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U.S.-FocUSed Biochar report - BioEnergy Lists

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• thinnings (both understory and overstory),– Secondary» slash (residual waste from stand management activities, typically piled and burned),» residuals from wood processing (slabwood, mill ends, bark , chips, sawdust)» urban forestry trimmings and waste– Tertiary› pulp slurryMunicipal Solid Waste– Secondary» combustible solid waste» compostable solid waste» residuals from energy production (such as expressed algae)» yard waste» bio-based materials from natural disasters–Tertiary› carcasses› human wasteThe Scope of Sustainability GuidelinesSustainability guidelines need to cover the biomass sectors noted above, particularly the primary sources, butalso must consider a plethora of related issues. Some are overarching, others sector-specific, still others onlyregionally significant.Sustainability like most challenges must look upstream and downstream, addressing supply and demand, aswell the factors that influence them. Clearly, sustainability guidelines must address at a least two levels abovethe point of utilization. For instance, use of biomass at a biochar production facility must not only be fully awareof the conditions of the local supply of biomass, but also the regional impacts and the ecoregions impacts of itsremoval and use. Regional and national policies will directly affect that plant’s operations. Likewise, regionaland national opinion and perceptions on biomass use will also play into informing those policies.In turn, national policies need to take into consideration international policies and ensure compatibility withagreements, trade regulations and socially and environmentally acceptable practices as defined in instrumentssuch as those developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the United Nations World Commissionon Sustainable Development and the Forestry Stewardship Council. Specific guidelines and recommendationsfrom <strong>report</strong>s by collaborative efforts of these organizations and others are discussed below.Regulatory Framework – Sustainability guidelines are strongest and more readily adhered to and enforced ifthey are mandatory. In lieu of a framework for codifying mandatory practices, voluntary compliance to guidelinescan be successful if peer-pressure, watch-dog groups and market advantages combine to create incentivesfor sustainable practices.Compliance – Guidelines, whether mandatory or voluntary, need to be concrete and measurable. Conceptualguidelines may be of help in creating greater understanding of system interrelationships but knowledge doesnot necessarily lead to positive and sustainable practices when economic imperatives are deemed of greaterimportance. Thus, there exists a preference for a more rigorous regulatory and compliance structure for biomassin general and biochar in particular.Metrics – Performance or lack thereof, needs to have metrics for confirming that practices are within acceptabletolerances for ensuring the sustainability of biomass feedstocks. This becomes increasingly difficult in situa-42U.S.-Focused <strong>Biochar</strong> Report:Assessment of <strong>Biochar</strong>’s Benefits for the United States of America

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