As our friends in North America deal with another terrible fire season, I will just draw you attention to a great workshop the IEA Bioenergy Task on Biomass Supply ran in Quebec after the catastrophic 2023 fire season with some opportunities between sustainable biomass supply and fire risk management
Main highlights:
* Governments needs to increase efforts on wildfire resilience and sustainable biomass utilization. A holistic approach to fire management is imperative for countries, including those historically unaffected by wildfires. Thus, sustained dialogue is crucial for mitigating wildfire impacts and advancing sustainable biomass practices.
* It is crucial to consider the costs of inaction versus adaptation. The capacity to manage landscapes in the face of wildfires and the annual funding allocated to those activities are limited, thus strategies need to be harmonized with other objectives, such as forest product manufacturing and community protection. Furthermore, addressing wildfire impacts involves considerations beyond wood supply, encompassing aspects related to wildlife, carbon sequestration, and other ecological factors. The development of regional strategies is critical to effectively manage the multifaceted challenges posed by the increasing wildfire activity.
* Future research should continue to explore strategies to facilitate biomass recovery from wildfire prevention and salvage activities, including optimizing the quality and inherent characteristics of the recovered biomass. This activity can, in turn, increase bioproducts and bioenergy generation.
* Sustainable forest management, incorporating fuel management and biomass removal for bioenergy, offers a mutually beneficial solution, particularly for communities susceptible to both fire risk and energy insecurity.
* Enhancing forest landscapes and industrial structures’ resilience is crucial, for instance, by introducing fire-resistant species. Fire salvage harvesting is also vital, governed by factors such as tree species, plantation age, fire intensity, and regulatory requirements.
* Effective strategies for recovering affected trees and reaching markets can lead to success but necessitate efficient coordination across the supply chain. The use of standardized, georeferenced data on the harvesting history of forest stands and burn pattern classification for recovered wood is also important.
* Governments could facilitate cost-sharing opportunities between bioenergy production and wildfire fuel management. Additionally, it is crucial to promote leadership while enhancing community-level benefits, such as job creation and revenue generation.
