Report from 22nd Session

During the 22nd session of the IPC, the Working Party, for the first time, held three technical meetings during which nine scientific/ technical papers were presented and a wide range of posters on the environmental applications of Poplars and Willows were displayed and discussed at the poster sessions.

The mission statement of the new Working Party was to better share the knowledge and technology on the implementation of cost-effective environmental applications of Poplars and Willows to contribute to sustainable livelihoods and rural development.

The above activities are grouped into two primary categories:

  • Site and landscape improvement, including bank stabilization, combating desertification and salinisation, shelterbelts and windbreaks, and soil rehabilitation; and

  • Phytoremediation of polluted soil and water, including buffer zones, contaminated sites, waste water management/treatment and organic waste management.

The results of a SWOT analysis of the current situation included:

Strengths Weaknesses

  • Multi-disciplinary and multi-functional;

  • International network of researchers exits;

  • Sound foundation of research; and

  • Multiple benefits from environmental enhancement.

  • Many environmental benefits have not direct financial value;

  • Public resistance to land-use change;

  • Social barriers to adopt new technologies; and

  • Short life span and susceptibility to pests and diseases;

  • Economics for bioenergy remain marginal.
Opportunities Threats

  • Environmental uses lower cost than engineered alternatives;

  • Combining environmental applications of Poplars and Willows and engineering approaches;

  • Greater awareness of environmental issues by the public and institutions; and (Green = Good);

  • Increased demand for reduced CO2 technologies; and

  • Poplars and Willows forests and trees increasingly contributing to rehabilitation of degraded lands, combating desertification and restoration of landscapes.

  • Unwillingness of society to pay for benefits;

  • Potential for eco-terrorism, particularly with biotechnologies and transgenics;

  • Resistance to use of exotic species and monocultures;

  • Invasion of exotic species into natural ecosystems; and

  • Vulnerability to insect, disease and pest attack.
Lesson Learned The Way Forward

  • Need for genetic diversity in planted forest development;

  • Research without outreach is not effective in implementation;

  • Caution should be exercized in introducing new plant materials into existing ecosystems;

  • Combine scientific and traditional/local knowledge in implementation of projects;

  • Participate with, and collaborate with, local people, including in benefit sharing;

  • Pilot and demonstrate new technology in the field before production or commercial scaled operations; and

  • Any transfer of knowledge and technology needs to be complemented with public awareness programmes.

  • Compile a repository of existing knowledge and make it available on the IPC website;

  • Create/write implementation manuals;

  • Package information suitable for policy makers and decision makers;

  • Develop criteria and indicators for gender associated issues;

  • Produce educational materials (schools and universities) and

  • Produce environmental guidelines for landscape/bio-aesthetic sensitive projects.

The agreed programme of work 2005-2008 included:

  • Review of and document case studies in alternative environmental applications;

  • Prepare a directory of experts to detail the individual or organizational activities and key publications;

  • Review, update and maintain the Environmental Applications Working Party portal on the IPC website;

  • Establish templates and reporting procedures to document and review case studies, list of experts, other useful websites and a reference library of relevant publications;

  • Contribute a chapter on Environmental Applications in the new Poplar and Willow book;

  • Participate in the joint meeting with IEA Bioenergy Task Group 30 (Autumn 2006); and

  • Conduct a meeting of the Working Party at the 4th International Poplar Symposium, Nanjing, China, June 2006.

The Working Party on Environmental Applications made the following recommendations:

  • IPC and the Working Party need to collaborate more fully with other international agencies (IUFRO, IEA, ITTO, etc.) to exchange ideas;

  • IPC and the Working Party need to become more engaged in dialogue with regulatory bodies, environmental engineers and environmental organizations; and

  • IPC, through FAO, need to encourage greater collaboration with National Poplar Commissions and Councils.

last updated: Friday, November 18, 2005