Short Rotation Plantations (SRPs) have a high CO2 emissions reduction potential, they protect biodiversity in rural areas and increase the soil organic carbon content. In addition they can be used as an effective prevention method against soil erosion, as a defence against floods and as windbreak barriers.
Despite their proven benefits and viability, short rotation plantations account for less than 0.1% of EU crop land.
Facilitating their uptake still requires informing decision makers about their real benefits and their multifunctional role, as well as educating farmers and creating links between the different stakeholders.
Rokwood, a 3 years project launched in 2012 within the FP7 programme “Regions of Knowledge”, contributed effectively to removing the non technological barriers preventing the full deployment of short rotation plantations.
Through the collaborative work of six research driven regional clusters active in the wood biomass sector, a series of effective tools was developed, including:
- a database on SRP related projects and initiatives;
- a series of policy briefs for decision makers;
- a detailed Joint Action Plan;
- a best practice booklet including 40 examples from different countries;
- further valuable SRP publications by project partners.
In addition, four project video clips were produced and shared through different web media in order to inform the general public (watch videos below).
A marketplace is available on the project website, where SRP developers and users can publish their profiles and find partners for their commercial or research projects. These tools were largely disseminated and presented to numerous group of different stakeholders in the partner countries and at EU level, from policy makers to farmers and final end users. More than 10 events were organised at national and international level to present and discuss the project findings and to raise attention on SRPs. Nevertheless there is still a long way to go before SRPs can be fully deployed and the partners will continue working to achieve the objectives of influencing the European Agricultural Policy to give more support to SRPs, while keeping educating farmers, and creating cross-sector synergies to set up viable and long lasting projects, for the environment, the economy and society.
Written by Valeria Magnolfi, prject manager, European Biomass Industry Association
Watch these videos to learn more about the benefits and the opportunities of short rotation plantations
