LATGALES MEŽA RESURSU ILGTSPĒJĪGAS IZMANTOŠANAS IZAICINĀJUMS

Latgales lielākais dabas resurss ir meži, jo 40% no tās teritorijas aizņem mežu zemes. Lai gan mežu resursi ir atjaunojams resurss, izturēties pret šo resursu nedrīkst nesaimnieciski, jo meži neatjaunojas tik ātri kā lauksaimniecības kultūraugi, tie ir nozīmīga ekosistēma bioloģiskās daudzveidības saglabāšanai un absorbē būtisku daudzumu CO2. Latgalē, tāpat kā citur Latvijā, vērojama tendence lielu daļu apaļkoksnes eksportēt, nevis izmantot uz vietas produktu ar augstu pievienoto vērtību radīšanai un lielāka ekonomiskā un sociālā labuma gūšanai un ražošanai. Meža nozares kopējais ieguldījums pievienotajā vērtībā valstī ir tikai 5,9%, neraugoties uz to, ka tās īpatsvars IKP (faktiskajās cenās) ir apmēram 62%. Latgalē ir visi priekšnosacījumi, lai meža biomasu izmantotu kā inovatīvu produktu, kas: • nes pēc iespējas lielāku sociālo un ekonomisko labumu valstiskā līmenī,• rada ekodizaina principiem atbilstošu produktu, • ļauj ievērot ilgtspējības principus un racionālu dabas resursu izmantošanu. Šobrīd meža biomasu daudzviet izmanto kurināmā (malkas un šķeldas) ražošanai, kas ir produkts ar zemu pievienoto vērtību. No meža biomasas iespējams iegūt ne tikai klasiskos koksnes produktus (piemēram, būvmateriālus, mēbeles, sadzīves priekšmetus) un kurināmo, bet pat pārtikas izejvielas (piemēram, glikozi, cieti, ksilānu), zivju un dzīvnieku barību, tekstilizstrādājumus un plašu klāstu ķīmisko savienojumu. Tikai no koku mizas iespējams iegūt vairāk nekā 150 vērtīgu ķīmisko savienojumu. Īpaša vērība meža resursu ilgtspējīgai izmantošanai pievērsta tieši pēdējo gadu laikā sakarā ar bioekonomikas idejas un principu aktualizāciju. Šobrīd tiek izstrādāta Latvijas Bioekonomikas stratēģija. Rīgas Tehniskās universitātes Vides aizsardzības un siltuma sistēmu institūtā, noslēdzot līgumu ar AS „Latvijas Valsts meži“, pabeigts meža resursu izmantošanas pētījums. Izpētes mērķis bija izvērtēt valsts iespējas izmantot meža biomasu inovatīvu produktu ar augstu pievienoto vērtību ražošanai un noteikt, kuriem produktiem ir augstākais komercializācijas potenciāls Latvijā. No meža biomasas atlasīti 44 produkti, par kuriem bija pieejama pietiekama informācija, lai analīze būtu pilnvērtīga. Inovatīvie produkti tika sagrupēti un vērtēti pa šādām nozarēm: pārtikas rūpniecība, enerģētikas sektors, tekstilrūpniecība, biokompozīti un biomateriāli un citas nozares. Latgales plānošanas reģionā ir savas kokapstrādes uzņēmējdarbības tradīcijas, tomēr vienlaikus pastāv augsts bezdarba līmenis un liels pašnodarbināto īpatsvars, kas liecina, ka trūkst darba devēju. Latgales Speciālās ekonomiskās zonas likums un infrastruktūras atbalsta mehānismi, loģistikas priekšrocības iezīmē Latgales perspektīvas inovatīvas, uz eksportu orientētas bioekonomikas attīstībai. Pētījums tapis Valsts pētījumu programmā „LATENERGI“

Analysis of Coniferous Wood Waste in Baltic States

The study was conducted in order to ascertain whether there is a sufficiently large amount of coniferous wood residue in the Baltic States to make the investigation of the possibilities of its rational use as a raw material for production feasible. Greenery (fine branches and needles) is the least used portion of coniferous wood residue; consequently this study focuses specifically on this part of forestry residue. The approximate amount of coniferous greenery, produced from logging in the Baltic countries is about 700 thousand tons per year

Modeling Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Forestry Sector – the Case of Latvia

A system dynamics model for assessing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from forestry and forest land is presented in the paper. The model is based on the IPCC guidelines for national GHG inventories and includes the main elements of the forestry sector, i.e. changes in the living biomass, dead organic matter and soils. The developed model allows simulating various policies and measures implemented and decisions made, and their impact on change in the GHG emissions. Various scenarios of potential development in the medium-term planning were simulated till 2030 to assess their impact on the GHG emissions. It is found that the most sustainable option would be use of wood processing waste for production of e.g. wood chips or some added-value products. The case of Latvia is selected for simulations, as forests compose about 52% of the country’s area. Nevertheless, by changing specific parametric values the model can be adapted and applied for estimation and analysis of GHG emissions from forestry in other countries, as well

Granulometric Composition Influence on Coniferous Needle Thermal Conductivity

The aim of the study is to establish the coniferous needles’ thermal conductivity and its dependence on granulometric composition. Following the one factor experiment, flow measurements are done and findings are analyzed. Humidity and density of samples are tested. Findings show that the thermal conductivity coefficient is different for the freely poured coniferous needles of different granulometric composition. Although needles of a smaller granulometric composition have a greater heat transfer coefficient, the freely poured coniferous needles hold heat effectively

Logging Residue Fuel Characteristic Ash Melting Temperatures

In countries like Latvia, with large forest areas and intensive forestry, large quantities of forest residues are formed. The primary use of forest residues is processing it into forest woodchip fuels. However, it is generally thought that forest woodchips are of poor quality, with one of the main weak spots being low ash melting temperature that accounts for the creation of molten ash in boilers. Molten ash formation in boiler stoves significantly increases the equipment maintenance costs. Thus, this resource is not used to its full potential. The ash melting temperature varies for different materials. The different ash melting properties of different logging residue fuel parts is investigated, highlighting the fractions which contribute to the formation of molten ash in the largest extent. Ash melting properties are evaluated separately for pine and spruce branches and needles. The ash melting properties are evaluated in a mutual relationship as well as in the context of previous research

Assessment of the Amount of Coniferous Wood Waste in the Baltic States

The study was conducted in order to ascertain whether there is a sufficiently large amount of coniferous wood residue in the Baltic States to make the investigation of the possibilities of its rational use as a raw material for production feasible. Greenery (fine branches and needles) is the least used portion of coniferous wood residues; consequentially, this study focuses on this part of forestry residues. Method of tree greenery weight per 1 m3 of tree trunk was used to determine the amount of coniferous greenery. The approximate amount of coniferous greenery, produced from logging in the Baltic countries, is determined. It constitutes about 700 thousand tons per year in the Baltic States. That is enough large volume to look for an application and start using this resource as a raw material in next researches

The Use of Coniferous Greenery for Heat Insulation Material Production

Aim of the research is to create an ecological heat isolation material from coniferous tree greenery (needles and thin branches). According to the three factor experiment plan, samples were made and thermal conductivity and density of the samples were tested in the laboratory. Results show that thermal properties of the created needle heat isolation material are close to thermal properties of wood isolation material and it is worth to continue this research for further development and manufacturing of the product

Thermal Conductivity of Freely Patterned Pine and Spruce Needles

The aim of the study is to clarify thermal conductivity coefficient of freely patterned pine and spruce needles. Heat flow measurements were made according to the two-factor experimental design and analysis of the full experimental design was made. The moisture and coniferous tree species effect on thermal conductivity coefficient were determined. The results show that different coniferous tree species needles are different coefficient of thermal conductivity, which is also influenced by other factors

Laboratory Research of Granular Heat Insulation Material from Coniferous Forestry Residue

The purpose of this research paper is to determine the heat conductivity of a granular heat insulation material made of coniferous greenery (fine twigs and needles), and the suitability of the material for application as heat insulation. In order to achieve the objective, a three-factor experiment plan was developed, and 11 samples produced. The thermal conductivity coefficient, moisture content, and density of the samples was determined. A full analysis of the experiment plan was compiled on the basis of the obtained results. The analysis results suggest that size composition, density, and tree species affect the thermal conductivity of the material. It was discovered that smaller spruce greenery insulation material pellets have a smaller thermal conductivity coefficient, which indicates a better capacity for retaining hea