es, tops, and small round wood can reduce soil rutting and com-paction from forest machines, mitigating the associated increas-es in water runoff and sediment transport. Furthermore, residues piled on trails are compressed, promoting decomposition and retaining nutrients (in particular nitrogen) in the cutting area, which might otherwise be lost during SPB. While brush-mats are mostly associated with stem-only and cut-to-length har-vesting operations, this technique can also be employed during conventional whole-tree harvesting, whereby primary transpor-tation machines (skidders, etc.) bring residues from roadside piles back into the cutblock, applying them to main trails during return trips. The use of mulched right-of-way harvesting residues for surfac-ing on temporary roads can reduce road failure from rutting, when compared with standard soil-surfaced roads. Using residues in this way can have less environmental impact and be less cost prohibi-tive than upgraded gravel surfacing. Left decked in oriented piles: If residues need to be left in the cutting area, pre-sorting residues during processing to separate and deck round-wood into oriented piles can be a better alterna-tive to leaving them piled in “hay-stacks” or SPB. Preliminary studies by FPInnovations have demonstrated that oriented deck-ing can reduce the wildfire risk of the pile, provides the opportu -nity for secondary users to easily access the decked wood if fu-ture markets emerge, and does not require significant incremental cost to operators. Mobile burning containers: If wildfire fuel loading must be reduced, but markets don’t exist to use the residues, employment of mobile burning units (air curtain burner, etc.) are an effective alternative to SPB. Controlled burning in these units can reduce emissions (in particular methane) with higher efficiency combus -tion, while creating biochar and ash byproducts which store car-bon and can be redistributed as soil amendments. Additionally, the use of these units nearly eliminates the risk of fire escape during the treatment. Liquid and solid biofuels: Certain types of logging residue can be a valuable feedstock for liquid and solid biofuels, including: pellets, briquettes, hog fuel, liquid transport fuels, and others. Using residues for liquid or solid fuel provides emissions ben-efits when they are used to displace fossil alternatives like coal and gasoline. Initial capital investment and procurement costs of feedstock are likely to be prohibitive in many B.C. harvest con-ditions. Though small-scale, mobile conversion systems address some of these costs and are a promising alternative to centralized processing facilities. Other products: Residues can also be used to create novel or non-commodity wood products in B.C. Research has expanded the use of wood fibre to include products like bio-based polymer -ic materials, textiles, building insulation, and many more. While residues can be used as feedstock for these products, current de-mand is relatively low. What is more practical in the short term, is use of low quality or small-dimension roundwood for small-scale manufacturing of products like rail ties, fenceposts, firewood, or finger-joined boards. A PATH FORWARD Cardinal, your partner for all biomass valorization projects! cardinalsaw.com [email protected] our team to get IN Contact yours today, or to schedule a demo! STOCK INVENTHOR 6 SM 720.2 Trommel Screen Authorized Distributor 371, Boulevard des Chutes Oce #102 Québec, QC, G1E 3G1 1-800-463-4862 551, Ferdinand Blvd. Unit 4 Dieppe, NB, E1A 7G1 [email protected] 1-800-931-9611 Residue management is complex and has interactions with many environmental (e.g., fire risk) and operational (e.g., transportation distances) factors, creating a system that is highly dependent on site-level conditions – there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Where possible, residues should be used in the bioeconomy, whether that be for energy production, or small-scale products manufacturing. These opportunities can provide GHG emissions benefits relative to the business-as-usual practices, increase timber supply, and pro-vide job opportunities for British Columbians. When diverting residues to the bioeconomy is not practical, oth-er treatments can reduce emissions and better support forest eco-systems when compared with SPB. Importantly, partial solutions can be implemented. More responsible management of residues will, however, come at a higher cost than the current leave-it or burn-it practices. Trans-portation and processing costs, coupled with relatively low market values for residual fibre, can limit opportunities for operators and investors. We don’t expect that forest managers and operators will take on higher cost treatments voluntarily, and therefore solutions are needed that reduce and share these costs of fire risk mitigation and emissions reductions. Possibly the most important step we can take towards more responsible management of harvest residues is a shift of our mind-sets from the view that residues are a waste byproduct of harvest-ing. Residues are a component of the fibre profile alongside the others, which should be managed with as much care and steward-ship as the high-value logs that B.C. is known for. The more we start planning for residues as we lay out our cutblocks, and not as an afterthought once the logs are gone, the more operational effi -WINTER 2023 14 Canadian BIOMASS 2023-01-31 3:30 PM CB_EquipmentCardinal_Winter23_CSA.indd 1
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