Willow productivity in Norther Europe

Here there is the paper promised in Silva Fennica:

MOLA-YUDEGO, B. 2010. Regional potential yields of short rotation willow plantations on agricultural land in Northern Europe. Silva Fennica 44:(1)63–76

Abstract

The development of short rotation forestry for bioenergy requires accurate and reliable yield estimates. This paper analyses the current, expected and potential regional productivity of short rotation willow plantations for six countries in Northern Europe. The estimations for present productivity are based on empirical models, using data regarding management, and local productivity based on the regional cereal yields. The estimates of expected yield rely on the current trends of yield increase from commercial willow plantations in the region. The estimates for potential yield are based on climatic restrictions. The results show potential average yields of 9.5, 6.8, 7.9, 9.0, 9.3, and 8.0 odt ha–1 yr–1 for Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden, respectively. The results of the study also show that there is a wide regional variation between the different countries. In Denmark, Finland and Sweden there is a convergence between the future forecasts and the climatic potential yields in the areas of high productivity. The Baltic countries seem to present lower estimates of present productivity, reflecting possible socio-economic restrictions, although they show a high biomass potential. The methods presented in this study can be further developed in other areas where willow cultivation is considered, and can serve as a basis for future economic considerations.

Productivity of wood energy plantations

Soon there will be published the estimates of productivity for short rotation plantations for bioenergy in Northern Europe. The basis for the calculations are here. The following map shows the estimates for 2010, for optimal conditions.

The estimates are based in the results of the Swedish commercial plantations during the last 20 years, including a few thousand plots, and the extrapolated to all the Northern area. The optimal conditions refers that these projections are based using the best plantations (around 25% of all the plantations). Areas in red correspond to about 10 annual dry tonnes per ha.
It can be seen that the predictions for the Baltic countries are somehow lower that would be expected based on the climate and soil. This is because the predictions aim to also reflect the potentialities of the agricultural sector of those areas, using the current agricultural production as a proxy.
The estimates are made for provincial level, and that is why Finnish Lapland looks all the same, although the potentials for plantations are restricted to agricultural areas, mainly in the south and west.

[Open access to full manuscript]

[Resources]

MOLA-YUDEGO, B. 2010. Regional potential yields of short rotation willow plantations on agricultural land in Northern Europe. Silva Fennica 44(1):63–76.

Abstract

The development of short rotation forestry for bioenergy requires accurate and reliable yield estimates. This paper analyses the current, expected and potential regional productivity of short rotation willow plantations for six countries in Northern Europe. The estimations for present productivity are based on empirical models, using data regarding management, and local productivity based on the regional cereal yields. The estimates of expected yield rely on the current trends of yield increase from commercial willow plantations in the region. The estimates for potential yield are based on climatic restrictions. The results show potential average yields of 9.5, 6.8, 7.9, 9.0, 9.3, and 8.0 odt ha–1 yr–1 for Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden, respectively. The results of the study also show that there is a wide regional variation between the different countries. In Denmark, Finland and Sweden there is a convergence between the future forecasts and the climatic potential yields in the areas of high productivity. The Baltic countries seem to present lower estimates of present productivity, reflecting possible socio-economic restrictions, although they show a high biomass potential. The methods presented in this study can be further developed in other areas where willow cultivation is considered, and can serve as a basis for future economic considerations.

Keywords
short rotation forestry, willow, production models, regional biomass supply, energy planning

Succesful collaboration with Canada

The Forestry Chronicle has recently published a paper describing the successful collaboration between the European and Canadian Universities on Forestry education. The programme described is the EU-Canada TRANSFOR, and includes the involvement and experience of the University of Eastern Finland / Joensuu.

SPENCE J R, MACLEAN D A, SPIECKER H, DRUMMOND A, JAEGER D, STADLER M, CALAHAN C, KERLSSON A, KENNY A, LARSON B, MOLA-YUDEGO B, STERNER M, WÄSTERLUND D, and VALINGER E. 2011. The TRANSFOR success story: International forestry education through exchange. Forestry Chronicle 86(1):57-62

The program fostered internationally focused understanding of forest ecology and management, as well as economic and cultural factors, as will be required to develop effective international standards for sustainable forest management. Most student participants reported that it was a very positive experience and a high point of their education.

Abstract
The TRANSFOR (Transatlantic Education for Global Sustainable Forest Sector Development) program has promoted international student and staff exchanges among four Canadian (Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick and Toronto) universities and universities in four European countries (Germany [Freiburg], Finland [Joensuu], Sweden [Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå] and the United Kingdom [Bangor University, Wales]). The program incorporated five components: one or two semester study visits for undergraduate forestry students, working internships, summer field courses, study visits for academic staff, and TRANSFOR project meetings. The summer field courses were a highly innovative part of the program and allowed students to spend three to four weeks learning about forestry activities and challenges on a continent different from that of their home institution. The program fostered internationally focused understanding of forest ecology and management, as well as economic and cultural factors, as will be required to develop effective international standards for sustainable forest management. Most student participants reported that it was a very positive experience and a high point of their education.

Keywords: international exchange, undergraduate forestry students, internships, field courses, international forestry