The Norwegian Forestry Agency is putting forward a series of proposals for biomass from the forest to meet the EU’s new renewable requirements. Source: Timberbiz
“Our proposals can contribute to Sweden continuing to be classified as an A country in a cost-effective manner. It will require an increased effort from all actors, but we judge the change to be marginal, especially if we compare it to the gains from meeting the requirements,” said Elisabet Andersson, ecologist at the Swedish Forest Agency.
The renewables directive of the European Parliament and the Council from 2018 has been tightened. Among other things, criteria have been introduced that limit the extraction of forest biomass from virgin forest and old forest.
The directive aims to promote the use of energy from renewable energy sources, including biomass from, for example, branches and tops (grot) and damaged wood in connection with felling in the forest.
The directive does not prohibit felling or the extraction of roots but specifies conditions for the raw material that is extracted to be classified as sustainable.
The Norwegian Forestry Agency has been tasked by the government to develop a basis for how Sweden can meet the renewables directive’s sustainability criteria and continue to be classified as an A country. In a report submitted to the government, the Norwegian Forestry Agency makes several proposals for adjustments to ensure that biomass taken from the forest is deemed sustainable for the purposes of the directive, and that it can be tracked and controlled throughout the chain:
- The forest owner must, through an extended declaration obligation in the permit application or felling notification to the Forestry Agency, indicate whether the measure is to be carried out in virgin forest or old forest.
- The information provided to the Swedish Forestry Agency enables the authority to supervise and check that the declared information is correct and that the rules are followed. This is to ensure Sweden’s compliance with the Renewable Energy Directive.
- Information from the declaration must be made available so that those concerned have access to reliable information of importance to their business. In this way, the buyers at all levels (ultimately the energy producer) can gain access to the information required to be able to check the sustainability criteria.
“If the proposals are implemented, it underlines the importance of forest owners having a good knowledge of their forest and what natural values may be present. Here, both skill enhancement and guidance will generally be needed,” Ms Andersson said.
In addition to the country’s forest owners, there are estimated to be around 300 actors in Sweden who may be affected by the changes.
According to the government mandate, the Norwegian Forestry Agency has also, in collaboration with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, proposed a national definition for old forest in the Forest Protection Act. Proposals for criteria for old forest and primeval forest have also been drawn up.
The directive’s sustainability criteria also cover areas that have been found to have high biological diversity. However, it has not been part of the government’s mission to develop criteria for these. Here it is proposed that the Norwegian Forestry Agency and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency receive a new government assignment to define what is considered a forest with high biological diversity.
