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Factors Affecting Increases in Factors Affecting Increases in Biomass Production From Biomass Production From
Maine ForestsMaine ForestsRobert G. Wagner1, Jeffrey G. Benjamin1, Aaron
R. Weiskittel1, and Kenneth M. Laustsen2
1School of Forest Resources, University of Maine2Maine Forest Service
Woody Biomass Energy Research SymposiumUniversity of Vermont, Burlington, VT,
April 28�30, 2011
Robert G. WagnerRobert G. Wagner11, Jeffrey G. Benjamin, Jeffrey G. Benjamin11, Aaron , Aaron R. WeiskittelR. Weiskittel11, and Kenneth M. Laustsen, and Kenneth M. Laustsen22
11School of Forest Resources, University of MaineSchool of Forest Resources, University of Maine22Maine Forest ServiceMaine Forest Service
Woody Biomass Energy Research SymposiumWoody Biomass Energy Research SymposiumUniversity of Vermont, Burlington, VT,University of Vermont, Burlington, VT,
April 28April 28��30, 201130, 2011
U.S. Biomass ResourceU.S. Biomass Resource
Maine Wood Processing FacilitiesMaine Wood Processing Facilities
Pulp & Pulp & Paper Paper MillsMills
SawmillsSawmillsBiomass Biomass Energy Energy PlantsPlants
Maine has a diverse forest products industry with a highly integrated processing and transportation system – All poised to immediately handle increased biomass yields if available.
Maine is Already Doing It!Maine is Already Doing It!•• 15 15 -- 20% of state harvest goes to 20% of state harvest goes to
produce electricity and into wood produce electricity and into wood stovesstoves
•• Wood provides over 20 Wood provides over 20 -- 25% of the 25% of the electrical generation in Maineelectrical generation in Maine
•• Highest proportion of biomass Highest proportion of biomass electrical generation in USelectrical generation in US
•• Highest nonHighest non--hydro renewable hydro renewable electrical generation in US because of electrical generation in US because of woodwood
Current Harvest in Current Harvest in MaineMaine’’s Forests Forest
• Forest industry currently harvests 15-17.5 million green tons of wood annually
• Harvest:Growth are currently in 1:1 balance
• It’s all biomass!!
Maine Wood Products Breakdown Maine Wood Products Breakdown 20082008
Energy Wood:
3.1 million green tons
Energy Energy Wood:Wood:
3.1 million 3.1 million green tonsgreen tons
Recent demand increase due to: • Loss of residues from mill shut downs• High oil prices• Renewable energy & climate policy (RGGI, RECs, BCAP)
Biomass Harvesting TrendBiomass Harvesting Trend
Source: Coup 2009
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008
Mill
ions
of G
reen
Ton
s
Year
Biomass Chips Harvested from Maine Forests
Biomass chip harvest more than doubled
over past 5 years
BUT, total harvest decreased 9.5% from 2000 to 2008. So, change was a
shift from sawlog and pulpwood products
Source: Ken Laustsen, Maine Forest Service
Maine Harvest by Product 1904Maine Harvest by Product 1904--20082008(green tons, 5(green tons, 5--yr trailing average)yr trailing average)
Sustainable harvest level (~20 MM green tons)Sustainable harvest level (~20 MM green tons)
Most of the sustainable harvest is currently
being used by Maine forest products industry
Most of the sustainable harvest is currently
being used by Maine forest products industry
Can we Can we sustainably sustainably
increase biomass increase biomass production from production from MaineMaine’’s forest?s forest?
Methods of Increasing Methods of Increasing Biomass ProductionBiomass Production
1. Increasing harvest/utilization in stands being harvested
2. Entering stands previously considered as not commercial
3. Intensifying silviculture to increase stand growth and yield (and allowable cut)
Sawlogs� Sawlogs�
Pulpwood� Pulpwood�
Energy�wood� Energy�wood�
Improved�u liza on�(FIA)�
Thinning�fully�stocked�stands�(BTR)�
More�intensive�silviculture�(UMaine)�
0�
5�
10�
15�
20�
25�
30�
35�
40�
Current�Harvest�(2008)� Biomass�Increase�Es mate�
Woo
dy�Biomas�(m
illion�green�tons)�
Most Optimistic Biomass Additions Most Optimistic Biomass Additions to Current Maine Harvestto Current Maine Harvest
~150% increase
above current
harvest level possible ???
Saw
log
Pulp
Pulp
Sources of Biomass for Increased Sources of Biomass for Increased UtilizationUtilization
Energy Wood
Energy Wood
Ener
gy W
ood
Ener
gy W
ood
How much more energy wood can
we get?
Reduction in Harvest / Utilization from Current Reduction in Harvest / Utilization from Current HarvestsHarvests
0�
1�
2�
3�
4�
5�
6�
7�
8�
9�
10�
11�
12�
13�
14�
Poten al�Available� Realis c�U liza on�with�Biomass�Reten on�
Guidelines�
Woo
dy�Biomass�(M
illion�Green
�Ton
s)�
Saplings�
Salvable�Dead�Trees�15.0"+�DBH�
Salvable�Dead�Trees�5.0�‐�14.9"�DBH�
Cull�Trees�15.0"+�DBH�
Cull�Trees�13.0�‐�14.9"�DBH�
Cull�Trees�5.0�‐�12.9"�DBH�
Branches�&�Tops�
Larger cull and dead trees left
Only 66% available
Only 15% available in forwarder trails
Only 3.8 million green tons feasibly available with
biomass retention
guidelines
0�
1�
2�
3�
4�
5�
6�
Billion�Tons�Report�Es mate�(Increased�u liza on�from�exis ng�
fuel�treatment�thinnings)�
Addi onal�thinning�of�fully�stocked�stands�(TSI�&�CT�on�37,600�A/yr)�
Woo
dy�Biomass�(m
illion�grren�tons)�
Reduction in Billion Tons Report Estimate of Reduction in Billion Tons Report Estimate of Additional Biomass Available From Overstocked Additional Biomass Available From Overstocked
StandsStands
Only 1.5 million green tons feasibly available with feasible harvest
of fully and overstocked stands
Source: Ken Laustsen, Maine Forest Service
Optimum
Herbicide (x1000 acres)PCT (x1000 acres)
30% increase in annual sustainable harvest possibleME is here
Source: Wagner, Bowling, and Seymour. 2003. Maine Forest and Agriculture Experiment Station, Technical Bulletin 186. 105 p.
Go this
way
, Alic
e
Increasing MaineIncreasing Maine’’s Annual s Annual Sustainable Harvest LevelSustainable Harvest Level
Increased Silvicultural Increased Silvicultural Investment on Extensively Investment on Extensively
Managed ForestManaged Forest• Invest in highest productivity sites (top
quartile of sites, SI50 76 - 99) = 455,936 acres
• Double annual yields on those acres from 0.37 to 0.74 cords/A/yr through more intensive silviculture (vegetation management and PCT)
• Could produce an additional 169,608 cords per year or 0.61 million green tons per year in additional merchantable wood and
i t d idSource: Ken Laustsen, Maine Forest Service
Sawlogs� Sawlogs�
Pulpwood� Pulpwood�
Energy�wood� Energy�wood�
0�
5�
10�
15�
20�
25�
30�
35�
40�
45�
50�
Current�Harvest�(2008)� Adjusted�Biomass�Increase�Poten al�
Woo
dy�Biomas�(m
illion�green�tons)�
Sustainable Biomass Additions Sustainable Biomass Additions to Current Maine Harvestto Current Maine Harvest
~40% Increase above current
harvest level (or ~2X more energy wood) reasonably
available
Can we capture this increased
amount???
Improved utilization (65%)
Harvest from uncommercial stands (25%)
More intensive silviculture (10%)
Additional 5.9 million green tons
Constraints to Constraints to Increased Increased UtilizationUtilization
Biomass Recovery Technology Currently Biomass Recovery Technology Currently Based on a Sawlog & Pulpwood Based on a Sawlog & Pulpwood
TechnologyTechnology
Pic of a chipper
Photo credit: Jeff Benjamin
Photo credit: Jeff BenjaminPhoto source: www.ces.ncsu.edu/forestry/biomass/pubs/WB011.pdf
Physical & Financial LimitationsPhysical & Financial Limitations
Source: Benjamin, 2010, UMaine
• Can contractors afford to own and operate specially designed equipment?
New TechnologyNew Technology
John Deere 1490D Slash Bundler
$600,000$600,000
Landowner / Logger Incentive to Produce BiomassLandowner / Logger Incentive to Produce Biomass
Stumpage Price by Wood Product for Maine (2004-08)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Veneer Sawlog Studwood Boltwood Pallet Pulpwood Firewood (EnergyWood)
Biomass
Wood Product
Pric
e ($
/ gr
een
ton)
Source: Maine Forest Service Stumpage Price Reports
Price incentive
Biomass is available today only because it is subsidized by higher
value sawlogs & pulpwood
Biomass Retention GuidelinesBiomass Retention Guidelines
Public Perceptions of Biomass Harvesting
“The Fear”
Public Perceptions of Public Perceptions of Biomass HarvestingBiomass Harvesting
““The FearThe Fear””
Biomass Harvesting“The Reality”
Biomass HarvestingBiomass Harvesting““The RealityThe Reality””
Biomass harvesting will force unsustainable logging is a #1 concern of the public and those in mill towns (Marciano et al. 2009)
47% of small woodland owners are either somewhat or very unfamiliar with biomass harvesting (Leahy 2010)
25% of the small woodland owners who want to harvest are concerned about biomass harvesting (Leahy 2010)
Biomass harvesting will force unsustainable Biomass harvesting will force unsustainable logging is a #1 concern of the public and logging is a #1 concern of the public and those in mill towns those in mill towns (Marciano et al. 2009)(Marciano et al. 2009)
47% of small woodland owners are either 47% of small woodland owners are either somewhat or very unfamiliar with biomass somewhat or very unfamiliar with biomass harvesting harvesting (Leahy 2010)(Leahy 2010)
25% of the small woodland owners who want 25% of the small woodland owners who want to harvest are concerned about biomass to harvest are concerned about biomass harvesting harvesting (Leahy 2010)(Leahy 2010)
Constraints to Constraints to More TSI & More TSI & Thinning in Thinning in
Overstocked Overstocked SmallSmall--Dimension Dimension
StandsStands
Overstocked Stand Needing TSI and ThinningOverstocked Stand Needing TSI and Thinning
Overstocked softwood standsOverstocked softwood standsOverstocked softwood stands
Overstocked mixedwood standsOverstocked mixedwood standsOverstocked mixedwood stands
•• Over 1.1 million acres available Over 1.1 million acres available above current harvest of above current harvest of ““fully fully stockedstocked”” and and ““overstockedoverstocked””landslands
•• Could feasibly thin or TSI an Could feasibly thin or TSI an additional 37,600 acres per yearadditional 37,600 acres per year
•• Gain an additional 1.5 million Gain an additional 1.5 million green tons of biomass per yeargreen tons of biomass per year
•• Improve the growth, Improve the growth, composition, and financial value composition, and financial value of future forestof future forest
TSI Harvesters for Small Diameter StemsTSI Harvesters for Small Diameter Stems
Tigercat 822 with a low tail swing for “strip” thinning
Constraints to Constraints to More Intensive More Intensive
SilvicultureSilviculture
Maine Forestland Ownership Maine Forestland Ownership ChangesChanges
Source: Hagan, J.M., L.C. Irland, and A.A. Whitman. 2005. Changing timberland ownership in the Northern Forest and implications for biodiversity. Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, Report # MCCS-FCP- 2005-1, Brunswick, Maine, 25 pp.
Decline in Silvicultural InvestmentsDecline in Silvicultural Investments
Area of Tree Planting, Herbicide Application, and PCT in Maine from 1994-2008
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008
Land
are
a (x
1000
acr
es) Herbicide
PCTPlanting
Maine Stumpage Revenues on Wood Products Maine Stumpage Revenues on Wood Products (1996(1996--2008)2008)
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Stat
ewid
e R
even
ue (m
illio
n $)
Sawlog PulpwoodBiomass
Source: Maine Forest Service, Stumpage Price and Wood Processor Reports
Sawlogs and pulpwood subsidize biomass Same tons
harvested in 2008
Landowners have no financial incentive to produce more biomass. Only is possible as a
byproduct of harvesting higher value products
Maine Partial CuttingMaine Partial Cutting
ShortShort--Rotation Woody Crops for the NERotation Woody Crops for the NE
Hybrid poplar
Willow• Available markets?• Relatively stable prices?• Government subsidies?• Bad memories from 1970s? • Amount of suitable land?
ShortShort--Rotation Woody Crop Opportunities in Rotation Woody Crop Opportunities in Maine?Maine?
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Timberland ‐ Rural
Timberland ‐ Other Forestland
Timberland ‐ Urban Forestland
Forested Land ‐ Productive Reserved
Forested Land ‐ Unproductive Reserved
Forested Land ‐ Other
Nonforest Land ‐ Cropland
Nonforest Land ‐ Pasture
Nonforest Land ‐ Other
Nonforest Land ‐ Noncensus Water
Million Acres
20062001
Source: Aaron R. Weiskittel and David Timmons. 2010. Evaluation of short rotation woody crops and perennial grasses in Maine
Only 2.7% of the Maine’s land area (~537,000 acres) is currently available for SRWC.
ConclusionConclusion• Energy wood (biomass) will continue to be
an important byproduct from Maine’s naturally regenerated and extensively managed forest – Can’t all be sold as sawlogs or pulpwood
• Current biomass harvests and any future increases in biomass will depend upon having a strong building and paper products industry
• Maine has the potential to sustainably double its energy wood production, BUT many significant and complex constraints
Many Many ““MoonsMoons”” Have to Align to Capture Have to Align to Capture Potential for Increased Biomass ProductionPotential for Increased Biomass Production
Strong Strong sawlog & sawlog & pulpwood pulpwood
marketsmarkets
Public Public perceptionsperceptions
Future Future pest pest
outbreaksoutbreaks
Suitable Suitable land &land &
economics economics for SRWCfor SRWC
Legacy of Legacy of partial partial cuttingcutting
Incentives Incentives to produce to produce low value low value
wood wood
Land Land ownership ownership changes changes
Logging Logging technology & technology &
capacitycapacity
Biomass Biomass retention retention guidelinesguidelines
Biomass Biomass market market
availability availability & volatility& volatility
These These ““MoonsMoons”” Have to Align to Capture Have to Align to Capture Potential for Increased Biomass ProductionPotential for Increased Biomass Production
ITIT’’S NOT EASY S NOT EASY BEING OPTIMISTIC!BEING OPTIMISTIC!
Strong Strong
sawlog & sawlog &
pulpwood pulpwood
marketsmarkets
Public Public
perceptions
perceptions
Future Future
pest pest
outbreaksoutbreaks
Suitable Suitable
land &land &
economics
economics
for SRWCfor SRWC
Legacy of Legacy of
partial partial
cuttingcutting
Incentives Incentives
to produce
to produce
low value low value
wood wood
Land Land
ownership
ownership
changes changes
Logging Logging
technology &
technology &
capacitycapacity
Biomass Biomass
retention retention
guidelinesguidelines
Biomass Biomass
market market
availability
availability
& volatility& volatility