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Biomass Availability in New England
Kenneth M. LaustsenBiometrician, Maine Forest ServiceNEGCC Annual MeetingMay 31, 2006
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Discussion Points
What is Biomass Where is it concentrated in NE State/Region Estimates & Per Capita Biomass Components Harvest Drain (ME example) Partitioning to 3 Biomass Baskets Caveats and Concerns
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What is Biomass
Usually a very general term used to convey interest in a very specific component of:
– forest inventory, i.e. the aggregation of fiber contained in multiple above and below ground components and combinations of live/dead, standing/down, trees/saplings/shrubs.
– primary processing of fiber by the ton, i.e. mill-delivered pulpwood, whole tree chips, hog fuel
– secondary residuals, i.e. bark, sawdust, shavings, and – tertiary, i.e. mulch
Needs to be always put into context – For the most part I deal with in the woods, forest inventory estimations.
Where is it concentrated?Average total biomass volume per timberland acre, 2003
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60
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CT MA ME NH RI VT New England
Dry Tons per Acre
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How much is there on timberland?
Biomass of all standing trees (above/belowground; live/dead; saplings) (Million Tons, Dry Weight)– CT 159 7%– MA 285 13%– ME 990 45%– NH 386 18%– RI 29 1%– VT 346 16%– NE 2,195
Which residents have the biggest share?
Average Total Biomass, Dry Tons per Capita
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45
312
28
569
777
158
- 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
CT
MA
ME
NH
RI
VT
New England
Biomass ComponentsAverage dry tons/acre, New England, 2003
Sawlog
Saplings
Foliage
Poletimber
Upper Stem
Cull Trees
Branches
Salvable Dead Trees
Stumps & Roots
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2
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Harvest Drain to Inventory (ME Basis)
The 2003 growth:removal ratio is estimated to be 0.97 to 1.06 depending upon tree quality and acreage base used.
The total annual harvest of traditional products can be calculated as a percentage of the respective standing inventory.
– Southwest ME (9 Counties) = 1.65%– Downeast ME (6 Counties) = 1.93%– Northern ME (1 County) = 2.21%– Statewide = 1.86%
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A Calculated Leap of Faith or A Fated Leap in Calculations
I purport and propose– That as acres are accessed for the harvest of
regular products (pulpwood, sawlogs, biomass chips, etc.), additional biomass components can be removed concurrently, using the same equipment, and be piled roadside.
– Furthermore, these additional products will be removed in the identical proportion as the existing product mix (approx. 2% of available inventory).
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Added harvest generates additional Biomass
The bulk of existing harvest draws from the growing stock inventory, i.e. quality bolewood (a somewhat fuzzy statement).
I propose that additional biomass components for harvest can include:- Branches - Cull Trees- Salvable Dead Trees - Saplings
Consider how much of the above is already severed and left onsite to decay before you let loose the wolf trees, snags, birds and bees on me for even suggesting such a cleaning.
Nonetheless, what are the opportunities?
Southwest ME/NH/VT Biomass Basket
Cull TimberSpecies Group Bolewood Branches Foliage Stump and Roots Total TotalAll Species 274,544 39,074 17,843 86,240 40,596 458,297
Annual HarvestAll Species 2% 643 668
Nontimber GrandSpecies Group Salvable Dead Trees Saplings Seedlings Shrubs Total TotalAll Species 5,316 66,918 - 43 72,277 530,574
Addl. Annual BiomassAnnual Harvest AvailabilityAll Species 88 1,102 2,500
Proposed Biomass Components Available for annual recovery along with existing harvest activities
1996 - 2001 Average Harvest Proportion of Particpating Maine Counties
Proposed Biomass Availability for 5 Pulp & Paper Mills located in Southwest Maine
Nontimber
Growing StockTimber Sized (5.0" DBH+)
Inventory Estimates for an approximate 60 mile drain radius of the inclusive mills,
(Thousand Dry Tons)dry weight basis, 2002
Downeast ME (Only) Biomass Basket
Cull TimberSpecies Group Bolewood Branches Foliage Stump and Roots Total TotalAll Species 186,481 28,627 15,244 60,182 32,389 322,923
Annual HarvestAll Species 2% 554 627
Nontimber GrandSpecies Group Salvable Dead Trees Saplings Seedlings Shrubs Total TotalAll Species 6,577 88,963 - 4,440 99,980 422,903
Addl. Annual BiomassAnnual Harvest AvailabilityAll Species 127 1,721 3,028
Proposed Biomass Components Available for annual recovery along with existing harvest activities
1996 - 2001 Average Harvest Proportion of Particpating Maine Counties
Proposed Biomass Availability for 5 Pulp & Paper Mills located in Downeast Maine
Nontimber
Growing StockTimber Sized (5.0" DBH+)
Inventory Estimates for an approximate 60 mile drain radius of the inclusive mills,
(Thousand Dry Tons)dry weight basis, 2002
Northern ME (Only) Biomass Basket
Cull TimberSpecies Group Bolewood Branches Foliage Stump and Roots Total TotalAll Species 52,900 7,763 3,840 16,853 8,109 89,465
Annual HarvestAll Species 2% 171 179
Nontimber GrandSpecies Group Salvable Dead TreesSaplings Seedlings Shrubs Total TotalAll Species 1,244 22,510 - 1,374 25,128 114,593
Addl. Annual BiomassAnnual Harvest AvailabilityAll Species 27 497 875
Proposed Biomass Components Available for annual recovery along with existing harvest activities
1996 - 2001 Average Harvest Proportion of Particpating Maine Counties
Proposed Biomass Availability for a Pulp & Paper Mill located in Northern Maine
Nontimber
Growing StockTimber Sized (5.0" DBH+)
Inventory Estimates for an approximate 60 mile drain radius of the inclusive mill,
(Thousand Dry Tons)dry weight basis, 2002
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Caveats
Estimates reflect an in-woods inventory and are undiscounted for the usual/unusual losses in felling and skidding to a roadside location.
Estimates do not account for the actual owner’s willingness to sell this additional biomass material.
Estimates are not adjusted for existing intrastate (overlapping mill wood baskets) or pending interstate (PSNH boiler retrofit in Portsmouth) (2 pending/new Wood Pellet facilities) competition for existing supplies, much less additional supplies.
Harvest of saplings is controversial, may need to adjust that component estimate.
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The Concern!
How to balance additional removals of biomass material against the competing claims and interests of biologists (wildlife habitat), ecologists (biological diversity), environmentalists (ecological services like carbon sequestration) to effect a sustainable harvest.
