acadian forest and biomass energy Flashcards
1
Q
acadian forest composition
A
- mix of hard and softwood - diverse
- mature and uneven aged in natural state
- opening in canopy - red spruce came in
- many old growth shade tolerant
2
Q
change in acadian forest
A
- smaller, younger trees
- loss of old growth habitat
- more boreal sp, fewer old growth
- more even aged
- problems of invasives, change in soil chemistry and composition from conifers
- climate change - cold trees wont survive
3
Q
protected areas: 12.25%
A
- current gov: 13%+
- parks and protected areas in plan: 14%
- 70 national reserves and 68 wild areas
- limitations bc 2/3 of land privately owned
- if not protected areas, no decent sized blocks of intact areas
4
Q
environmentally sensitive area on public land near lanke panuke
A
- gov bought land
- areas ecologically sensitive
- people upset about level of clearcutting
- rules followed but must change bc not strict enough - forestry laws bad for ecosystems
5
Q
forestry laws
A
- forestry act, wildlife habtitat and watercourses protection regulations
- on any harvest site must ensure at least 10 living trees are left for each hectare cut
- trees must be clumped for each 8 hectare area
- all snags and debris must resemble natural patterns - not enforced
- special managemenr zone of at least 20m width along water course
- within zone cant reduce area of trees to less than 20m2/ha
6
Q
biomass - green energy?
A
- ‘no matter where it comes from it is a green source’
- forest cut down
- use 50 truckloads of chips per day for electricity
7
Q
taking every scrap of wood
A
- nutrient loss
- decline in productivity
- damage to forest floor
- loss of wildlife
- increase in fragmentation
- erosion and compaction
- carbon loss to atmosphere
- opportunity cost for high value trees 0 if managed better could support more jobs
8
Q
NSPI biomas project in CB: tes for project
A
- going after all avialable trees to feed machine
- old growth forest may have been cut for fuel
9
Q
is forest biomass inexpensive energy
A
- cost of biomass > wind
- the extra cost of biomass is added to people’s energy bills
- burning wood costs more than fossil fuels
- provincial law said that plant must run facility constantly
- could save $$ by running on an as need basis
10
Q
is forest biomass efficient
A
- biomass for electricity: 21.5% efficiency
- excess is released as heat
- if can capture excess heat and use it: 36% efficiency -
- biomass for heating: >80% efficiency possible
11
Q
why burn forests for electricity
A
- renewable energy regs: biomass harvested sustainably included as renewable energy
- by 2020 must haveat least 40% renewable energy
- UARB approved biomass and extra cost charged to ppl
- in 2016, changed port hawkesbury plant to use on an as needed basis, but had to use all the time before
12
Q
massechusetts energy law
A
- in order to be renewable energy must meet efficiency standards
- biomass wouldnt qualify bc not efficient
13
Q
2011 natural resources strategy (policy)
A
- no whole tree harvesting, reduce clearcutting to omre than 50% of harvested area
- no more funding for herbicides
- policy is a promise, cant hold accountable
14
Q
result of natural resources strategy
A
- gov stopped herbicide funding
- nothing for whole tree harvesting
- only thing that changed related to clearcutting: definition
15
Q
lahey report
A
- forestry practices to be reviewed by former deputy minister
- lahey will make recommendations on clearcutting, harvest levels, future use of 225 000 ha of former bowater paper mill lands
- report: ecosystems and biodiversity is a foundation fo rother values, should reduce clearcutting
