 United
States Department of Agriculture -
Forest Service |
 Southern Research Station200 Weaver Boulevard P.O. Box 2680 Asheville, NC 28802 |
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 Photo credit: Chris Schnepf, University of Idaho. |
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SRS Awarded Grants to Explore New Uses of Forest Biomass
SRS researchers have been awarded two grants of $1 million each to explore the use of forest biomass for both energy and new products. Jointly awarded by the U.S. Departments of Defense (DOD) and Agriculture (USDA) under the Biomass Research and Development Initiative, the funds will be used by the Southern Research Station (SRS) and a wide range of partners to promote the development of biobased products and bioenergy sources in the South. One grant was awarded directly to SRS, the other to the Southern Forest Research Partnership (SFRP), a collaboration formed among universities, the forest products industry, and State and federal agencies.
Providing 60 percent of the nation's timber supply, the South also produces a huge amount of wood waste. Using this waste for bioenergy (energy produced from organic matter) or biobased products (defined here as those made from forest sources), has great economic potential, especially for rural communities. The need to clear small diameter wood from National Forests under the Healthy Forest Initiative presents further opportunities for small forest operations. Yet the barriers to taking advantage of this potential are daunting: just the expense of transporting wood waste or small diameter wood can easily outweigh the benefits of using bioenergy - and make it unprofitable as a business.
The SFRP grant will use the data developed by the SRS Forest Inventory and Analysis unit (FIA) as the base for regional assessment studies. The SRS Ecology and Management of Even-Aged Pine Forests unit in Pineville, LA will focus on methods to grow biomass crops, while the SRS Forest Operations Research unit in Auburn, AL will continue to design harvesting operation logistics and equipment needed to sustainably harvest small diameter wood from public lands. The SRS Utilization of Southern Pine Resources unit in Pineville , LA will coordinate studies exploring the qualities of forest-derived biomass in relation to bioenergy and product uses. SRS will also coordinate studies of site-specific biomass productions, including economic and environmental impact studies, life cycle analysis, and rural development potential.
The second grant, awarded directly to the Southern Research Station, will be used to develop ways to inform and train those involved in growing, harvesting, transporting, and processing biomass and bio-based products. Products will include traditional venues such as curricula, fact sheets, videos, and conferences. Modules will also be developed for web-based distance learning and for a web-based hypertext encyclopedia. Training events and programs for Southern forest managers and community developers will include a special emphasis on the historically underserved audiences in different areas in the South.
“Many rural communities in the South still depend heavily on forestry,” says Susan Fox, SRS assistant director closely involved in both grants. “We hope that developing products and markets for small diameter wood - whether it is grown in fields or cleared from forests - can lead to new opportunities for small business while supporting our mission of creating the science and technology needed to sustain and enhance Southern forest ecosystems and the benefits they provide.”
For more information: Susan Fox at (828-257-4305) or sfox@fs.fed.us
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