Revisiting Forest Certification in Sri Lanka: The Forest Management and Export Wood-Based Manufacturing Sector Perspectives

Perera, Priyan; Rupasinghe, Rajitha; Weerasekera, Devin; Vlosky, Richard P.; Bandara, R.M.S.

doi:10.3390/f13020179

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Recent studies have shed light on its impressive ability to deliver energy in various forms that cater to people's needs, encompassing liquid and gaseous fuels, heat, and electricity. Therefore, bioenergy plays a significant role in reducing poverty in developing countries while simultaneously tackling the restoration of unproductive and degraded lands [29,30]. This restoration process yields multiple benefits, such as increased biodiversity, enhanced soil fertility, and improved water retention [31][32][33].…”

Section: Introduction 1biomass As a Renewable Energy Sourcementioning

confidence: 99%

Insights into Properties of Biomass Energy Pellets Made from Mixtures of Woody and Non-Woody Biomass: A Meta-Analysis

Rupasinghe,

Perera,

Bandara

et al. 2023

Energies

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There is a widespread global shift toward renewable energy sources, where the emphasis is on enhancing the utilization of renewable energy due to the rising costs associated with fossil fuels. In this light, biomass pellets made from woody and non-woody biomass and blends have gained increased attention. Extensive research has been conducted globally to enhance the quality of biomass pellets and to explore the potential to combine woody biomass with other non-woody forms of biomass in biomass pellet production. The heterogeneity of the raw materials used and resulting properties of the biomass pellets have led to the establishment of internationally recognized benchmarks such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17225 standard to regulate pellet quality. In this article, the key mechanical, physical, chemical, and energy properties of pellets made of different non-woody herbaceous biomass are investigated, and the available test values for such properties of the pellets were meta-analyzed. A comparison of the properties of these pellets with the relevant standards was also performed. A meta-analysis of studies on biomass pellet production was conducted via a comprehensive Systematic Literature Review (SLR). The SLR focuses on determining and analyzing the average values for the key physical properties of biomass pellets using woody biomass as a component in concert with other biomass materials. In addition, the optimal range of mixtures of woody and non-woody biomass was reviewed to produce biomass pellets with potential acceptance in the marketplace. The majority of studies included in the SLR concentrate on pellets made from a mixture of biomass materials. The results show that the average values for wood/non-wood mixtures such as pellet diameter, pellet length, moisture content, ash content, fine particle content, gross calorific value, and bulk density were found to adhere to the ISO standards. However, the average mechanical durability fell short of meeting the requirements of the standards. Additional comparisons were nitrogen, sulfur, volatile matter, and fixed carbon content. The findings in this meta-analysis could be useful in directing future research focused on producing high-quality and efficient biomass pellets derived from biomass blends and mixtures.

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Section: Introduction 1biomass As a Renewable Energy Sourcementioning

confidence: 99%

Insights into Properties of Biomass Energy Pellets Made from Mixtures of Woody and Non-Woody Biomass: A Meta-Analysis

Rupasinghe,

Perera,

Bandara

et al. 2023

Energies

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“…To prevent forest degradation and to preserve biodiversity, the undesirable consequences of extensive infrastructure and human activity resulting from logging in previously remote areas need to be managed . In 1993, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was created as a voluntary and independent member organization that aims to promote environmentally sound, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests (Perera & Vlosky, 2006). Subsequently, other certification standards were created, such as the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).…”

Section: Forest Certificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation and monitoring of wildlife in logged tropical forests

Zwerts¹

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Tropical forests harbor the largest share of all terrestrial biodiversity, including 62% of all terrestrial vertebrate species. Of the remaining tropical forests, more than one-quarter are designated as logging concessions, potentially putting wildlife at risk. Forest certification systems like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) claim that they address threats to biodiversity, but studies have to date not resulted in robust verification of impacts of certified logging on wildlife communities due to limitations in research design and scale. Measuring impact is important for informed decision-making and data-driven policies. For this, reliable population monitoring is a prerequisite. In this thesis the general aims are to assess whether wildlife is more effectively conserved in FSC-certified logging concessions than in non-FSC concessions, and to explore how wildlife populations can best be monitored in tropical forests. I start this thesis by reviewing the applications of the three main monitoring methods to provide guidance on wildlife monitoring in tropical forests. Then, I examine the knowledge gap concerning the impacts of FSC-certified forestry, by assessing whether wildlife is more effectively conserved in FSC-certified logging concessions than in non-FSC concessions. The data were gathered by using camera traps in fourteen forestry concessions in Western Equatorial Africa. I found that FSC-certified forestry benefits mammals when compared to non-FSC forestry, with the most pronounced positive impacts for mammals weighing 10 kg and more. Next, I develop and test two wildlife monitoring methods: the use of sound for primate monitoring, and the use of soundscapes as a proxy for the overall biodiversity in a forest. Species-specific monitoring using sound covers a different species range than camera traps. However, sound monitoring requires automated classification for it to be useful. For soundscapes, interpretation of changes in the soundscape and quantification of individual species’ contributions are the main challenges, as well as interpreting the relationship between the structure of the soundscape and local landscape heterogeneity. Further development and enhancement of wildlife monitoring methods is essential for impact verification and improvement of forest certification. Improved wildlife monitoring methods may also aid the development of biodiversity credit systems, potentially yielding new revenue streams for conservation.

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Land tenure and human disturbance influence the current distribution of aboveground biomass in Sri Lankan rainforest fragments

Woodbury,

Jayawickrama,

Martin

et al. 2024

Forest Ecology and Management

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Revisiting Forest Certification in Sri Lanka: The Forest Management and Export Wood-Based Manufacturing Sector Perspectives

Cited by 5 publications

References 53 publications

Insights into Properties of Biomass Energy Pellets Made from Mixtures of Woody and Non-Woody Biomass: A Meta-Analysis

Insights into Properties of Biomass Energy Pellets Made from Mixtures of Woody and Non-Woody Biomass: A Meta-Analysis

Conservation and monitoring of wildlife in logged tropical forests

Land tenure and human disturbance influence the current distribution of aboveground biomass in Sri Lankan rainforest fragments

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