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Module 4: Environmental Sustainability and Bioenergy Production
Introduction

One of the challenges facing modern forest management is producing forest products, including bioenergy and bio-based products, from southern forests in a sustainable manner (4). Defining sustainability and sustainable forest management has been difficult because of complexity in relevant scientific concepts and the state of current technical progress that might have practical application for land managers. Definitions related to sustainability have also eluded precise clarity and consensus because of the highly politically charged atmosphere that characterizes ongoing debates about forest management practices and land tenure involving

Misty Huddleston, Billy Minser

University of Tennessee, and

Bugwood.org
landowners, forest industry, environmental conservation organizations, aboriginal peoples, the general public, and public agencies at local to national and international levels.

 

The purpose of the Environmental Sustainability module is to provide an understanding of the environmental and sustainability issues related to biomass and bioenergy production in the Southern United States.

 
This module includes 3 units that focus on the environmental sustainability of the production of woody biomass for bioenergy and bioproducts.
    Unit 1: Framework for Achieving Sustainable Forest Management
  In this unit you will find information on adaptive forest management, international protocols, and forestry certification systems.
   Unit 2: Environmental Components Impacted by Woody Biomass Production
This unit provides information on the ways that soil, water, and biodiversity can potentially be impacted by woody biomass production for bioenergy and bioproducts.
    Unit 3: Designing Low Impact Operations
In this unit you will find information on how to design low impact woody biomass production operations.
     
 

     After you complete all of the units, you should be able to:

 

  • Describe the Components of Sustainable Forest Management.
  • Summarize the Concept of Adaptive Forest Management.
  • Describe Low Impact Management Operations that Promote Sustainable Biomass Production.
  • Describe the Importance of Sustainable Woody Biomass Production.
  • Describe How the Ecosystem and Environmental Components (Soil, Water, Biodiversity) are Impacted by Woody Biomass Production.
 
 
There is a post-test at the end of this module to test what you have learned.  Additionally if you are interested in learning more about a particular term related to environmental sustainability of woody biomass production please click on either the “glossary” tab in the upper navigational bar or the “additional materials” tab at the bottom of the left hand navigational bar.

 

Click the Next button at the bottom of this page to begin Unit 1: Framework for Achieving Sustainable Forest Management.
 

 

 ©2007 National Learning Center for Private Forest and Range Landowners
"A program of the Cooperative Extension Service funded by the Renewable Resources Extension Act"
Last Updated: November 11, 2007