Biomass resource and environmental effects of Norway spruce (Picea abies) stump harvesting: An Estonian case study

Aosaar, Jürgen; Varik, Mats; Becker, Hardo; Kukumägi, Mai; Ligi, Karli; Pärn, Linnar; Kanal, Arno

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2014.10.003

Cited by 39 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Improved growth may lead to a larger input of organic matter and carbon to the soil in the long term, but a comprehensive review of the effects of stem‐only harvesting, thinnings, and whole‐tree and stump harvesting on soil organic carbon pools conclude that the effects are species‐, site‐, and practice‐specific and that firm conclusions regarding impacts in boreal and northern temperate forest ecosystems cannot yet be made . No significant effects of stem or stump harvesting may be detected if the study takes place very soon after harvesting …”

Section: Ecological Effects Of Intensive Forest Biomass Harvestingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical, ecological, and governance aspects of intensive forest biomass harvesting in Denmark

Stupak

Raulund‐Rasmussen

2016

WIREs Energy & Environment

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Intensive forest harvesting has increased in Fennoscandia over the last few decades. Similar developments may follow throughout Europe as renewable energy replaces fossil fuels. The international literature suggests that intensive harvesting could increase ecological risks to yield, carbon stores, soil fertility, and biodiversity, but geographically specific knowledge is sparse in many countries, and results do not extend beyond 5-30 years after harvesting. We use Denmark as a case for discussing future directions. Forest history is described, and research on ecological effects and their inclusion in governance is reviewed. Denmark was almost completely deforested by the early 1800s, but centuries of afforestation have resulted in a current forest cover of 14.3%. Research commonly uses stemonly harvesting as a reference against which to compare intensive harvesting impacts, but pristine forests would be a more useful reference for ecological processes and biodiversity. However, pristine forests are almost non-existent in Europe, and non-intervention, self-regulating forests provide an alternative. Governance and positions of non-governmental organizations in Denmark focus more on general forest management impacts and conservation of light-demanding biodiversity associated with historic coppicing and grazing than on intensive harvesting. The energy sector drives the development of new governance to verify forest biomass sustainability, but the national knowledge base for such verification is limited. As part of a larger solution, we suggest establishing a network of nonintervention, self-regulating forests that can serve as a reference for long-term research and monitoring of intensive harvesting impacts. This would support the application of adaptive management strategies, and continuous improvements of best management practice guidelines.

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Section: Ecological Effects Of Intensive Forest Biomass Harvestingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical, ecological, and governance aspects of intensive forest biomass harvesting in Denmark

Stupak

Raulund‐Rasmussen

2016

WIREs Energy & Environment

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“…The share of energy produced from wood constituted 50% of electricity and 75% of heat energy production from renewable sources in 2016 (Statistical Yearbook of… 2017). However, logging residues from forest management operations should be considered and used more widely for energy production in Estonia Muiste & Kakko 2004;Uri et al 2015). Analyses in the past and the potential for the future indicate that the availability of suitable wood for energy production in Estonia is several times higher than current consumption (Hepner et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of load and quality of logging residues from clear-felling areas in Järvselja: a case study from Southeast Estonia

Kurvits

Ots

Kangur

et al. 2020

Central European Forestry Journal

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The properties of biomass-based fuel and combustion tests showed that logging residues are promising renewable energy sources. The data used in this study were collected from four clear-felling areas in Järvselja Training and Experimental Forest Centre, Southeast Estonia in 2013–2014. Logging was carried out by harvesters in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.), silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and black alder (Alnus glutinosa L. Gaertn.) dominated stands with a small admixture of other tree species according to the cut-to-length method and logging residues were placed in heaps. The aim of this research is to assess different characteristics of logging residues (quantity, moisture content, energetic potential, ash content and amount) in clear-felling areas. The highest load of slash was measured on the birch dominated study site, where the dry weight of the logging residues was 29 t ha−1. Only the branch fraction moisture content on the black alder dominated site (35.4%) was clearly different from respective values on other sites (21.6–25.4%). The highest calorific value of the residues was assessed with the residues from the birch dominated site, where in moist sample it was 365 GJ ha−1 and in dry matter 585 GJ ha−1. The heating value of the fresh residues is highest in coniferous trees. The highest ash content in branch segments was registered for the black alder dominated site. Järvselja data indicate higher quality in conifer dominated sites, yet a higher load of logging residues in broadleaf dominated stands.

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“…The research in Estonia, a neighbor country of Latvia, shows greater potential -up to 290 MWh·ha -1 [9]. It is possible to combine both stump-lifting and soil scarification for forest planting.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Technology and energy balance in stump harvesting with MCR500

Zimelis

Sisenis

Sarmulis

et al. 2018

Engineering for Rural Development

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Abstract. With the increasing demand for renewable energy in the domestic market, additional attention is paid to the use of stump-wood in energy supply. The stump harvesting technology is not substantiated sufficiently so that the end users can use this unpredictable raw material to generate heat and power. Service providing logging companies need to know the specific requirements to equipment and the characteristics of stump harvesting technologies in order to assess the possibility of acquiring this natural resource. The stump harvesting should be planned along with the regenerative felling, because the layout of the timber forwarding roads and the characteristic of the logging residues layer on the road surface are important. In its turn, when planning the upper timber yard, it is necessary to take into account the meteorological data, the prevailing wind direction and water streams. The aim of the study is to find out the total energy balance during the stump extraction with the MCR500 bucket. Working time, output volumes and productivity indicators are derived from the project "Development and testing of a prototype of multifunctional equipment for stump-wood production and preparation of the soil mounds" (2DP/2.1.1.1.0/10/APIA/VIAA/174) results and from the results of the joint stock company "Latvia state forest" project implemented in 2008. The most energy-consuming process is comminution of biomass, therefore it is common, for instance, in Finland that electricity-operated equipment located near the customer is used to carry out this work. More efficient use of forest resources by stump extraction and further utilization in heat and power production can increase biomass deliveries for energy applications by 500 thousand tons of dry matter of currently unused coniferous stump biomass annually.

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Biomass resource and environmental effects of Norway spruce (Picea abies) stump harvesting: An Estonian case study

Cited by 39 publications

References 36 publications

Historical, ecological, and governance aspects of intensive forest biomass harvesting in Denmark

Historical, ecological, and governance aspects of intensive forest biomass harvesting in Denmark

Assessment of load and quality of logging residues from clear-felling areas in Järvselja: a case study from Southeast Estonia

Technology and energy balance in stump harvesting with MCR500

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