Sustainable Use of Forest Biomass for Energy

The large-scale utilization of forest biomass for energy is still in its infancy and there is a need for knowledge about the short- and long-term consequences of intensive forest biomass harvesting on the forest ecosystem and the economic consequences for the forest owner. "Sustainable Use of Forest Biomass for Energy" makes use of the vast amount of knowledge within the Nordic-Baltic region to bridge the gap between the uncertainty of scientific knowledge and general principles on the one hand, and more concrete practical forest management and policy making in the forestry and energy sectors on the other. The focus on the Nordic and Baltic countries makes it possible to compare two groups of countries in Europe with substantial differences in legislative and economic frameworks. Nordic and Baltic scientists from ecological, economic, social, and technological disciplines joined forces to synthesize current knowledge, generate new results, describe cases, and create a basis for the development of management recommendations for forest energy harvesting and wood ash recycling.