Title:
Sustainability of Forest-Based Bioenergy - A Student Survey
Author(s):
Ranta, T., Karhunen, A., Laihanen, M.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
With the increasing use of forest biomass, concerns about negative impacts have been raised in the debate. The aim of the study was to find out the attitude of university students towards the energy use of forest-based biomass and how different areas of sustainable forest operations were addressed. The survey was conducted over two years (2018–2019) with both full-time students at university and distance-learning students who study alongside their work. Background information such as gender, nationality and field of study was collected from students. Most of the students currently considered the energy use of forest biomass to be sustainable. Many replies stressed that the situation could change if the use of forests is increased from the present circumstances. The most important factors in favour of sustainability option were positive felling balance, compliance with forest certification, use of waste fractions and implementation of the RED II directive, while loss of biodiversity, over-exploitation of forests, C debt and cascading principle were factors in favour of unsustainability. The respondents highlighted the environmental area of sustainable forest operations, especially because of the ongoing debate regarding climate change. Student background variables had no effect on responses except for the field of studies.
Keywords:
forest residues, forestry, sustainability, climate change, sustainability criteria, education
Topic:
Bioeconomy Sustainability, Impacts and Policies
Subtopic:
Biomass strategies and policies towards a bioeconomy
Event:
28th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
4AV.1.12
Pages:
767 - 774
ISBN:
978-88-89407-20-2
Paper DOI:
10.5071/28thEUBCE2020-4AV.1.12
Price:
FREE
