IN2WOOD Workshop Aachen - September 2011
IN2WOOD Workshop on "Woody biomass potentials from forests for material, industrial and energetic uses" on 21st of September 2011 in Aachen, Germany.
On the 21st of September 16 experts from Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Germany, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia discussed possibilities of coordinated action on a trans-national concept on sustainable use of woody biomass supporting the existing policy frameworks.
The main objective of the morning session was to develop a financial efficient method to assess regional data of the current and future supply and demand of woody raw material including social, ecological and economic challenges of wood mobilization. This data shall be used to trigger joint action programs for the forest-based sector to enhance biomass utilization and to secure the sustainable timber supply for present and future generations.
To reach a common understanding about a biomass analysis, the workshop started with a rotating discussion about the definition of a woody biomass analysis, the goals and problems of such an assessment. The participants agreed that there is the need to have a valid database, which can be used to inform and to communicate with the society to make the importance of the forest and wood based industry visible and show the limits of biomass mobilization. A biomass analysis shall be used to support decision making processes of all stakeholders. Collaboration also holds its risks like lack of agreements, but has strong opportunities as the exchange of experience or joint international lobbying. The discussions resulted in the decision to elaborate a common questionnaire on biomass potentials for implementation in 2012. This was seen as an important first step to cast light into the question of woody biomass potentials and limits.
In the afternoon session social, ecological and economic challenges of wood mobilization were debated.
A major social challenge for the forest sector is the missing public awareness. Regarding Dr. Stelian Borz from Romania and Martin Schwarz from Germany, there is a lack of knowledge concerning the benefits of sustainable development of forests. “It is essential that the people are informed about the benefits of forest utilization also for mitigation of climate change, decrease of greenhouse gas emission and biodiversity aspects”.
The experts agreed that it is crucial to understand the tradition and history in usage of wood for our societies in order to achieve a sustainable and efficient use of timber. Prof. Ljupco Nestorovski, Macedonia : “It is important that we do not sell and export the fuel wood out of the province due to higher market prices, better contacts and leave the locals without woody resources to meet their basic needs for daily life”.
An ecological challenge is to increase wood mobilization by sustainable methods. Dr.Vera Lavadinovic from Serbia pointed out that “Our forests present a high biodiversity, which has to be conserved. Forest operations must not put biodiversity features at risks”. Maximilian Handlos from Austria stated that “Silivicultural activities have to be adapted to the natural site composition”.
On the other hand, the ecological effects of climate change on forests have been discussed as well as strict conservation politics without integration aspects. These are challenges the foresters have to face nowadays, regarding to Milan Oravec from Slovakia. Dr. Milosav Andjelic (Montenegro) emphasized the importance of the conversion of coppice forests to high forests to increase the biomass potentials.
The economic challenges for wood mobilization differ greatly according to the region. In south-eastern Europe and the Balkan the need of investments in new adequate logging technology and infrastructure is urgent.
In all countries the forest sector is confronted with a strong competition between energetic and material use of woody raw material. As the demand for wood will increase in the future, logistics, harvesting and working methods have to be more and more efficient. Regarding the statement of Martin Schwarz, the sector especially needs education in the working area of “Energy Wood”.
Participants - IN2WOOD workshop in Aachen, September 2011
Dr Milan Oravec, National Forest Centre-Forest Research Institute, Slovakia
Prof Milorad Danilovic, Faculty of Forestry, Serbia
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