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 wood 46 % Saw logs 8 % energy (direct harvest) 23 % energy (black liqour, etc) 46 % pulpwood Annual harvest ~ 90 mill m 3 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 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

year 8 Swedens annual air temperatures

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 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