Feasibility of verifying sustainable forest management principles for secondary feedstock to produce wood pellets for co-generation of electricity in the Netherlands
The background for this research report is a current dispute in the Netherlands in connection with the implementation of the Dutch Agreement on Energy for Sustainable Growth and a ‘Covenant’ that has been agreed between the Dutch energy industry and NGOs. This dispute makes it relevant to assess the feasibility of verifying compliance with sustainable forest management (SFM) requirements for wood pellets that are made, in part or in whole, from secondary residue feedstocks, and whether lack of SFM requirements for secondary residues (including sawdust) will result in an increased pressure on forests.