Allocation Effects on Sustainability within a Solid Wood Chain

A Case Study in South Scotland

Stefania Pizziraniand Barry Gardiner, John Fonweban and Stephen Bathgate

Forest ResearchScotland

Ways to Allocate1. Cut using Business As Usual

practices (eg—wood products based on stem diameter)

3. Cut using Stand Level Allocation to achieve both the optimal range of products per tree and to satisfy market demand

2. Cut using Forest Level Allocation to meet consumer demand (eg—biofuel industry)

Business as usual

Green sawlog:Diam >18cm at 6mStraightness ≥ 3

Red sawlog:Diam >18cm at 6mStraightness <3

Pallet:Diam 14-18cm at 6m

Biomass:Diam <14cm at 6m

Green sawlog Red sawlog

• System developed for use in Sitka spruce• Can be used to predict out-turn of “green” logs

Stem Straightness Scoring

Stem Stiffness ScoringTree level - ST300 Log level - HM200

19.656 0.05173 - 0.6097 - 0.05071 - 0.005335

-0.002454 0.00001729 0.00231

0.0001536 0.00001089

Age YC elevation Latitude

InitialStocking elevation Latitude YC elevation

YC InitialStocking elevation Initi

MOE

-0.0000006935

alStocking

YC elevation InitialStocking

0.855 0.1147 - 0.0398dbhMean DAS SS M

% 8.632 -1.443Total Log V

Green Log Volu

lume

me

oMeanSS

Stem Straightness and Stiffness Models

Premise for Allocation Study

Saw

log

Saw

log

Pal

let

Pal

let

Bio

fue

l Bio

fue

l

Bio

fuel

Bio

fuel

B.A.U. F.L.A. B F.L.A. P F.L.A. S

Sta

nd L

evel

Allo

catio

n

Case Study in Southern Scotland

Case Study in Southern Scotland• Time period of 30 years from

2005• 119 ha in forest stand• 3694 m3 removed from

thinnings• 68349 m3 removed from final

fellings• 72043 total m3 removed• 2782 trips to sawmills by 44

tonne trucks• Assumed values: £35/m3 green

sawlog, £30/m3 red sawlog, £25/m3 pallet, £20/tonne biofuel

Processing Plants

Scenario 1

Business as Usual- 100% of sawlogs to Dumfries where 80% is Green log and 20% is re-allocated as Red log to Kirriemuir- 100% Red logs to Kirriemuir- 100% of Pallet to Lockerbie- Remainder as Biofuel to EON Lockerbie

Scenario 2

Forest Level AllocationBiofuel

- 100% of forest allocated as Biofuel to EON Lockerbie

Scenario 3

Forest Level AllocationPallet

- All logs allocated as Pallet to Lockerbie- Remainder as Biofuel to EON Lockerbie

Scenario 4

Forest Level AllocationSawlog

- 100% of sawlogs to Dumfries where 80% is Green log and 20% is re-allocated as Red log to Kirriemuir- 100% Red logs to Kirriemuir- Remainder as Biofuel to EON Lockerbie

Scenario 5

Stand Level Allocation- 100% of Green logs to Dumfries- 100% of Red logs to Kirriemuir- 100% of Pallet to Lockerbie- 100% of Biofuel to EON Lockerbie

Craik Wind Risk

Craik Straightness

Indicator Results - GVA

Gross Value Added

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

BAU FLA B FLA P FLA S SLA

Scenario

GV

A in

£/m

3

BAU Gross Value Added per Process (£)

Growing phase

Felling

Forwarding

Transport to mill

Re-transport

Indicator Results – Employment

Employment

75

76

77

78

79

80

BAU FLA B FLA P FLA S SLA

Scenario

Ab

so

lute

Nu

mb

ers

of

Em

plo

yees

BAU Employment per Process (absolute numbers)

Growing phase

Felling

Forwarding

Transport to mill

Re-transport

Indicator Results – Timber Miles

Total miles travelled

0

100000

200000

300000

400000

500000

600000

BAU FLA B FLA P FLA S SLA

Scenario

Nu

mb

er

of

miles

BAU Total Miles Travelled per Process

Growing phase

Felling

Forwarding

Transport to mill

Re-transport

Indicator Results - GHG

Green House Gases

0

500000

1000000

1500000

2000000

2500000

BAU FLA B FLA P FLA S SLA

Scenario

Kg

CO

2 eq

uiv

alen

t

BAU Kg of CO2e per Process

Growing phase

Felling

Forwarding

Transport to mill

Re-transport

Conclusions• Results depend on end-user’s priorities• This case study was a examination of how ToSIA

might be applied at a stand level• Allows the user to ‘play’ with the data to see how

different scenarios may affect the outcome of various indicators

• Allocation only of value if price differentials significant

• The results are only as good as the input data – room for improvement

• Scenarios simplistic – room for refinement

Thank you!