Developing strategic programmes for sustainable wood energy systems in Slovenia

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1 Developing strategic programmes for sustainable wood energy systems in Slovenia Summary In 2003, the Government of Slovenia, through the Slovenia Forestry Service of the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food, requested support from FAO in order to upgrade analytical and planning capacities of its staff and other partners in an important area of economic development: the bioenergy sector. Within the framework of a two-year programme, FAO strengthened capacities at policy, institutional and individual levels through the combination of training, technical support and targeted studies. After the project was completed, the Slovenia Forestry Service and Forestry Institute undertook a number of initiatives: formulating a national wood energy strategic programme; preparing an Internet Portal, which provides comprehensive information on all aspects of wood energy in Slovenia; and conducting advocacy work by promoting in other countries of East and Central Europe activities that had been successfully undertaken by the Slovenian government. The factors contributing to these results were: Ownership and commitment. The strong interest of the government in building a deeper knowledge on the efficient use of biomass and the appointment of a National Project Coordinator were critical to ensure constant internal support. Building a strong knowledge base. The collection and analysis of strategic data for policy and planning provided a comprehensive vision of the wood energy sector. Practical training. In-service training and awareness-raising activities were critical to transfer knowledge across different sectors. Promotion of cross-sectoral cooperation and synergies. The establishment of an intersectoral project support unit and of an advisory informal network promoted synergies among different services: agriculture, forestry and energy. 1. Context Over the last two decades, the Republic of Slovenia has introduced a market economy by harmonizing its legislation with the European Union and opening the market to large structural changes. The privatisation process included forests and resulted in the restitution of forest areas to their original owners, which increased the number of small, private forest properties. However, the percentage of farmers among the new owners was small, which worked to the advantage of forest enterprises interested in making a profit from the cutting of timber. This phenomenon caused a non-homogeneous exploitation of the forests and a decrease in the competitiveness of wood products. The Slovenia Forestry Service (SFS) of the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food realized that action was needed for the sustainable production of woodfuels as a viable option for diversifying and developing forestry activities. It could also enhance the productivity of 1

2 forests and provide new sources of income for poor people living in forests and neighbouring areas. 2. Capacity development intervention As with many other national forestry services, the SFS was limited in its ability to manage this new area of development. Hence, in 2003 the SFS requested support from FAO through a two-year Technical Cooperation Programme 1 - to upgrade the existing analytical and planning capacities of its staff in the area of bioenergy 2 for sustainable woodfuel production and supply. The main modalities of FAO s intervention were technical support, training and technical studies. The project was directly supervised by a National Project Coordinator appointed by the SFS in close collaboration with FAO. The National Project Coordinator coordinated all activities, developed the work plan and implemented key tasks. He established an inter-institutional Project Support Unit, which included senior officials of the technical ministries (energy, agriculture, and environment) as well as other stakeholders. The Unit acted as a Steering Committee and it was an important institutional mechanism that enhanced ownership and cross-sectoral collaboration and synergies. 2.1 Preparation of a knowledge base through technical support An international consultant specialized in forest resources assessments and land use monitoring worked closely with the National Project Coordinator. The consultant also helped establish a team, composed of national technical staff, to be in charge of data collection and analysis. This team analysed the wood energy situation in the country following the Woodfuels Integrated Supply/Demand Overview Mapping approach (box 1). Through technical support and in-service training, a database was built and spatial and statistical information was collected related to the country s woodfuel consumption and production. This process enabled the technical team to carefully map the potential of different types of biomass in the country. The data and maps were then presented to the Project Support Unit, which provided directions to the National Project Coordinator for developing the wood energy programme that would be incorporated within national forestry and energy plans. Box 1. Woodfuels Integrated Supply/Demand Overview Mapping (WISDOM) WISDOM is a spatially explicit method, oriented to support energy planning and policy formulation for determining woodfuels priority areas based on their relevance in consumption patterns, production, and potential environmental impacts. It analyses and integrates existing woodfuel supply and demand information and indicators through five analytical phases : 1. Spatial base selection (pixel; administrative units); 2. Demand analysis (household consumption; space heating; water heating, cooking; industrial 1 TCP/SVN/2901, Supply and Utilization of Bioenergy to Promote Sustainable Forest Management with a budget of US$ 265,000 and a scheduled duration of 22 months. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food was responsible for project implementation. The project started in March 2003 and ended in February Energy derived from biofuels, which are obtained directly or indirectly from biomass. Biomass: material of biological origin excluding material embedded in geological formations and transformed to fossil. 2

3 consumption; socioeconomic data); 3. Supply analysis [forestry data (area, allowable cut, actual extraction, property patterns, etc.); non forest woody biomass; forest area changes; industrial wood residues]; 4. Supply and demand integration (supply/demand balance; deficit/surplus areas; critical zones: potential versus property fragmentation); 5. Identification of priority areas of intervention: high, medium, low priority (by pixel; by unit). This methodology was developed by FAO Wood Energy Programme in collaboration with the National Autonomous University of Mexico. To date, WISDOM has been implemented in Mexico, Argentina, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, Italy, Central Africa Republic, East Africa (ten countries) and South East Asia (seven countries) Preparation of technical studies FAO and the SFS identified a key national actor to implement a series of technical studies. The Slovenia Forestry Institute (SFI) was the leading actor for the preparation of technical, economic, environmental and socio-economic studies. The studies were instrumental in determining the viability of the wood energy options that could be promoted in the country. The SFI also carried out studies on the legal aspects related to wood energy activities. They analysed the roles played by the different national organizations in implementing integrated wood energy policies and programmes. The studies created the knowledge and technical information needed to prepare the national programme. 2.3 Training Two types of training were provided: in-service training and awareness-raising activities. The in-service training was for SFS staff professionals and related partners and regarded the implementation of wood energy planning and programme development activities such as forest management practices, data collection and analysis. In order to raise awareness and knowledge on bioenergy within the national forestry services (the SFS, the Agricultural and Forestry Chamber of Slovenia, the Energy Advisory Network- ENSVET), a permanent network of advisors was established. All members were under continuous education through the organization of annual meetings, the establishment of an Internet forum and training. The target groups for the training activities were from different sectors (foresters, agricultural workers, programme advisors, representatives of companies and institutions involved in this field) and the activities covered the whole chain of woodfuel 4 operations and processes. The two-day training was carried out twice a year and was divided in three parts: (i) lectures covering all aspects of wood energy preparation and utilization chain; (ii) work groups analysing wood biomass chain and role of advisers/ services in different steps of the chain; and (iii) demonstrations of modern machinery for biomass preparation. 3. Results 3 See FAO Wood Energy Publications at : 4 Woodfuels, wood based fuels, wood-derived biofuels are all types of biofuels originating directly or indirectly from woody biomass. 3

4 The Slovenia Forestry Service set up the Slovenia Wood Energy Information System (SWEIS), a database containing national-level data on woodfuel production, import, export and consumption in Slovenia. A geo-database Slovenia WISDOM was also created and a series of thematic maps was developed displaying geographical representations of the wood energy variables and priority areas for new energy initiatives. The use of the WISDOM geo-database also had an important impact in supporting local planning at the institutional level. In fact, five municipalities approached the SFS to explore the possibility of exploiting the potential of wood energy within their regions. In addition, the SFS, with the support of the geo-database, provided 15 thematic maps with detailed information on distribution, physical accessibility and productivity of wood products in forest and non-forest areas. At the policy level, a Wood Energy Programme was prepared based on SWEIS and WISDOM data. The programme was the main source of reference for the inclusion of wood energy components in the National Forestry Programme and for the National Programme for Rural Development. In response to the growing interest in bioenergy in the country, the SFI developed a thematic Internet portal giving information on all aspects of woody biomass in the country. Users are able to check data on wood biomass potential and actual use at the municipal level. The portal s primary audience consists of local communities, rural development agencies, forestry/energy agencies, the private sector and the state. At institutional level, a network of advisors specialized in wood biomass was created among whom were 17 from the SFS. Today, each forest unit at regional level has at least one biomass advisor. Furthermore, the Slovenian government is promoting the WISDOM approach and activities in other countries of East and Central Europe, as the wood energy sector in the region presents common challenges and opportunities. With the support of FAO, SFS organized an international workshop in Bled, Slovenia on Development of Woody Biomass for Energy in Central and Eastern European Countries in November Delegates from 12 countries 5 attended and agreed on the need for coordinated action. A proposal for a regional programme was developed for submission to potential donors for financial and institutional support. 4. Critical factors leading to successful capacity development intervention(s) The most relevant factors that contributed to the success of this initiative were: Ownership and commitment. Slovenia showed a strong commitment to acting promptly to implement a strategic bioenergy development programme and to investing in part of the project activities. 6 The government was aware that enhancing its capacity in planning wood-based energy would have significant benefits for an extremely important sector of the country. Thus, the need to develop the capacities of the SFS and of the National Energy Agency was strongly felt and action was taken by working actively with FAO. Ownership was enhanced by appointing a National Programme Coordinator who planned the project activities and 5 The delegates were from: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and Sweden. 6 The government allocated about US$ 100,000 for project implementation. 4

5 implemented key ones, such as establishing the intersectoral Project Steering Committee and developing the strategic programme. FAO s approach, which values existing knowledge and provides a holistic vision FAO developed institutional capacities through the combination of training, technical support and targeted studies. This improved knowledge and understanding about woodfuel production and planning, by placing a premium on existing information and providing a holistic vision of the energy sector. Data and information became key assets to inform decisions at local and national levels. Furthermore, having a clear geographical representation of wood energy variables and priority areas for new energy initiatives in the country provided guidance on where and how to set priorities regarding wood energy. Practical training Practical knowledge was combined from different fields - forestry, agriculture and mechanical engineering - which made it possible to establish a permanent network of advisors within the three public institutions (the SFS, the Agricultural and Forestry Chamber of Slovenia, ENSVET). Foresters, agricultural workers and energy specialists had an opportunity to get to know each other, exchange experiences, network and join forces for future projects. Promotion of cross-sectoral cooperation and synergies The creation of an inter-institutional Project Support Unit enabled support and cross-sectoral collaboration to be forged from the very beginning of the project. In this regard, the development of a strategic programme per se could be a sensitive issue and very timeconsuming. However the process of stakeholder involvement could spur cooperation among different ministries and build consensus internally. Finally, the country s awareness of the value of a strategic approach to wood energy was heightened to the extent that it played an important catalytic role in promoting similar types of activities among the countries of East and Central Europe. 5. Further reading and information Woodfuels integrated supply/demand overview mapping WISDOM (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México, FAO-EU Partnership Programmes, Wood Energy Programme-FAO Forestry Department). Unified bioenergy terminology UBET (FAO Forestry Department Wood Energy Programme, 2004). WISDOM Slovenia Spatial woodfuel production and consumption analysis (Zavod Za Gozdove Slovenije and FAO). 5