The scientific foundation for sustainable forest biomass harvesting guidelines and policy

February 18-21, 2008, Toronto, Ontario

This workshop provided an opportunity for over 130 scientists, government regulators, industry and environmental non-government organizations to come together to:

 - share what is known about the impacts of biomass removals on forest ecosystems;
 - identify research priorities for the scientific knowledge required for guidelines and policies; and
 - create synergies and reduce duplication among different agencies across Canada as they conduct work relevant to their own ecosystems and circumstances.

(The original workshop announcement is available at http://www.sfmnetwork.ca/docs/e/Announcement%20-%20biomass%20workshop.pdf)

The workshop consisted of presentations by invited national and international experts, summaries of current scientific knowledge and policy contexts in the different provinces in Canada, a volunteer poster session, and facilitated discussion amongst participants. 

Workshop outputs are available at: http://www.sfmnetwork.ca/html/biomass_workshop_e.html and consist of:
 - Program and abstracts for presentations and posters;
 - Presentations and posters (PowerPoint presentations and posters, converted to pdf files);
 - Notes from facilitated discussions on the knowledge needed to build guidelines and policies for sustainable forest biomass harvesting;

 - Synopsis of current biodiversity studies in Canada relevant to sustainable forest biomass harvesting; and
 - Synopsis of current site productivity studies in Canada relevant to sustainable forest biomass harvesting.

Professional and scientific papers based on presentations given at the workshop, and on facilitated discussions, will appear in up-coming issues of The Forestry Chronicle.

For further information, please contact biomass@sfmnetwork.ca or the workshop organizers.