Inventories of Michigan Woody Biomass

Two woody biomass demonstration harvest workshops will be conducted in September in the Western and Eastern Upper Peninsula. The purpose of these workshops is to inform loggers, foresters, and landowners about the operational aspects of harvesting woody biomass and the ecological constraints that should be applied.

Interest in wood-based bioenergy is greatly increasing as people look for renewable and alternative forms of energy.  This is especially true in Michigan's Upper Peninsula where nearly 80% of land is in forest. This workshop, held on 10 March 2009, brought together foresters, natural resource professionals, loggers, forest industry members, conservation districts, government organizations, and others to explore the future of woody biomass utilization in the region and what that might mean for local forests, economies, and communities.

Funding for this project was provided by the National Association of Conservation Districts

The workshop agenda and copies of all presentations are available at: http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/niacs/tools/bioenergyworkshop/

Harnessing the Power of Local Wood Energy is a community resource guide, written by Caitlin Cusack, that weaves technical information with the personal stories of community members who want to heat their local school with sustainably produced woodchips. It details how a rural community can take advantage of the cost savings of wood energy while assuring the wood is sourced and utilized in a "Sustainable, Efficient, Local, and Fair (SELF)" manner.

As the United States and other nations commit to the path of biofuels production, a group of scientists is calling for sustainable practices in an industry that will, as MBL scientist Jerry Mellilo says, "reshape the Earth's landscape in a significant way."

Fifteen hundred interviews were conducted in the early spring of 2006 with a random sample of businesses in fourteen counties that include and surround Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Lansing, Michigan. The purpose of the survey is to determine the type and number of companies that either generate or use eight types of wood residue for the calendar year 2005. An equally important purpose is to provide recommendations regarding questions and sample design to those considering conducting urban wood residue surveys in the future.

In the summer of 2005, a ground survey of urban trees was conducted to determine the otential saw log content of the urban forests in the same area. Knowledgeable observers report he loss of saw logs contained in trees felled by natural occurrences, such as the EAB, and by human actions, such as residential and commercial development. The prevailing view is that urban saw logs are of little if any value. This survey provides estimates of the actual abundance, distribution, quality, and accessibility of urban saw timber. The results of these surveys provide aggregate estimates for 2005 of the flow of wood residue through businesses and the stock of urban saw timber contained in the area's trees. For other Michigan businesses and state and local governments, the results could identify where pportunities exist to make the better use of underutilized wood fiber. Another issue raised by
this study is the need in urban areas for a coordinated system that routinely monitors and upports the recovery of wood residue from all sources.