Residual woody biomass in New Zealand’s harvested, steepland plantation forests
Abstract
The woody residues generated by harvesting plantation forests in New Zealand present significant management challenges, but also opportunities for productive use. Lack of commercially viable demand for the residues results in large quantities left on harvested cutovers and/or stored at landings. The challenges are most acute on steepland sites, typically characterised by aspects such as difficult extraction and longer distance to market. Demand for the residue material is changing; for example as a substitute for fossil fuels. In a market where greenhouse gas emissions are increasingly monetised, woody biomass is becoming regionally important as an energy source for medium-high heat industrial customers.
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