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Integrated Sustainability Assessment of Forest Bioenergy Options

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2021) | Viewed by 20550

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Special Issue Editors

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ulla Mörtberg

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Guest Editor

Dept of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
Interests: spatial and environmental systems analysis; energy systems and environmental assessment; urban landscapes and futures; water resource management; decision support tools; environmental system analysis tools

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bengt A. Olsson

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Guest Editor

Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7044, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
Interests: forest ecology; forest production; soil ecology; nutrient cycling; assessment of bioenergy systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

For climate change mitigation, renewable energy is the main pathway, and forest bioenergy is increasingly seen as an important part of the energy transition. However, renewable energy from forestry may only be carbon-neutral in the long run, and forest bioenergy comes with certain impacts, including both overall impacts from forestry in general and specific impacts from the extraction of forestry residues. These impacts may include, for instance, alterations of forest site productivity, biodiversity impacts, nutrient loads to surface waters, increased soil and water acidification, and changed availability of toxic substances, which may lead to trade-offs between climate and other sustainability goals. Therefore, in order to support sustainable development and avoid suboptimisation, feasibility studies, policy and decision support tools, and impact assessments need to simultaneously take several sustainability aspects into account.

In this Special Issue of Sustainability, we will focus on approaches and tools that can inform policy and planning decisions concerning the sustainability of forest bioenergy options. Some critical questions include: How can integrated sustainability assessment help to inform policy and planning of forest bioenergy options? Can models of forest ecosystems be usefully constructed to inform on the sustainability of forest bioenergy? What is the role of policy and decision support tools in defining and achieving sustainable forest bioenergy systems?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ulla Mörtberg
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bengt Olsson
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

climate change mitigation
integrated sustainability assessment
sustainable forestry
forest bioenergy
forest ecosystem services
forest resources
decision support tools

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 3403 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Sustainability Assessment of Intensified Forestry—Forest Bioenergy versus Forest Biodiversity Targeting Forest Birds

by Ulla Mörtberg, Xi-Lillian Pang, Rimgaudas Treinys, Renats Trubins and Gintautas Mozgeris

Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2789; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052789 - 4 Mar 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2316

Abstract

Intensified forestry can be seen as a solution to climate change mitigation and securing energy supply, increasing the production of forest bioenergy feedstock as a substitution for fossil fuels. However, it may come with detrimental impacts on forest biodiversity, especially related to older forests. The aim of this study was to assess the sustainability of intensified forestry from climate-energy and biodiversity perspectives, targeting forest bird species. For this purpose, we applied the Landscape simulation and Ecological Assessment (LEcA) tool to the study area of Lithuania, having high ambitions for renewables and high forest biodiversity. With LEcA, we simulated forest growth and management for 100 years with two forest management strategies: Business As Usual (BAU) and Intensive forestry (INT), the latter with the purpose to fulfil renewable energy goals. With both strategies, the biomass yields increased well above the yields of the reference year, while the biodiversity indicators related to forest bird habitat to different degrees show the opposite, with lower levels than for the reference year. Furthermore, Strategy INT resulted in small-to-no benefits in the long run concerning potential biomass harvesting, while substantially affecting the biodiversity indicators negatively. The model results have the potential to inform policy and forest management planning concerning several sustainability goals simultaneously. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Sustainability Assessment of Forest Bioenergy Options)

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24 pages, 8339 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Aiming for Long-Term Non-Decreasing Flow of Timber Secure Carbon Accumulation: A Lithuanian Forestry Case

by Gintautas Mozgeris, Vaiva Kazanavičiūtė and Daiva Juknelienė

Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2778; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052778 - 4 Mar 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1935

Abstract

Lithuanian forestry has long been shaped by the classical normal forest theory, aiming for even long-term flow of timber, and the aspiration to preserve domestic forest resources, leading to very conservative forest management. With radically changing forest management conditions, climate change mitigation efforts suggest increasing timber demands in the future. The main research question asked in this study addresses whether current forest management principles in Lithuania can secure non-decreasing long-term flow of timber and carbon accumulation. The development of national forest resources and forestry was simulated for the next century using the Kupolis decision support system and assuming that current forest management is continued under the condition of three scenarios, differing by climate change mitigation efforts. Potential development trends of key forest attributes were analysed and compared with projected carbon stock changes over time, incorporating major forest carbon pools—biomass, harvested wood products and emission savings due to energy and product substitution. The key finding was that the total carbon balance should remain positive in Lithuania during the next one hundred years; however, it might start to decrease after several decades, with steadily increasing harvesting and a reduced increase of forest productivity. Additionally, incorporating the harvested wood and CO₂ emissions savings in carbon balance evaluations is essential. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Sustainability Assessment of Forest Bioenergy Options)

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18 pages, 1334 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Combined Measurement and Modelling Approach to Assess the Sustainability of Whole-Tree Harvesting—A Swedish Case Study

by Cecilia Akselsson, Veronika Kronnäs, Nadja Stadlinger, Giuliana Zanchi, Salim Belyazid, Per Erik Karlsson, Sofie Hellsten and Gunilla Pihl Karlsson

Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 2395; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042395 - 23 Feb 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2299

Abstract

The demand of renewable energy has increased the interest in whole-tree harvesting. The sustainability of whole-tree harvesting after clear-cutting, from an acidification point of view, depends on two factors: the present acidification status and the further loss of buffering capacity at harvesting. The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between these two factors at 26 sites along an acidification gradient in Sweden, to divide the sites into risk classes, and to examine the geographical distribution of them in order to provide policy-relevant insights. The present status was represented by the acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) in soil solution, and the loss of buffering capacity was represented by the estimated exceedance of critical biomass harvesting (CBH). The sites were divided into three risk classes combining ANC and exceedance of CBH. ANC and exceedance of CBH were negatively correlated, and most sites had either ANC < 0 and exceedance (high risk) or ANC > 0 and no exceedance (low risk). There was a geographical pattern, with the high risk class concentrated to southern Sweden, which was mainly explained by higher historical sulfur deposition and site productivity in the south. The risk classes can be used in the formulation of policies on whole-tree harvesting and wood ash recycling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Sustainability Assessment of Forest Bioenergy Options)

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21 pages, 4170 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Spatially Explicit Decision Support System for Assessment of Tree Stump Harvest Using Biodiversity and Economic Criteria

by Mari Jönsson, Jörgen Sjögren, Björn Hannrup, Anders Larsolle, Ulla Mörtberg, Maria Nordström, Bengt A. Olsson and Monika Strömgren

Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 8900; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12218900 - 27 Oct 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2257

Abstract

Stump harvesting is predicted to increase with future increasing demands for renewable energy. This may affect deadwood affiliate biodiversity negatively, given that stumps constitute a large proportion of the coarse deadwood in young managed forests. Spatial decision support for evaluating the integrated effects on biodiversity and production of stump harvesting is needed. We developed a spatially explicit decision support system (called MapStump-DSS), for assessment of tree stump harvesting using biodiversity and economic criteria together with different scenarios for biodiversity conservation and bioenergy market prices. Two novel key aspects of the MAPStump-DSS is that it (1) merges and utilizes georeferenced stump-level data (e.g., tree species and diameter) directly from the harvester with stand data that are increasingly available to forest managers and (2) is flexible toward incorporating both quantitative and qualitative criteria based on emerging knowledge (here biodiversity criteria) or underlying societal drivers and end-user preferences. We tested the MAPStump-DSS on a 45 ha study forest, utilizing harvester data on characteristics and geographical positions for >26,000 stumps. The MAPStump-DSS produced relevant spatially explicit information on the biodiversity and economic values of individual stumps, where amounts of “conflict stumps” (with both high biodiversity and economical value) increased with bioenergy price levels and strengthened biodiversity conservation measures. The MAPStump-DSS can be applied in practice for any forest site, allowing the user to examine the spatial distribution of stumps and to obtain summaries for whole forest stands. Information depicted by the MAPStump-DSS includes amounts, characteristics, biodiversity values and costs of stumps in relation to different scenarios, which also allow the user to explore and optimize biodiversity and economy trade-offs prior to stump harvest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Sustainability Assessment of Forest Bioenergy Options)

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20 pages, 1987 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Management Strategies for Wood Fuel Harvesting—Trade-Offs with Biodiversity and Forest Ecosystem Services

by Jeannette Eggers, Ylva Melin, Johanna Lundström, Dan Bergström and Karin Öhman

Sustainability 2020, 12(10), 4089; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104089 - 16 May 2020

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5803

Abstract

Bioenergy is expected to contribute to mitigating climate change. One major source for bioenergy is woody biomass from forests, including logging residues, stumps, and whole trees from young dense stands. However, at increased extraction rates of woody biomass, the forest ecosystem, its biodiversity, and its ability to contribute to fundamental ecosystem services will be affected. We used simulation and optimization techniques to assess the impact of different management strategies on the supply of bioenergy and the trade-offs between wood fuel harvesting, biodiversity, and three other ecosystem services—reindeer husbandry, carbon storage, and recreation. The projections covered 100 years and a forest area of 3 million ha in northern Sweden. We found that the development of novel and cost-effective management systems for biomass outtake from young dense stands may provide options for a significant supply of bioenergy to the emerging bioeconomy, while at the same time securing biodiversity and important ecosystem values in future stand developments. In addition, there is potential to increase the extraction of harvest residues and stumps while simultaneously improving conditions for biodiversity and the amount of carbon stored in forest ecosystems compared to current levels. However, the projected continuing trend of increased forest density (in terms of basal area) has a negative impact on the potential for reindeer husbandry and recreation, which calls for researching new management strategies on landscape levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Sustainability Assessment of Forest Bioenergy Options)

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Review

Jump to: Research

19 pages, 1906 KiB

Open AccessReview

Effects of Production of Woody Pellets in the Southeastern United States on the Sustainable Development Goals

by Keith L. Kline, Virginia H. Dale, Erin Rose and Bruce Tonn

Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 821; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020821 - 15 Jan 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5200

Abstract

Wood-based pellets are produced in the southeastern United States (SE US) and shipped to Europe for the generation of heat and power. Effects of pellet production on selected Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) are evaluated using industry information, available energy consumption data, and published research findings. Challenges associated with identifying relevant SDG goals and targets for this particular bioenergy supply chain and potential deleterious impacts are also discussed. We find that production of woody pellets in the SE US and shipments to displace coal for energy in Europe generate positive effects on affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), industry innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), and life on land (SDG 15). Primary strengths of the pellet supply chain in the SE US are the provisioning of employment in depressed rural areas and the displacement of fossil fuels. Weaknesses are associated with potential impacts on air, water, and biodiversity that arise if the resource base and harvest activities are improperly managed. The SE US pellet supply chain provides an opportunity for transition to low-carbon industries and innovations while incentivizing better resource management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Sustainability Assessment of Forest Bioenergy Options)

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