Prepared in July 2009 by Opeongo Forestry Service of Renfrew, Ontario this report is a response to the collapse of Eastern Ontario markets for pulpwood quality logs and saw mill residues. This collapse is considered to be non-cyclical in nature and therefore demands fundamental change in the use of low quality wood from area forests.
This reports concludes:
- The renewable energy market is the only option of sufficient scale, wood quality requirement and apparent dynamism to provide a substitute for the loss of traditional pulp and wood panel markets.
- Within this emerging market, pellets are the best option to address the need to reduce the water content and increase the density of the surplus wood to allow its export out of the region.
- Users of wood pellets and chips for renewable heat and electricity must be developed regionally to reduce the transportation requiremnent and maximize the economic benefit of the activity.
To obtain an electronic copy of the report please contact Dana Jennings at 613.735.3951 ext. 226 or via email at djennings@bellnet.ca |