Forestry break down - fuel v timber

del77

i am doing a research studt for 3rd level education and need to find a properly referenced paper on what the % breakdown is for the forestry sector ie what % is timber and what % is left that could be used for wood chip fuel. i believe the breakdown is approx 42%-58% but i cant find a properly reference journal or article, any help would be greatly received

timfromtang

Hi there,
I'd suggest having a search in your university library for such a thing. You should be able to use a computer system there to search all the scientific journals that such studies are published in.

On the subject of removing all of the tree from the forest, and using the non timber parts for wood chip I'd suggest this may not be the wisest course of action as it would likely lead to degradation and breakdown of fertility in the forest soil. As a forester i believe in leaving the maximum biomass in the forest to decompose, and taking only the timber to conserve fertility.

All the best
timfromtang

del77

Hi Tim

thanks for the reply , ah yeah i have been trawling through a lot of scientific journals and reports from coillte, teagasc and Coford etc but just cant nail down something that i could reference in my thesis. i also understand the issues with whole tree harvesting and nutrient removal etc i am looking to get an economic value off the biomass side of forestry for my report and possibly a comparison of whole tree v business as usual approach.

thanks again for the reply

Del

timfromtang

Greetings Del,
I am sorry that i do not know of any "quotable papers" to help your thesis. However, i'd suggest that the ratio is likely very dependent on species, and in broadleaves i'd suggest it is wildly variable between individuals of the same species too.

If i were looking for such a thing, i'd give whatever forestry research organisations i can find a bell (Local Teagasc forestry adviser might be a good place to start) an ask em if they have anyone working on similar stuff, try an get talkin to some one who shares the interest and share info, ask questions etc, memories can be jogged by such things

In terms of " releasing the saved up sunlight " so to speak from the remaining biomass, have you looked at biodigestion which has the advantage of conserving the nutrients and producing easy to burn cleanly CH4? From an economic perspective the conserved nutrients in the digestate represent an extra income stream.

timfromtang

lazybones32

I don't think there would be a paper written containing exact levels but you can also ring an office and get a number or % from them. It is perfectly acceptable to introduce other sources of information (newspapers, leaflets, newsletters, radio interviews) in a thesis. Coillte's annual newsletter might tell what % went to biomass?

There should be lots available on the value of biomass in Irish context and selective versus clear-felling: I even used the benefits of forest management over clear-felling in a paper for college a few years ago.

fergus1001

del77 wrote: »

i am doing a research studt for 3rd level education and need to find a properly referenced paper on what the % breakdown is for the forestry sector ie what % is timber and what % is left that could be used for wood chip fuel. i believe the breakdown is approx 42%-58% but i cant find a properly reference journal or article, any help would be greatly received

Get in touch with tom Kent in wit he is over research in that area, he would might actually have what your looking for since he done a study into brash bundling in the last few years

fergus1001

The potential of birch afforestation as an after-use option for industrial cutaway peatlands

by florence renou wilson

there is a section on the calculation of biomass might be worth a read

see attached