Spatially explicit LCA analysis of biodiversity losses due to different bioenergy policies in the European Union

Can Forest Management Practices Counteract Species Loss Arising from Increasing European Demand for Forest Biomass under Climate Mitigation Scenarios?

Forests are home to many species and provide biomass for material and energy. Here, we modeled the potential global species extinction risk from future scenarios of climate mitigation and EU28 forest management. We considered the continuation of current practices, the adoption of closer-to-nature management (low-intensity practices), and set-asides (conversion to unharvested forestland) on portions of EU28 forestland under two climate mitigation pathways as well as the consequences for the wood trade. Expanding set-aside to more than 25% of EU28 currently managed forestland by 2100 increased the global extinction risk compared to the continuation of current practices. This outcome stems from a projected increase in EU forest biomass imports, partially from biodiversity-vulnerable regions to compensate for a decrease in domestic harvest. Conversely, closer-to-nature management on up to 37.5% of EU28 forestland lowered extinction risks. Increasing the internal production and partially sourcing imported biomass from low-intensity managed areas lowered the species extinction footprint even further. However, low-intensity practices could not entirely compensate for the increased extinction risk under a high climate mitigation scenario with greater demand for lignocellulosic crops and energywood. When developing climate mitigation strategies, it is crucial to assess forest biomass supply chains for the early detection of extinction risks in non-EU regions and for developing strategies to prevent increase of global impacts.

A Conceptual Landscape-Level Approach to Assess the Impacts of Forestry on Biodiversity

In this study, we propose a conceptual approach to assessing biodiversity impacts in the life-cycle assessments (LCAs) of forest wood production with a focus on Nordic managed forests at the landscape level. As a basis for our methodology, we suggest assessing the proportion of the total land area of productive forest under the control of a forest owner that fulfils certain criteria that can be regarded as having a positive impact on the development of forest biodiversity. A similar assessment of the forest management performed on the surrounding land is used to define a site-specific reference situation. In the context of an attributional LCA, the suggested method for the specification of business-as-usual (BAU) or environmental quality objectives (EQO) baselines encourages forest owners to choose forest management options that increase the proportion of productive forest land with properties that are more favorable to biodiversity over time. We illustrate the BAU baseline approach with two examples in Sweden to calculate the biodiversity impact from wood production for individual forest owners using four biodiversity indicators from the Swedish national Environmental Quality Objectives (EQOS)—‘Living Forests’. The approach defined in this study is at this stage only applicable to forestry assessments. Using a BAU baseline approach similar to that used for international climate reporting is a simple but novel approach that makes use of consensuses that have already been drawn and approaches that have already been established.

Designing cross-region ecological compensation scheme by integrating habitat maintenance services production and consumption-A case study of Jing-Jin-Ji region

Establishing a practicable ecological compensation scheme is crucial to raise sufficient funds for habitat conservation. This study proposes a cross-region ecological compensation scheme by integrating habitat maintenance services production and consumption. In addition, the suitability evaluation method and InVEST model of habitat quality were employed to estimate the habitat maintenance services production and consumption, respectively. We used 1980 as the benchmark year and applied the scheme to a three-level hierarchy of the Jing-Jin-Ji region for 2000, 2008 and 2013. At the provincial level, Beijing paid the most habitat maintenance services ecological compensation, with an increasing trend from 1.64 × 109 RMB to 2.22 × 109 RMB, and Hebei received the most, from 2.06 × 109 RMB to 2.72 × 109 RMB. At the municipal level, Chengde, which is the most underdeveloped region in Hebei, was the largest beneficiary, receiving 1.31 × 109 RMB, 1.42 × 109 RMB and 1.46 × 109 RMB, respectively, and the ratio of ecological compensation to fiscal revenue was 7.59%. At the county level, Fengning and Weichang, the top two underdeveloped counties in Chengde, received the highest compensation. The results are consistent with each region's ecological function positioning and economic development status of the Jing-Jin-Ji region. This study can clarify the ecological responsibilities and rights, and provides the suggestions for establishing the cross administrative region ecological compensation scheme and long-term funding mechanism for habitat conservation.

The Timber Footprint of the German Bioeconomy—State of the Art and Past Development

The article gives a comprehensive overview of the roundwood equivalents (RE) consumed in the German bioeconomy from Germany and abroad between 1995 and 2015, i.e., the Timber Footprint of final Consumption (TFPcon). The calculation is based on an adapted version of Exiobase 3.4. The sustainability of roundwood procurement for the TFPcon is assessed. A systematic embedding of the tree compartments considered in the TFP in the context of national forest inventories and material flow analysis is presented. The results show that, in 2015, the total volume of the TFPcon of Germany is 90 Mm3 (slightly above the 1995 level) and is composed of 61% coniferous and 39% non-coniferous wood. Germany is strongly dependent on roundwood sourced from abroad and thus was a net importer of RE in 2015. Among the 17 countries with the largest supply of RE for the TFPcon, around one third very likely include large shares of roundwood procured from deforestation or clear-cutting. The self-sufficiency rate in 2015 was only 76%. It would be possible to increase domestic roundwood production by 8–41% (mainly in the hardwood sector) without exceeding the sustainability limits as defined in the WEHAM scenarios.

Use of carbon dioxide as raw material to close the carbon cycle for the German chemical and polymer industries

This article explores how far the use of CO₂ as raw material could enable the German chemical and polymer industries to contribute to a circular economy. Material Flow Analysis was conducted for all carbon flows for material use in Germany, comprising chemical production, polymer production, domestic use and waste management. For scenario modelling, Carbon Capture and Utilization technologies were included, and key parameters determining carbon flows were altered to show potential corridors for the future development. The results show that current carbon flows are dominated by fossil sources and are highly linear, with a secondary input rate of only 6%. Additionally, 12% (2 Mt/a) of the primary carbon input is lost due to dissipation. Currently available Carbon Capture and Utilization technologies would allow reaching a secondary input rate of 65% for the chemical industry. However, to achieve this rate between 80% (processes of direct synthesis) and 103% (methanol-based processes) of the total net supply for renewable electricity in Germany would be required in 2030 and between 41% and 50% in 2050. In contrast, the unavoidable substance related CO₂-point sources in Germany could probably fulfill the carbon requirement for material use of the chemical industry in 2050. The authors conclude that the utilization of CO₂ as a carbon source is necessary to close the carbon cycle where material or chemical recycling is technically not feasible or reasonable. The very high demand for renewable electricity indicates that the required production facilities for CO₂-based chemicals will probably not be completely based in Germany.

An urgent call for circular economy advocates to acknowledge its limitations in conserving biodiversity

This discussion paper explores the relationship between biodiversity and the circular economy and the potential implications of this relationship. The circular economy has emerged as an alternative model to a traditional linear economy. It aims to tackle the resource exploitation that accompanies a linear economy and decouple economic growth from reliance on primary resources. In the face of global environmental degradation and an urgent need for change, the concept has become popular around the world and has led to the release of national policies and strategies on the circular economy. Problematically, while the basic concept is clear, it is ambiguous in how it will achieve some of its objectives, and it fails to address some key issues. In light of the accelerating rate of change, precipitous biodiversity decline is one such key issue. Through a content analysis of relevant circular economy publications, authors demonstrate that biodiversity protection is rarely mentioned in theory and policy. While the circular economy holds many benefits for society, its evasion of scrutiny has prevented it from manifesting in a comprehensive solution to environmental issues. The circular economy advocates for biomimicry, ecosystem service valuation, bioeconomy, and renewable energy. Each of these, however, has its own set of conflicts with biodiversity protection. Given the imminent need to protect biodiversity, the authors call for further research on the interaction between biodiversity and the circular economy, and for circular economy advocates to explicitly acknowledge the concept's limitations, thereby revealing the need for intersectional and complementary policies which aim to protect biodiversity.

Oxytree Pruned Biomass Torrefaction: Process Kinetics

Oxytree is a fast-growing energy crop with C4 photosynthesis. In this research, for the first time, the torrefaction kinetic parameters of pruned Oxytree biomass (Paulownia clon in Vitro 112) were determined. The influence of the Oxytree cultivation method and soil class on the kinetic parameters of the torrefaction was also investigated. Oxytree pruned biomass from a first-year plantation was subjected to torrefaction within temperature range from 200 to 300 °C and under anaerobic conditions in the laboratory-scale batch reactor. The mass loss was measured continuously during the process. The relative mass loss increased from 1.22% to 19.56% with the increase of the process temperature. The first-order constant rate reaction (k) values increased from 1.26 × 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹ to 7.69 × 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹ with the increase in temperature. The average activation energy for the pruned biomass of Oxytree torrefaction was 36.5 kJ∙mol⁻¹. Statistical analysis showed no significant (p < 0.05) effect of the Oxytree cultivation method and soil class on the k value. The results of this research could be useful for the valorization of energy crops such as Oxytree and optimization of waste-to-carbon and waste-to-energy processes.

Oxytree Pruned Biomass Torrefaction: Mathematical Models of the Influence of Temperature and Residence Time on Fuel Properties Improvement

Biowaste generated in the process of Oxytree cultivation and logging represents a potential source of energy. Torrefaction (a.k.a. low-temperature pyrolysis) is one of the methods proposed for the valorization of woody biomass. Still, energy is required for the torrefaction process during which the raw biomass becomes torrefied biomass with fuel properties similar to those of lignite coal. In this work, models describing the influence of torrefaction temperature and residence time on the resulting fuel properties (mass and energy yields, energy densification ratio, organic matter and ash content, combustible parts, lower and higher heating values, CHONS content, H:C and O:C ratios) were proposed according to the Akaike criterion. The degree of the models’ parameters matching the raw data expressed as the determination coefficient (R²) ranged from 0.52 to 0.92. Each model parameter was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Estimations of the value and quantity of the produced torrefied biomass from 1 Mg of biomass residues were made based on two models and a set of simple assumptions. The value of torrefied biomass (€123.4·Mg⁻¹) was estimated based on the price of commercially available coal fuel and its lower heating value (LHV) for biomass moisture content of 50%, torrefaction for 20 min at 200 °C. This research could be useful to inform techno-economic analyses and decision-making process pertaining to the valorization of pruned biomass residues.

Methods to Assess the Impacts and Indirect Land Use Change Caused by Telecoupled Agricultural Supply Chains: A Review

The increasing international trade of agricultural products has contributed to a larger diversity of food at low prices and represents an important economic value. However, such trade can also cause social, environmental and economic impacts beyond the limits of the countries directly involved in the exchange. Agricultural systems are telecoupled because the impacts caused by trade can generate important feedback loops, spillovers, rebound effects, time lags and non-linearities across multiple geographical and temporal scales that make these impacts more difficult to identify and mitigate. We make a comparative review of current impact assessment methods to analyze their suitability to assess the impacts of telecoupled agricultural supply chains. Given the large impacts caused by agricultural production on land systems, we focus on the capacity of methods to account for and spatially allocate direct and indirect land use change. Our analysis identifies trade-offs between methods with respect to the elements of the telecoupled system they address. Hybrid methods are a promising field to navigate these trade-offs. Knowledge gaps in assessing indirect land use change should be overcome in order to improve the accuracy of assessments.

Assessment of the Impact of Bioenergy on Sustainable Economic Development

The Solow-Swan macroeconomic model reveals the fact that the marginal capital rate of the bioenergy sector, as well as the bioenergy productivity and productivity of the resources variation, having positive values of their estimated coefficients, have the capacity of stimulating the sustainable economic development of an emerging country, such as Romania. The economic model substantiated by the correlations between the macroeconomic indicators evaluates the convergence in relation with the European Union (EU) average. The main objective of this paper is to analyze the impact of bioenergy on sustainable economic development. The econometric analysis revealed the fact that the bioenergy productivity, the productivity of the resources and the capital productivity of the bioenergy sector have a positive and statistically significant impact on the sustainable economic development. Data was collected from The European Statistical Office and analyzed with SPSS 22 statistical software package. Quantitative methods highlight the disparities between developed and developing countries of EU in terms of bioenergy use and efficiency.