Summary
Using wood as a renewable source of energy has the potential to deliver considerable benefits, not only in terms of mitigating climate-change, but also in social and economic terms. Prospective benefits include supporting sustainable communities, alleviating fuel poverty, creating jobs and skills, and enabling efficient local energy networks.
However, there are a number of social and economic challenges to using trees, woods and forests in an effective woodfuel sector. This project seeks to understand and address some of these issues including how and why private woodlands owners decide whether or not to produce woodfuel, what forms of partnerships are appropriate to the establishment of an effective woodfuel sector, and the role of local communities within this sector.
Research objectives
- To understand the decision-making processes underpinning participation in the production of wood for fuel
- To identify the forms of partnership best suited to encourage the development of woodfuel production, and understand the role of the Forestry Commission within those
- To clarify the role of government grants in supporting the development of the woodfuel sector
- To understand how local communities perceive and can benefit from the use of woodfuel
- To map out the skills requirements for, and potential employment benefits of, an effective woodfuel sector.
Reports and presentations
- Mapping the woodfuel system (PDF-301K)
Brief research summary including background, objectives, methods, findings and recommendations. - Stakeholder perceptions of short-rotation forestry (PDF-146K)
Brief research summary including background, objectives, methods, findings and recommendations. - Stakeholder perceptions of short-rotation forestry for energy - Literature review (PDF-246K)
Research conducted in order to further understanding of the social viability of short-rotation forestry in the British landscape. - Private landowners’ engagement with woodfuel production: a scoping study in Fife (PDF-788K)
Survey to discover the attitudes and actions of private landowners in relation to options for woodfuel production and use. - Factors influencing woodfuel production by private landowners: a scoping study in Fife (PDF-1819K)
Presentation to the Farm Woodlands Forum (June 2009). - Social 'barriers' to woodfuel production from farm woods (PDF-874K)
Presentation to the Farm Woodlands Forum, June 2009. - Developing effective methods for identifying woodland owners: an Oxfordshire pilot study (PDF-4857K)
A study aimed at identifying and demonstrating cost and time efficient methods of identifying woodland owners.
Funders and partners
This project is funded by the Forestry Commission and is part of Forest Research’s Forest governance: planning, partnerships and participation research programme.
Forestry Commission policy
The Forestry Commission is committed to supporting the development of a strong woodfuel sector:
- A Woodfuel Strategy for England (PDF-3308K)
- Changing Our Ways: Scotland’s Climate Change Programme, 2006 (PDF-2330K)
- Biomass Action Plan for Scotland, 2007 (PDF-1606K)
- Wood Fuel Task Force Response, May 2008 (PDF-1587K)
Status
Subsequent to scoping research in 2008, this programme started in March 2009, and will continue for three years.
Contact
Norman Dandy
Centre for Human and Ecological Sciences
Forest Research
Alice Holt Lodge
Farnham
Surrey GU10 4LH
Tel: 01420 22255
Fax: 01420 23653
Email: norman.dandy@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
