU

…but also more damage

• Storm-felling

• Fire

• More browsing

• Root rot, pine weevil and spruce beetle are all favoured

• Insects generelly favoured

• Spring frost

• Pathogens +/-

Hur ändras klimatet på Gotland?

11

SMHI: Frequency of winds >25 m/s for S Sweden

Källa: Wern, L och Bärring, L., ”Sveriges vindklimat 1901-2008 Analys av förändring i geostrofisk vind”SMHI rapport i Meteorologi Nr 138/2009

-Major conclusions

• Warmer and wetter climate, wind?• Improved agro/forest production but also higher

risk for damage/pathogens• Negative for biodiversity• Management adaptation

– Risk spreading (tree species, silviculture, etc)– Better roads– Improved techniques for machinery for less soil/water

impact– Developed considerations to biodiversity

Sustainability - where are we now?

• National legislation and recommendations

• UNFF/CBD/Agenda 21

• Forest Europe (LBA?)

• EU

Preserve biodiversity• Leave ”eternity trees”, shrubs and old dead wood

(snags)• No WTH where endangered species could be affected

negatively• Leave slash of less common species• Leave part of the slash (> 20 %)• Avoid deep track formation near water

14

Forest environmental problems at present in Sweden

• Not enough forest area preserved• Not enough ”pro-biodiv management” of

preserved areas?• Reports about harvest of snags • Reports about increased damage on

moist soils and brooks• Level of ash recycling yet not sufficient

to counteract acidifying effect