!
NC Woody Biomass
“Nature’s renewable energy!”
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fore
stry/biomass.html
Extension Forestry
Campus Box 8008
NC State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-8008
Timber management goals through
woody biomass harvesting!
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Biomass Markets
In North Carolina, demand for
woody biomass is increasing.
Timber harvesting in North
Carolina woodlands annually
generate roughly 13.1 million
green tons of woody biomass
from logging, land clearing and
non-commercial thinning
operations (1995-2007 average).
Current demand of woody
biomass is roughly 5.1 million
tons. An estimated surplus of 8
million tons exists for
commercial use that currently is
left on site, burned, or hauled
off at cost. Emerging markets
demand may be four times the
current demand. Unwanted
vegetation, currently a liability,
may soon be a profitable or
breakeven commodity, creating
economic options for increasing
growth and good management
on private lands. Selling
biomass offers a reasonable
opportunity to increase your
forest productivity through
some of the practices below,
although the value to
landowners in unknown at this
point.
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Figure 1. Overstocked pine stand (“Dog-haired
thicket”) in need of density
reduction.
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Figure 3. A commercial thinning operation,
harvesting treetops along with the
pulpwood size stems makes this operation
more practical.
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Figure 4. Crop tree release allows you to
choose at the individual tree level which
trees you wish to enhance. Biomass
markets may be useful in making removal
of undesirable trees affordable.
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Figure 5. Special equipment, such as this
prototype forest masticator, can be utilized
to create sellable woody biomass from
hazardous build-up of forest fuels.
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Summary
Millions of forested acres in North
Carolina’s need management techniques to
reduce fuel loading, fix poor past
management, and increase forest
productivity. Estimates indicate that there
are approximately 7.65 million acres of
private woodlands in North Carolina (1of
every 2 woodland acres) as fully or
overstocked. Biomass harvesting may help
pay for this work while generating
renewable fuel for our state or some other
value added product. Current markets do
not make this possible everywhere in the
state, but this is changing rapidly due to
burgeoning demand in the resource. As
more markets develop for woody biomass
throughout the state, higher delivered prices
and shorter hauling distances may induce
conditions where beneficial forestry
practices like thinning and regeneration of
high-graded timber can be conducted. As
with all forestry operations, when
implemented, biomass harvesting must be
based on sound forest management
objectives following forestry best
management practices.
!
!
www.ces.ncsu.edu/forestry/biomass.html
!
Published by North Carolina Cooperative Extension
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Published by North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Distributed in furtherance of the acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive
action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons
without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.
Distributed in furtherance of the acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves
to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability. In addition, the two Universities
welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local
governments cooperating.
copies of this public document were printed at a cost of or per copy.
!!
Prepared by
James Jeuck, Extension Associate!
WB-0012/2010