print mail FORESTATION AND USE OF WOODY BIOMASS AT THE "DELIBLATSKA PESCARA" SPECIAL RESERVE OF NATURE

The project concept conceives three possible project activities. The first project activity is afforestation of sandy terrain in protected area of the Special Reserve of Nature, currently covered with haw.

The Special Reserve of Nature “Deliblatska pescara” is the only sandy terrain in Europe, located in the north-eastern region of Serbia called Banat, 50 km east of Belgrade and 40 km from Romanian border. Total area foreseen to be afforested by this project is 737,84 ha. It is divided in four complexes consisting of 193,48 ha, 124,05h a, 265,26 ha and 155,05 ha and covered with haw. Shrub vegetation emerged after grazing ceased, and haw emerged on the best quality soil of the sandy terrain. These complexes are comprised of several connected plots bigger than 10ha.

Mosaic nature of the terrain and intensive micro-climatic diversity demand mosaic planting of seedlings and in that respect final disposition of species have to be defined by a detailed project proposal. Removal of haw would be partial and gradual (in stripes), in order to ensure protection for young seedlings. Later on, haw would be successively removed in total. After partial removal of haw, area would be afforested with 2.500 seedlings per ha, and time period for afforestation is estimated to be 3-4 years. Nursing activities include hilling during the first three years, haw removal and after 25 years, thinning activities. Protection from pests and diseases would be performed during first several years and protection against fires would be established around afforested complexes. Estimated rotation period is 90 to 120 years.
The second possible project activity concerns utilization of removed haw and forestry waste generated through regular activities of forest management, on the territory of the Special Reserve of Nature. Through annual harvesting of 36.000 m3 of black locust and 10.000 m3 of pines, 3.200 t of forestry waste is being generated annually. The average transport distance between the source of forestry waste and the storage facility is app.10 km.
The biomass mentioned could be used for heating purposes in the educational center “School in Nature”, located in the area of the Special Reserve of Nature. The educational center is currently consuming 225 t of residual fuel oil annually, for the heating purposes. In order to substitute oil consumption in this facility, installation of thermal boiler with 1 MWth of installed capacity and annual consumption of 700 t of forest wood chips, stored and air-dried for several months, would be sufficient. The educational center “School in Nature” has a capacity of 600 beds in the pavilions, 50 beds in the bungalows, one large dining room and a kitchen for the whole complex. Today, the school is a place where seminars, workshops, training courses, and sports trainings are organized. 
The third possible project activity is electricity production using wood as a fuel. Taking into account that the annual harvesting volume on the territory of the special reserve of nature is 46.000 m3, available wood biomass would be enough to feed, with forest wood-chips (30% moist.), power generator that has 2MW of installed capacity and to produce 14 GWh of electricity to the grid. Current price of 1 m3 of black locust in Serbia is 25 EUR. No location for constructing mentioned power plant has been identified up to date.

Applied methodology

Carbon Sequestration Evaluation Model;
AMS III.B. – “Switching fossil fuels“;
AMS I.D. – “Grid connected renewable electricity generation”.

GHG offset

Reduction of GHG emissions from afforestation activity would be cumulatively around 39.000 tCO2eq for the period 2008-2018.
Reduction of GHG emissions from the fuel switch activity would be cumulatively around 7.000 tCO2eq for the period 2008-2018.
Reduction of GHG emissions from electricity generation would be cumulatively 121.000 tCO2eq for the period 2008-2018.

Sustainability

Increase in carbon sequestration intensity and forestation rate would be achieved;
In the protected area of the special reserve of nature, clean technology for the heating of the educational center will be introduced;
Issue of wood waste generated through regular forest maintaining activities would be solved in an environmentally friendly manner;
Basic ground for the long-term sustainability of the nature protected area would be established;
Promotion of renewable energy sources and diversification of energy sources, in general, would be supported through the actions proposed.

Current status

Specific technical information have been collected through questionnaires and site visits and the local site owner agrees on the project implementation.

Estimated investment cost

  • Estimated cost of afforestation is 1,25 mill EUR.
  • Estimated cost of the fuel switching is 310.000 EUR.
  • Estimated cost of installing 2 MW for electricity generation from wood biomass is 4,5 mill EUR.

Local Partners

Public Company for Forest Management “Vojvodinasume”.