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| Measuring a log near Haliburton |
Contact: Trevor Jones
Global interest in carbon-neutral and green energy sources has increased in the past decade. One potential source of greener energy is forest biomass, the harvest of which could help revitalize Ontario’s forest industry. Ontario's Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forest is a promising source of biomass: The road networks are relatively good; it's close to the power grid; and it contains a lot of highly productive forest land.
In addition, many stands contain lots of fibre that is not suitable for wood products, and many stands could benefit from stand improvement harvesting and sustainable management. However, little is known about how removing more biomass will affect the ecosystem. For example, will it change how nutrients cycle through the soil, in turn changing the ability of the site to support the plant communities that have traditionally grown there?
To find out, researchers have set up a project focused on harvesting biomass in Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forest. They will be evaluating effects on productivity (growth) and biodiversity and calculating how much biomass is available in a range of forest types and stand structures.
This research will help ensure that policies and guidelines for harvesting biomass are based on sound science and are ecologically sustainable.
Learn more!
Feature publication: Opportunities and Challenges for Ontario’s Forest Bioeconomy
Web news article: How a Laser Is Helping Researchers to See Ontario’s Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forests More Clearly
Recorded seminar: Taking the Surprise Out of Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest Management: Enhancing Inventory to Capture Forest Structure and Volume
