Bioenergy from the forest sector: Economic potential and interactions with timber and forest products markets in Norway

Abstract

A partial equilibrium forest sector model which is augmented to include bioenergy was applied to project the use of bioenergy based on forest fuels and forest industry by-products in Norway for three different scenarios of the future prices of electricity and oil. The impacts on forestry and forest industries of the different energy price scenarios were also studied. The advantage of the suggested methodology is that it allows for assessments of the economic potential of bioenergy, taking into account the competition for raw materials, the specific heat demand of various regions, and interregional and international trade. Bioenergy will, according to this study, be fairly competitive in some market segments with the current price levels of electricity and oil, and only a minor increase (decrease) in energy (roundwood) prices would release substantially increased bioenergy production levels. Pulpwood prices of pine and non-coniferous species are projected to increase substantially when assuming increasing energy prices. Except for particleboard mills, production levels of forest industries appeared relatively insensitive to the energy price changes.     

Forest policy reform and the restructuring of the forest industry in Russia

The Russian forest is the last big wood basket of the international timber market and the conservation of the Russian forest is critical to protect global environment. There is a strong need to analyze present situation of forest policy and forest industry in Russia. The basic direction of forest policy reform of Russia is decentralization and introduction of market principles. However, the lack of specialists in forest policy in the regions and the conflict between central and regional governments has accelerated the confusion of forest policy. Forest management organizations cannot spare enough money for forest management because of the financial crisis of Russian government. Forest industry has also deteriorated. Although privatization of the forest industry was completed, it did not improve the management of enterprises and they could not survive the economic crisis. Output of the forest industry has decreased and most enterprises came close to bankruptcy. Under these circumstances, the former regional amalgamation of forest industry, which has accumulated hard currency earned by timber export, re-took control of the industry and tried to increase timber exports even more. However, logging enterprises, facing economic crises, cannot observe forest regulations and forest management organization cannot control these violations. A recovery of forest industry may accelerate the degradation of forest resources in Russia.     

俄罗斯森林大火对城镇的影响

文章阐述了俄罗斯森林大火给城镇居民的生活和环境所带来的灾难性影响:家园被毁,浓烟危害和生态环境遭受严重破坏;并从俄罗斯森林的特点出发,分析了俄罗斯大火烟雾浓重的原因。       

Assessment of motivation and attitudes of forest industry companies toward forest certification in northwestern Russia

This study explores for the first time the attitudes and motivation associated with forest certification among forest industry companies in northwestern Russia. Interviews were carried out in the form of a structured questionnaire including 35 forest industry companies operating in northwestern Russia. Although development of certification in individual companies was initiated by general market demand, representatives of certified companies also emphasized the importance of internal corporate policy. Certified and noncertified groups of respondents identified market demand as a main driving force influencing development of forest certification. Ensuring the legality of wood origin, company's image and competitiveness of wood products were recognized as the most important benefits associated with forest certification. Absence of mandatory requirements from authorities and customers appeared to be the largest obstacle among both groups of respondents. Representatives of noncertified companies pointed out economic inaccessibility and low level of preparedness of management as of high importance, which is mainly associated with absence of quality management system. The results of the study indicated a general positive attitude on forest certification; it was noticed that respondents have gaps in understanding the principles and limited awareness with regards to forest certification, especially among noncertified forest industry companies.     

Prospects of forest road infrastructure development in northwest Russia with proven Nordic solutions

This paper analyses the situation with forest roads in Russia in the context of harvesting, transportation, forest management and forest fire prevention. Russia harvests less than 30% of its allowable harvest potential. Forest fires burn volumes which are equal to half of the annual harvest. One reason is the insufficient density and quality of forest roads. The average density of roads is less than 1.5 m/ha, which is one-tenth of that in Nordic countries. We argue that better access to the forests, utilizing the technology transfer of the proven Nordic forest road solutions (NFRS) under local conditions, might have important effects on the strategy-making processes in forest infrastructure development in northwest Russia. For this purpose, A'WOT analysis is proposed to identify the related strategies and assign priorities to those strategies. According to this study undertaken in Karelia, where NFRS were introduced over 10 years ago, the top priorities regarding the relevant threats are the lack of legal framework under forest land leasing and the low profitability of forestry. The results indicate that the NFRS are viewed positively for the Russian conditions. The forest road market has virtually unlimited opportunities for growth. Together with a favourable policy in terms of national and regional development programmes it can support forest infrastructure development. Forest fire prevention, multiple uses of woodlands, and different environmental service markets are seen as potential opportunities for NFRS. However, the results also indicate that there is substantial uncertainty and scepticism concerning how such markets would be of benefit to leaseholders who would like to adopt intensive forestry.     

Boundaries of transnational forest governance in Russia

Abstract

The article examines how both the territorial and non-territorial boundaries affect the transnational forest governance. Although being a globalised and transnational feature, present forest governance is shaped, enabled and restricted by various kinds of boundaries. The transnational forest governance is approached as a process which operates through both borderless network-spaces and bounded regional spaces. The article scrutinises empirically how the transnational forest governance has entered the Russian woodlands. The operations of multinational forestry companies, campaigns of transnational ENGOs and systems of forest certification have connected some parts of Russia with novel transnational network-spaces of forest governance. The main argument is, however, that regional spaces and boundaries influence and afford the processes of transnational forest governance in numerous ways.     

Determinants of equity-based entry mode choice in the forest sector: the case of China

The focus of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the global forest sector has shifted from developed to developing economies (currently accounting 73% of total) during the past two decades. China has been the main global driver with its annual FDI soaring from USD 130 million in 2002 to USD 550 million in 2010. In light of international economic and business theories, choice of foreign entry mode is considered the most critical issue in corporate expansion strategy, which, however, has not been empirically studied in the forest sector. To fill this gap, our paper focuses on modeling two equity-based entry mode choices (i.e. wholly owned subsidiary or joint ventures) of foreign investment projects in China based on data from 109 activities of the Top 100 forest, paper, and packaging industry companies. By using logistic modeling, the main determinants of corporate entry mode choice are found to be cultural and geographical distance between the corporate home country and China, duration of corporate presence in China, and spatial concentration of local-level forest industry. Instead, investment project size and local resource availability are found to have no significant impact on corporate entry mode choice in China.     

The impact of SFM-certification on forest product markets in Western Europe — an analysis using a forest sector simulation model

In the international discussion on labels for sustainably produced wood products based on the certification of sustainable forest management (SFM), little attention has been paid to what is probably the most crucial part of any market-based instrument: the potential impact on forest products markets. This paper analyses the potential impact of SFM-certification on forest products markets using a simulation model of the Western European forest sector. Two scenarios with assumptions regarding certification (chain-of-custody costs, timber supply reduction from certified forests) are projected for the period 1995–2015 and tested against the results of a base scenario (‘business as usual’). In general, the results show that rather modest changes are to be expected from SFM-certification in forest products markets. The market impact of a timber supply reduction from certified forest would be more distinct than the impacts of chain-of-custody costs. Industry gross profits would decrease more than production. Due to the large share of roundwood costs in total costs, the sawmill industry would be affected more by even small changes in raw-material prices than the panel and paper industry.     

基于林分生长过程的辽东山区森林植被固碳潜力及其价值研究

利用基于林分生长过程的Richards生长方程以及蓄积量转换生物量模型,评估了辽宁冰砬山长白落叶松人工林和蒙古栎天然次生林两种典型森林类型4个龄级的植被固碳速率、固碳潜力和潜在固碳价值。研究结果表明:两种森林的单位面积植被固碳潜力总体上都是随着龄级的增加单位面积植被固碳潜力在增加。除中龄林外,长白落叶松人工林各个龄级的植被单位面积固碳潜力均比蒙古栎天然次生林大。长白落叶松人工林各龄级森林植被单位面积潜在固碳价值在2 113~9 656元,蒙古栎天然次生林在1 594~4 195元。长白落叶松人工林2000年和2005年的固碳潜力分别为14和11 Gg·a-1,潜在固碳价值分别为1 700和1 300万元·a-1,与2000年相比,2005年固碳潜力和潜在固碳价值都有所降低;蒙古栎天然次生林2000年和2005年的固碳潜力分别为4.8和5.4 Gg·a-1,潜在固碳价值分别为600和700万元·a-1,与2000年相比,2005年固碳潜力和潜在固碳价值都有所增加。     

Production and markets of modified wood in Russia

Understanding the state of market for modified wood as well as the forces that affect its future development will be essential for those seeking to enter the Russian market. Information on modified wood from websites of companies, research and development organisations, woodworking-oriented magazines and forums, and official Russian statistics were explored, and finally verified by personal contacts with experts. A number of modification methods have been either researched, developed or pre-commercialised during the past 15 years, but only few of them have been adopted by users. Mostly, the modification methods have been copied, further developed and commercialised from variations of thermal modification originally introduced in Western Europe. Modified wood products are still considered premium goods among Russian consumers. Political initiatives aim at increasing the share of wood in construction and renovation but also at import minimisation, which reduces the penetration of foreign producers into the markets. There are approximately 20 producers of thermally modified timber (TMT) with an overall annual capacity of 60,000–65,000 m³. The current annual market for TMT is estimated to be approximately €35–40 million. In contrast to the European mainstream end uses of TMT, there is also a market for massive and glued thermally modified logs in Russia.     

An assessment of forest sector modeling approaches: conceptual differences and quantitative comparison

Forest sector models are widely used for policy and economic analyses. Basic assumptions vary considerably between models, but little attention has been paid to the impacts these differences may have on model results. Norway provides a great opportunity to fill this void as it has two forest sector models currently in use based on different modeling assumptions, but sharing the same data source. In one model, agents are assumed to be myopic in the meaning that they rely only on the current market conditions. Harvest behavior is in this model based on econometric relations and exogenous forest growth rates. The second model approach employs extensive forest data and assumes that agents have perfect information over the model time horizon. We discuss the differences between the two modeling approaches and compare quantitatively the model results of two case studies. However, both types of models are rather sensitive to changes in assumptions and data. The strengths and weaknesses of the two model approaches and their appropriateness for responding to the study questions should be considered when choosing modeling methodology. Using both models in parallel removes the uncertainty caused by the foresight assumption/optimization routine and thus provides in total more information.     

森林衰退病研究现状及展望

文章对我国森衰退病的研究现状和发展概况进行了综述，并介绍了国外有关臭氧、酸沉降及森林衰退病与立地相关性等研究的重要进展。对于Manion的森林衰退病概念中的若干问题如非生物和生物因素的顺序、衰退病最终结果是导致树木死亡、森林衰退病的起因等进行了讨论。最后对我国森林衰退病研究提出了几点建议。     

俄罗斯森林资源与木材生产分析

根据俄罗斯森林资源与木材生产发展状况, 探讨了俄罗斯森林资源的特点, 总结了俄罗斯木材生产面临的主要问题, 提出了俄罗斯林产品的品种和产量走势, 分析了俄罗斯森工行业和木材生产的发展机遇, 展望了中俄森林资源合作开发与林产品贸易和林业双边合作的发展前景。     

对森林认证及其在少林省份开展的认识与思考

目前森林认证已经成为世界和我国林业部门、森林经营单位关注的热点问题之一。森林认证已经成为世界林业的新趋势之一。通过对世界森林认证历史发展的分析,全面了解我国的认证工作,结合作者参加山东省速生人工林森林认证的经验,对在速生人工林认证期间遇到的困难进行梳理,并提出了解决方法和建议。希望能探索出少林省份在开展森林认证的适宜办法,努力使少林省份林业得到全面协调可持续的科学发展。     

Development of wood procurement in Northwest Russia: round wood balance and unreported flows

This paper analyses industrial round wood flows into, within, and out of Northwest regions of Russia. We examine sawlogs, pulpwood, and fuelwood used for industrial purposes obtained from logging, and chips obtained from the wood-processing industry. We attempt to clarify different recent trends in wood harvesting, industrial round wood export, and forest industries development that have an influence on unreported wood in Russia. Our method, which uses wood balance diagrams, provides an interpretation of data from different Russian sources in order to offer better transparency regarding wood flows from forests to mills. It also helps to explain the apparent imbalance between round wood supply and demand and it helps one to assess the possible share of unreported industrial round wood production in Northwest Russia. Based on annual forest-related statistical data available from the Ministry of Natural Resources, the State Committee of Statistics, and the Russian Federation’s Customs Department, unreported round wood flows can be estimated to be 23% of the total industrial round wood production, or approximately 9 million m³ u.b. per year. Unreported round wood flows are more common in export oriented regions that have poorly developed forest industries.

槐花黄 举子忙——透视槐树文化与科举制度

文章探讨了槐树文化与中国科举制度之间丰富的文化内涵。槐树（Sophora japonica Linn）．又称国槐,在我国分布广泛,它枝干茂密,淳朴厚重,是人们喜爱的一个乡土树种。     

亚热带山地土壤碳动态与吸存研究进展

简述了森林土壤有机碳的来源与损失,概述了森林经营、植被条件、自然条件、山地利用方式以及不同的环境因素等对山地土壤有机碳的影响,总结介绍了当前对土壤碳储量动态变化的研究进展,为恢复亚热带山地土壤肥力、缓解全球变暖提供基础理论依据。     

Future development of the Leningrad region forests under nature-oriented forest management

Russian forests are of high importance for the Russian economy, the European wood market, for nature conservation, and for carbon sequestration. However, the ongoing changes in forest management and administration in Russia led to uncertainty about forest ownership, wood harvesting levels, and long-term impacts of alternative management plans. Therefore, better insight in their current and future state is highly desirable. We present a study for the Leningrad region forests in which alternative management regimes for wood production and nature conservation values are balanced in varying ways. The total forest land area in the Leningrad region forest fund is 4.8 million ha. Coniferous species dominate and due to the natural succession occurring, the forests are divers in vertical structurally.

A timber assessment model was used to project the forest until 2040. Five forest management scenarios were run. Special attention was paid to a scenario that simulates recovery of the Russian forest sector in combination with the incorporation of a ‘set-aside for nature conservation’ policy. All scenarios showed that recovery of the forest sector in the Leningrad region is biologically feasible. A sustainable continuous annual production of 10.6 million m³ per year (2.8 m³ ha⁻¹ per year) by 2040 was found. The ‘Recovery with Nature Conservation’ scenario showed that recovery of the forest sector in combination with the establishment of set-aside areas is very well feasible. It was possible to set aside 28% of the forest area for nature conservation while still developing a forest sector to a production level higher than that achieved in the late eighties.

The timber assessment model applied was not specifically designed to incorporate nature-oriented forest management. We, therefore, discuss ways of improving the required methodology to analyse long-term effects of nature-oriented forest management in Europe.     

土壤林木营养诊断与平衡施肥现状及展望

简要概述土壤和林木营养诊断的理论基础、技术方法发展动态、应用现状,阐述土壤和林木营养诊断的必要性,并结合福建省的具体情况,提出土壤林木营养诊断与平衡施肥研究的建议与展望,为现代林业经营管理提供参考。