Cristina Santos

Slide 1:Thank You very much for inviting Portugal to participate in this seminar To begin with, I would like to introduce myself! My name is Cristina Santos, I work with the ministry of agriculture and rural development, and fisheries in the national forests authority. My presentation will be about Barriers to the Production of Energy from Forest Biomass, focussed on the central region of Portugal. Firstly and briefly, I would like to talk about Portuguese forests and what happens in the central region; Secondly, I will move on to the barriers concerning forests in Portugal, and specially in Central region Next, I will show some forestry strategies concerning forest biomass for energy; And, I will end my presentation mentioning some solutions to overcome the barriers!Thank You very much for inviting Portugal to participate in this seminar To begin with, I would like to introduce myself! My name is Cristina Santos, I work with the ministry of agriculture and rural development, and fisheries in the national forests authority. My presentation will be about Barriers to the Production of Energy from Forest Biomass, focussed on the central region of Portugal. Firstly and briefly, I would like to talk about Portuguese forests and what happens in the central region; Secondly, I will move on to the barriers concerning forests in Portugal, and specially in Central region Next, I will show some forestry strategies concerning forest biomass for energy; And, I will end my presentation mentioning some solutions to overcome the barriers!

Slide 2:Portugal is mainly a forest country, with a rich biodiversity, and with a very high potential productivity for forests. Concerning the last National Forest Inventory (NFI – that dates from 2005) Portugal has a Forest area of 3.1 million ha. Woodlands occupy 63% and forests represent 38% of main land territory. Our main forest species are maritime pine, eucalyptus and cork oak. As you can see, in central region of Portugal this major representative species are maritime pine, eucalyptus, which represents 47% and 36%. The Central region is also a much forested one (38% of national territory). Maritime Pine is an indigenous species, and contributes to national economies. Portugal is mainly a forest country, with a rich biodiversity, and with a very high potential productivity for forests. Concerning the last National Forest Inventory (NFI – that dates from 2005) Portugal has a Forest area of 3.1 million ha. Woodlands occupy 63% and forests represent 38% of main land territory. Our main forest species are maritime pine, eucalyptus and cork oak. As you can see, in central region of Portugal this major representative species are maritime pine, eucalyptus, which represents 47% and 36%. The Central region is also a much forested one (38% of national territory). Maritime Pine is an indigenous species, and contributes to national economies.

Slide 3:Portugal has a big capacity for forest productivity comparing to the other European countries, and central Portugal has a huge potential for forestry vegetation and activities. This may be a reason for the significant growth of forests in Portugal since the mid-nineteenth century. Generally, Portuguese forests are used mainly for wood production. Forested areas producing other goods and services include biomass for energy production. Portugal has a big capacity for forest productivity comparing to the other European countries, and central Portugal has a huge potential for forestry vegetation and activities. This may be a reason for the significant growth of forests in Portugal since the mid-nineteenth century. Generally, Portuguese forests are used mainly for wood production. Forested areas producing other goods and services include biomass for energy production.

Slide 4:One of the main problems we have in Portugal is related with the Land Ownership and the Structure of private property. In terms of ownership, Public areas represent only 14%, and privately owned forest prevail (86%), but most properties are extremely small. In central region of Portugal, this situation is very worrying, because in the most part of the wood production area, the property is too small for economic viability and forest represents a marginal income. I will refer to this subject later on!One of the main problems we have in Portugal is related with the Land Ownership and the Structure of private property. In terms of ownership, Public areas represent only 14%, and privately owned forest prevail (86%), but most properties are extremely small. In central region of Portugal, this situation is very worrying, because in the most part of the wood production area, the property is too small for economic viability and forest represents a marginal income. I will refer to this subject later on!

Slide 5:Forest fires is a big issue in Portugal! The greatest threat to forest stands is related to climate, with hot and dry summers increasing the action of biotic agents and the incidence of big fires. Briefly, we can say that the structural causes of forest fires are: the Lack of forest management due to rural exodus and agricultural set-a-side; Inappropriate forest land use planning and lack of investment on fuel management programs; Extreme weather conditions; The Central region of Portugal is a very good example of this situation. To solve this problem, priorities areas for strategic fuel managements were defined!Forest fires is a big issue in Portugal! The greatest threat to forest stands is related to climate, with hot and dry summers increasing the action of biotic agents and the incidence of big fires. Briefly, we can say that the structural causes of forest fires are: the Lack of forest management due to rural exodus and agricultural set-a-side; Inappropriate forest land use planning and lack of investment on fuel management programs; Extreme weather conditions; The Central region of Portugal is a very good example of this situation. To solve this problem, priorities areas for strategic fuel managements were defined!

Slide 6:Now, we will look at some examples in this slide. This is Gardunha ridge (central Portugal) where a Regional fuel break network was built. This photo regards the first phase of implementation (2007/08)!Now, we will look at some examples in this slide. This is Gardunha ridge (central Portugal) where a Regional fuel break network was built. This photo regards the first phase of implementation (2007/08)!

Slide 7:Currently, the main forest objective in Portugal is to increase fire-resilient forest landscape. And the Challenge lies on the implementation of new fuel management techniques!!! The government has made a proposal related to the creation of a new network of forestry biomass power stations, which represent nearly 100 MVA, on power. In the central region of Portugal, there will 6 new power stations that represent a potential above 40 MVA. This issue aroused a lot of interest, taking into account the high number of companies with their proposals. The areas where the power stations will be built were chosen according to their high forest productivity, their high fire risk and their power availability. The new biomass power stations will create new dynamics of innovation in terms of forestry and management and exploitation. The goal in 2010 is to achieve a target of 250 MW of electricity generation from biomass.Currently, the main forest objective in Portugal is to increase fire-resilient forest landscape. And the Challenge lies on the implementation of new fuel management techniques!!! The government has made a proposal related to the creation of a new network of forestry biomass power stations, which represent nearly 100 MVA, on power. In the central region of Portugal, there will 6 new power stations that represent a potential above 40 MVA. This issue aroused a lot of interest, taking into account the high number of companies with their proposals. The areas where the power stations will be built were chosen according to their high forest productivity, their high fire risk and their power availability. The new biomass power stations will create new dynamics of innovation in terms of forestry and management and exploitation. The goal in 2010 is to achieve a target of 250 MW of electricity generation from biomass.

Slide 8:The main objective of the forest strategy for the next decades is to reduce the risks, and one of the possibilities is to define Macro Regions, considering the natural conditions and the climate changes and territory specialization. Geographic differentiation of forest areas were defined according to dominant functions: coastal areas multifunctional systems (oaks, specially oaks and Holm trees) and wood production (eucalyptus and maritime pine). The central region of Portugal represents a very great Wood production area with forest species related to eucalyptus and maritime pine.The main objective of the forest strategy for the next decades is to reduce the risks, and one of the possibilities is to define Macro Regions, considering the natural conditions and the climate changes and territory specialization. Geographic differentiation of forest areas were defined according to dominant functions: coastal areas multifunctional systems (oaks, specially oaks and Holm trees) and wood production (eucalyptus and maritime pine). The central region of Portugal represents a very great Wood production area with forest species related to eucalyptus and maritime pine.

Slide 9:Now, let’s move on to a different aspect. If we want to produce biomass to energy, we have to care about harvesting techniques. Biomass in Portugal is quite new. In the last decades wood for energy is used to produce heat. With this new challenge and new goals from European community and our own guidelines on renewable energies, we can consider that biomass for energy is a great opportunity for forests owners. Consider these: the harvesting techniques have to include this use. So in pictures B and C – we can see Logging and processing the trees taking into account the further processing of forest biomass On the other hand, picture A shows us - Logging and processing the trees without taking into account the subsequent utilization of forest biomassNow, let’s move on to a different aspect. If we want to produce biomass to energy, we have to care about harvesting techniques. Biomass in Portugal is quite new. In the last decades wood for energy is used to produce heat. With this new challenge and new goals from European community and our own guidelines on renewable energies, we can consider that biomass for energy is a great opportunity for forests owners. Consider these: the harvesting techniques have to include this use. So in pictures B and C – we can see Logging and processing the trees taking into account the further processing of forest biomass On the other hand, picture A shows us - Logging and processing the trees without taking into account the subsequent utilization of forest biomass

Slide 10:After harvesting biomass, preparation has to consider some operations in the forestry activities, normally chipping and transportation which have to care about the energy producer. Mortágua power station is an example in the central region of Portugal, which has been producing energy since 1999. Mortagua power station has a power supply of 10 MVA, and is consuming about ninety thousand tons of forestry biomass (maritime pine and eucalyptus).After harvesting biomass, preparation has to consider some operations in the forestry activities, normally chipping and transportation which have to care about the energy producer. Mortágua power station is an example in the central region of Portugal, which has been producing energy since 1999. Mortagua power station has a power supply of 10 MVA, and is consuming about ninety thousand tons of forestry biomass (maritime pine and eucalyptus).

Slide 11:In this picture we can see different options of transporting biomass, which is related with forest activities. These options have to take into consideration the conditions of land use, such us slope, and forest roads. In this picture we can see different options of transporting biomass, which is related with forest activities. These options have to take into consideration the conditions of land use, such us slope, and forest roads.

Slide 12:Since 2007 that forests owners have had the possibility to join properties in Portugal, whose main objective is to Improve forest efficiency through Sustainable Forest Management. These new forest policy measure brought about the forest intervention zones (ZIF) in order to promote an organization of forest owners for common management and improve protection against fires In the central region of Portugal we have already (23) Forest Intervention Zones, which represent an area of 106 000 ha (hundred six thousand) , and there are more 57 ZIF going on, which represents an Area of 214 000(two hundred fourteen thousand) ha. To finish, let me say, that presently, in the Central Region of Portugal new dynamics are going on to avoid the barriers. The Government has decided to give some subsidies to improve forest management, helping new forest intervention zones and, at the same time, helping out enterprises and creating new companies to take care of biomass for energy!! Forestry biomass for energy purposes is considered not only as a business opportunity and for employment in rural zones. Thank you very much!! If you have any questions, I´ll do my best to answer them!Since 2007 that forests owners have had the possibility to join properties in Portugal, whose main objective is to Improve forest efficiency through Sustainable Forest Management. These new forest policy measure brought about the forest intervention zones (ZIF) in order to promote an organization of forest owners for common management and improve protection against fires In the central region of Portugal we have already (23) Forest Intervention Zones, which represent an area of 106 000 ha (hundred six thousand) , and there are more 57 ZIF going on, which represents an Area of 214 000(two hundred fourteen thousand) ha. To finish, let me say, that presently, in the Central Region of Portugal new dynamics are going on to avoid the barriers. The Government has decided to give some subsidies to improve forest management, helping new forest intervention zones and, at the same time, helping out enterprises and creating new companies to take care of biomass for energy!! Forestry biomass for energy purposes is considered not only as a business opportunity and for employment in rural zones. Thank you very much!! If you have any questions, I´ll do my best to answer them!