Stubbskottsbruk - historisk hävd som framtida bioenergiresurs?

Abstract

In pace with the increasing energy demand is a growing demand for alternative energy sources. In Sweden, the establishment of energy forests on farmland has been one of the answers to this demand. Plantations of this kind are not only a modern phenomenon. There are similarities with low forestry (coppicing and pollarding) that historically has been an important part in the peasant community in which it contributed, among other things, with wood for fences, fuel, and served as forage to cattle. Even in this use the trees continuously were cut down and then regenerated polyphonic, similar to today’s energy forests. Energyforests are for certain efficient in the light of energyproduction but their impact on biodiversity and other values related to our landscape as a whole is a matter that should be more thoroughly investigated. For this reason it is of the utmost importance to illuminate alternative to these energyplantations. The ancient tradition of coppicing could be a possible challenger in this regard. Not only does this ancient custom produce energy, it also contributes with values related to biodiversity and recreation and could therefore play a future role as energyresource, in better accordance with goals for a sustainable development. This study aims to stress the advantages and disadvantages of traditional coppicing in relation to energyforests. It should be regarded as a “preinvestigation” to future inquiries regarding the importance simple coppice/coppice with standards may have on future bioenergyrecovery and what role it can play for biodiversity, recreation and for the landscape as a whole.