"afforested" - 1 õppematerjal

How to produce bioenergy from agricultural resources without harming the environment

Deciduous tree species on abandoned agricultural land  Current situation • The long term development plan of the Estonian energy industry foresees a reduction in the use of fossil fuels and an increase in the share of biofuels: by the year 2010 renewable energy must account for 5.1% of total energy consumption  Current situation (2) • In Estonia we have abandoned arable land about 400 000 ha, part of it is overgrowing naturally, and another part has been afforested • For short-rotation forestry in Estonia, ecologically and economically the most suitable tree is probably grey alder, which is a highly productive and soil improving species  Grey alder • The stock of grey alder (Alnus incana) in Estonia in 2005 was 35 millions m³. A majority of Estonian grey alder stands grow in private forests where they make up 13.7% of all stands; in state forests their share is 1.7%.  Grey alder (2)