Bioenergy

Forest residues, wood waste and coppiced trees from forestry projects are a great source of biomass that can be converted to bioenergy, which is a renewable energy source for residential and industrial use. This serves to lower society’s dependency on fossil fuels while using a carbon neutral (and even carbon negative) source of energy. This helps us contribute to SDG x: sustainable cities and communities, as well as SDG x:
While many forest biomass producers harvest trees specifically for the biomass through single-crop plantations, which has come under severe criticism from some environmental groups, we empower communities to primarily use wood that comes from natural waste and residue from natural forests and should be recovered anyway to avoid forest wildfires. The other type of wood we enable communities to use is from sustainable thinning and coppice management.

How is the use of fallen and dead trees for bioenergy sustainable?
How is the practice of thinning trees and coppice management for bioenergy sustainable?
Forests that are left alone in the wild function very well to provide environmental services and grow rich in biodiversity. However, forests that are overcrowded in areas where human populations live reduce mobility and can even pose a health and safety risk. By thinning trees in overcrowded forests, communities practice sustainable forest management and generate inputs that can be used for biomass production.
Communities living in and around forests have always practiced small-scale logging for their household needs. Sustinere advocates for legal and controlled small-scale harvesting of wood from natural forests, but without killing the trees. This practice is achieved through coppicing, which means cutting part of the tree while leaving the base, or stool, intact, which allows the tree to regrow. This practice should also be done with the assistance of biologists who can monitor wildlife habitats. The inputs from coppice management can then also be used for biomass and for household needs without negatively impacting the forest.
