Opinions of Forest Managers, Loggers, and Forest Landowners in North Carolina regarding Biomass Harvesting Guidelines
Woody biomass has been identified as an important renewable energy source capable of offsetting fossil fuel use. The potential environmental impacts associated with using woody biomass for energy have spurred development of biomass harvesting guidelines (BHGs) in some states and proposals for BHGs i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Forestry Research |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/256141 |
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| author | Diane Fielding Frederick Cubbage M. Nils Peterson Dennis Hazel Brunell Gugelmann Christopher Moorman |
| author_facet | Diane Fielding Frederick Cubbage M. Nils Peterson Dennis Hazel Brunell Gugelmann Christopher Moorman |
| author_sort | Diane Fielding |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Woody biomass has been identified as an important renewable energy source capable of offsetting fossil fuel use. The potential environmental impacts associated with using woody biomass for energy have spurred development of biomass harvesting guidelines (BHGs) in some states and proposals for BHGs in others. We examined stakeholder opinions about BHGs through 60 semistructured interviews with key participants in the North Carolina, USA, forest business sector—forest managers, loggers, and forest landowners. Respondents generally opposed requirements for new BHGs because guidelines added to best management practices (BMPs). Most respondents believed North Carolina’s current BMPs have been successful and sufficient in protecting forest health; biomass harvesting is only an additional component to harvesting with little or no modification to conventional harvesting operations; and scientific research does not support claims that biomass harvesting negatively impacts soil, water quality, timber productivity, or wildlife habitat. Some respondents recognized possible benefits from the implementation of BHGs, which included reduced site preparation costs and increases in proactive forest management, soil quality, and wildlife habitat. Some scientific literature suggests that biomass harvests may have adverse site impacts that require amelioration. The results suggest BHGs will need to be better justified for practitioners based on the scientific literature or linked to demand from new profitable uses or subsidies to offset stakeholder perceptions that they create unnecessary costs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c2db4b26f6c2415797cffbfbf9e77c5c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-9368 1687-9376 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Forestry Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-c2db4b26f6c2415797cffbfbf9e77c5c2025-02-03T01:09:40ZengWileyInternational Journal of Forestry Research1687-93681687-93762012-01-01201210.1155/2012/256141256141Opinions of Forest Managers, Loggers, and Forest Landowners in North Carolina regarding Biomass Harvesting GuidelinesDiane Fielding0Frederick Cubbage1M. Nils Peterson2Dennis Hazel3Brunell Gugelmann4Christopher Moorman5Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8008, USADepartment of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8008, USADepartment of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8008, USADepartment of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8008, USADepartment of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8008, USADepartment of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8008, USAWoody biomass has been identified as an important renewable energy source capable of offsetting fossil fuel use. The potential environmental impacts associated with using woody biomass for energy have spurred development of biomass harvesting guidelines (BHGs) in some states and proposals for BHGs in others. We examined stakeholder opinions about BHGs through 60 semistructured interviews with key participants in the North Carolina, USA, forest business sector—forest managers, loggers, and forest landowners. Respondents generally opposed requirements for new BHGs because guidelines added to best management practices (BMPs). Most respondents believed North Carolina’s current BMPs have been successful and sufficient in protecting forest health; biomass harvesting is only an additional component to harvesting with little or no modification to conventional harvesting operations; and scientific research does not support claims that biomass harvesting negatively impacts soil, water quality, timber productivity, or wildlife habitat. Some respondents recognized possible benefits from the implementation of BHGs, which included reduced site preparation costs and increases in proactive forest management, soil quality, and wildlife habitat. Some scientific literature suggests that biomass harvests may have adverse site impacts that require amelioration. The results suggest BHGs will need to be better justified for practitioners based on the scientific literature or linked to demand from new profitable uses or subsidies to offset stakeholder perceptions that they create unnecessary costs.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/256141 |
| spellingShingle | Diane Fielding Frederick Cubbage M. Nils Peterson Dennis Hazel Brunell Gugelmann Christopher Moorman Opinions of Forest Managers, Loggers, and Forest Landowners in North Carolina regarding Biomass Harvesting Guidelines International Journal of Forestry Research |
| title | Opinions of Forest Managers, Loggers, and Forest Landowners in North Carolina regarding Biomass Harvesting Guidelines |
| title_full | Opinions of Forest Managers, Loggers, and Forest Landowners in North Carolina regarding Biomass Harvesting Guidelines |
| title_fullStr | Opinions of Forest Managers, Loggers, and Forest Landowners in North Carolina regarding Biomass Harvesting Guidelines |
| title_full_unstemmed | Opinions of Forest Managers, Loggers, and Forest Landowners in North Carolina regarding Biomass Harvesting Guidelines |
| title_short | Opinions of Forest Managers, Loggers, and Forest Landowners in North Carolina regarding Biomass Harvesting Guidelines |
| title_sort | opinions of forest managers loggers and forest landowners in north carolina regarding biomass harvesting guidelines |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/256141 |
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