Challenges facing the North American forest sector and boundary-spanning opportunities

Transcription

1 Challenges facing the North American forest sector and boundary-spanning opportunities Tat Smith and Guy Smith Faculty of Forestry University of Toronto & Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) Canadian Forest Service Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario North American Natural Resources Extension Forum Canadian Ecology Centre, Mattawa, Ontario 10 April 2006

2 Objectives -- Major challenges facing NA forest sector Canadian and U.S. context Roles and responsibilities to address issues Models for natural resource extension programs Cross-border opportunities Stimulate discussion and questions

3 Major challenges facing NA forest sector: Survive! Demonstrate relevance to increasingly urban society Resource access & availability Social license for land managers Visibility of our profession Maintain resources to address key issues Human capital Financial Infrastructure

4 Major challenges facing NA forest sector: Demonstrate relevance to the public by e.g. Achieving values of sustainable resource management: Environmental incl. ecological services Economic Global competitiveness, including new product development Rural economic development Social Rural communities Aboriginal and First Nations Consider internationally accepted standards defining Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) SFM applies to land base, production systems and end-products.

5 U.S. context -- Southern example 13 Southern states Geographic region and dominant forest types Eastern forest types

6 Situation in the rural South Forces of change described in the Southern Forest Resource Assessment Wear and Greis, Five forces are reshaping forests: Land markets losses to urbanization Timber markets increased Southern production Social institutions increasing regulations Biological factors spread of native and exotic pests Physical factors increased pollution and catastrophic disturbance

7 Predicted change in forest area ( ) Wear & Greis, 2002

8 A 40-year summary of Southern Pine Beetle outbreaks Wear & Greis, 2002

9 Hurricane Katrina 19:15 UTC (3:15 p.m. EDT) on 29 August 2005 Source: MODIS-NASA

10 Hurricane Rita 1:01 p.m. EDT on 23 September 2005

11 Hurricane Rita Texas Forest Service Timber Damage Assessment

12 Landownership Patterns in East Texas Industry 32% Public 7% NIPF 61% Industry 17% Public 7% NIPF 61% Investors 15% Historical 2003 Darwin Foster, Texas A&M

13 Land ownership in Virginia Virginia 2001 NIPF 66% Public 14% Forest Industry 7% Other Corporate 13% Jim Johnson, Virginia Tech, 2006

14 Land ownership in Oregon Oregon 2006 NIPF 16% Tribal 1% Forest Industry 22% Public 61% Jim Reeb, Oregon State, 2006

15 Land ownership in Michigan Michigan 1993 NIPF 46% Public 35% Other Corporate 11% Forest Industry 8% Peg Gale, Michigan Tech, 2006

16 Land ownership in Maine Maine 2003 NIPF 32% Public 6% Forest Industry 31% Other Corporate 31% Jim Philp, University of Maine, 2006

17 Canadian context Geographic region and dominant forest types 9 forested ecozones

18 British Columbia and Alberta Land ownership and tenure British Columbia Private 3% Federal 1% Private 3% Alberta Federal 8% Provincial 96% Provincial 89% Paula Konka, NRCan-CFS, 2006

19 Ontario and Quebec Land ownership and tenure Private 8% Federal 1% Ontario Private 11% Quebec Provincial 91% Provincial 89% Paula Konka, NRCan-CFS, 2006

20 New Brunswick and Nova Scotia land ownership and tenure New Brunswick Nova Scotia Private 50% Provincial 48% Federal 2% Provincial 29% Private 68% Federal 3% Paula Konka, NRCan-CFS, 2006

21 PEI and Newfoundland & Labrador Land ownership and tenure Newfoundland and Labrador Prince Edward Island Provincial 8% Private 1% Federal 1% Private 91% Provincial 99% Paula Konka, NRCan-CFS, 2006

22 Canada - U.S. Comparison Forestland Private timberland Public timberland Canada billion acres 6% 94% United States 747 million acres 71% 29%

23 Importance of Wood Products competitiveness is critical to the B.C. economy x% Wood Products Manufacturing as a Percentage of Total Merchandise Exports 34% # = Importance of industry, ranked by 1 st two quarters (Jan. Jun.) of 2005 value of exports to.s. U BC AB 3% Wood Products #1 Oil & Gas #1 Wood Products #5 2% Autos #1, Wood Products #18 7% Aerospace #1 Wood Products #5 11% ON QC NB Petroleum #1, Wood Products #2 Peter Woodbridge, 2006

24 Canadian headline news Thursday January 26, 6:33 am ET Bowater Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2005 Financial Results the company will permanently close the Thunder Bay "A" kraft mill in the second quarter of Daily News Tuesday, March 28, 2006 Environmental concerns halt pulp mill construction Daily News Friday, April 07, 2006 Former Tembec mill to be converted into co-gen plant News Release: February 21, 2006 Graduates of Forestry Programs Needed and In Demand the large number of retirements in the forest sector coincidental with lowered enrollment has created an employment gap.

25 Major challenges facing NA forest sector: Ontario forest industry competitive position affected by: U.S. dollar exchange rate Cost of energy e.g. 3X Quebec electricity cost Price of delivered wood Hard lessons: It s tough to survive in commodity markets Urgent need to develop new business plans North vs. South issues in province Energy policy hinders investment in renewable energy Province owns the forest has not grasped biomass concepts

26 Canada - U.S. Trade Ontario: destination of exports (2002) USA 97% European Union 1% Other countries 2%

27 Major challenges facing NA forest sector: Policy opportunity for Canadian and U.S. Develop renewable energy sector Technology developed in IEA Bioenergy collaboration IEA Bioenergy Task 31

28 DOE/USDA Billion Ton Vision Paper Recoverable forest biomass (10 6 dry tons/yr) 41 Logging & other residue 60 Fuel treatments 35 Fuel wood 106 Forest products industry waste 37 Urban wood residues 89 Forest growth 368 Total

29 DOE/USDA Billion Ton Vision Paper Annual biomass resource potential (10 6 dry tons/yr) 368 Forest resources 998 Agricultural resources 1366 Total resource potential

30 Pathway Link to Resource Base DOE/USDA Billion Ton Vision Paper 6,7 1, Pathway Identification Numbers Source: Russo

31 U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office of the Biomass Program Advanced Biomass R&D Sugar Platform Sugar Feedstocks, Lignin Intermediates Biomass Residues Clean Gas Combined Heat & Power Thermochemical Platform Fuels Chemicals & Materials Conditioned Gas Bio-oils Source: Russo Systems Integration = Biorefineries

32 Forest Sector Biorefinery Pathways Note DOE partner opportunities! Biorefinery Pathway Pulp and Paper Mills Feedstocks Wood Mill Wastes Conversion Pathway Options Under Consideration (each has a B Milestone - cost target ) New Fractionation Process for Hemicellulose Removal Products from C 5/C6 Sugars Black Liquor Gasification Products from BLG Syn Gas Partners Georgia-Pacific Agenda 2020 Program A Milestones Complete systems level demonstration and validation of all technologies to improve corn wet mill facilities using corn grain feedstock Forest Product Mills Wood Mill Wastes Pyrolysis Oil Upgrading None Complete systems level demonstration and validation of all technologies to improve corn dry mill facilities using corn (and other ) grain feedstock Forest Residues Logging Residues Fuel Treatments Biomass Sugar Production Products from C 5/C6 Sugars Products from Lignin Biomass Gasification Products from Synthesis Gas New Fractionation Processes Products from New Process Intermediates None Complete systems level demonstration and validation of all technologies to improve natural oil processing facilities using oil crop feedstock Non-Forest Wood Wastes MSW & Urban Wood Wastes Biomass Sugar Production Products from C 5/C6 Sugars Products from Lignin Biomass Gasification Products from Synthesis Gas New Fractionation Processes Products from New Process Intermediates None Complete systems level demonstration and validation of all technologies to improve processing facilities using agricultural residue feedstocks Source: Russo

33 Critical Components of Sustainable Bioenergy Production Systems Environmental Sustainability Consumer Demand Sustainable Production of Biobased Products Sustainable Forest Operations Manufacturing/ Energy Production Product Delivery Logistics Rural Economic Development Martin Holmer, 2001 IEA Bioenergy Task 31

34 Major challenges facing NA forest sector: What renewable energy potential for Ontario? What role for extension programs? IEA Bioenergy Task 31

35 Major challenges facing NA forest sector: British Columbia mountain pine beetle epidemic What forecast for Alberta thru the Maritimes?! What role for extension programs?

36 Mountain pine beetle outbreak in B.C. in 2003 Stennis & White, 2005

37 Mountain pine beetle mortality in B.C. Stennis & White, 2005

38 Stennis & White, 2005

39 Stennis & White, 2005

40 Roles and responsibilities to address issues Shared among public and private parties Government Legislative Federal, provincial, state Management Research Industry Companies Contractors Professional foresters Woodlot owners Aboriginal people Academic institutions incl. research, outreach & extension NGOs General public

41 Communities of interest for bioenergy and biobased products

42 Clearly an important role for natural resource extension programs How do Canadian and U.S. extension programs compare? Can we do more together? Where shall we focus? Do our respective performance review protocols provide adequate incentive?

43 Founding principle and legislation for key partnerships involved with U.S. extension programs Federal-state partnership created by Smith-Lever Act of 1914 Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978 Formula funds administered by USDA-CSREES Land Grant Colleges and Universities involved at State level 1862, 1887, 1890 and Tuskegee, and 1994 (tribal) legislation

44 The Texas Forestry Extension Model Extension Program Council Forestry Extension Specialists County Extension Agents People Texas Forest Service Coordinators Science/ Research Program Delivery Extension Education Programs Darwin Foster, Texas A&M

45 The logic model: a framework for program performance evaluation applied to bioenergy and bio-based products programs

46 Forestry Extension in Canada

47 Audience Profile Group Employer Education Landbase Woodlot Owners Self-employed Variable Private; small scale (non-industrial) Contractors Contracts with woodlot owners; forest products companies Variable Private and public; small-scale and largescale industrial operations Forestry workers Work for contractors; forest products companies Variable Private and public; small-scale and largescale industrial operations Foresters and Technicians Provincial governments; forest products companies University; Community college Private and public; industrial and smallscale and large scale Aboriginal First Nations organizations Variable First Nations; adjacent public and private lands

48 Client Profile Policy-makers Contractors Forestry workers Foresters and Technicians Woodlot Owners Engaged citizens Public land -provincial licensees -forest industry -range, mining, energy, water Urban/Municipal Private land -industrial -woodlots First Nations lands

49 Academic Colleges Universities Associations Professional Woodlots Industry Partnerships Not-for-profit Cooperatives Councils Institutional context Government Federal Provincial Municipal Industry Forest Products Contractors Small business Non-timber products

50 R & D Government Academia -via partnerships Regulation & Policy Provincial government Federal government Institutional Context Roles and functions Programs Government Inter-agency agreements Support & Extension Partnerships Associations Operations Industry Contractors Provincial government First Nations

51 Extension in Canadian Terms Diversity of providers & users

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53 What s behind a name? In Canada, No national system of Land-Grant Universities & Cooperative Extension Few providers, yet highly diverse partnerships

54 What s behind a name? Extension - meeting the needs of: Public land managers Private woodlot/woodiand owners

55 What s behind a name? Lack of value/recognition of extension as a professional discipline Need broader recognition of the value of extension

56 Trends Reductions in government capacity Increased demand from forest industry, with more focused learning objectives - to meet regulatory expectations - heavy reliance on science

57 Trends Government programs have encouraged the creation of partnerships. Many partnerships depend on continued government support.

58 Trends Creation of associations and partnerships to deliver extension services

59 Challenges: Trends - staying on mission - maintaining capacity - effectively meeting demands

60 Cross-country examples

61 Government-Provincial-Industry partnerships FERIC Forintek

62 British Columbia FORREX Forest Research Extension Partnership (FORREX) is a British Columbia, Canada-based charitable non-share corporation, founded in 1998 to help people develop science and knowledge-based solutions to complex natural resource challenges.

63 Alberta Woodlot Extension Program Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Forest Centre

64 Ontario

65 Quebec Forest Innovation Partnership The Forest Innovation Partnership's mission is to answer the needs of Quebec's forest-dependent regions and their communities by promoting innovative forest management through more effective knowledge transfer between researchers and users. This strategic alliance stems from an agreement between the Canadian Forest Service (CFS), FERIC and Forintek Canada Corp. with financial support from Canada Economic Development.

66 New Brunswick The NB Christmas Tree Growers Association, the NB Maple Syrup Producers Association and the NB Federation of Woodlot Owners joined forces with very strong support from the NB Department of Natural Resources in order to provide consulting services and promote the sustainable management of private woodlots.

67 National During the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, Canada demonstrated international leadership in environmental stewardship by launching one of the world s largest experiments in sustainable forest management. The Canadian Model Forest Network continues to bring together organizations with diverse views on how forests should be managed. With core funding and leadership from Natural Resources Canada s Canadian Forest Service, this diversity of opinion and spirit of collaboration has advanced the knowledge and practice of sustainable forest management. Model Forests include among their partners forest industry, environmental groups, woodlot owners, academics, Aboriginal communities, parks, government agencies, recreational groups, trappers and anyone who has an interest in sustainable forest management. Together, these partnerships address the challenge of balancing the extensive range of demands placed on forests today with the needs of future generations.

68 Cross-border opportunities Institutional linkages rich relationships Great Lakes Forest Alliance Networking Across Borders e.g. Maritimes - New England Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals IUFRO Extension Working Party Heaps more What are the priority topics? Vehicles for interaction?

69 Cross-border opportunities What are the priority topics? Traditional forestry and natural resource areas Ongoing and/or new trans-national activity SFM certification schemes E.g. SFI, FSC, ISO International Model Forest Network Global climate change Carbon trading Bioenergy IEA Bioenergy program USDA funded forest encyclopedia Ecological services Consider point on diffusion-adoption curve

70 Cross-border opportunities Consider point on diffusion-adoption curve Priorities for cross-border collaboration? Innovators or early adopters? Early to late majority? Consider program performance review metrics Source: Jim Johnson, 2006

71 Thanks! Questions? Back to PRESENTATIONS page