@inproceedings{GerwinRepmannFreeseetal., author = {Gerwin, Werner and Repmann, Frank and Freese, Dirk and Baumgarten, Wibke and Ivanina, Vadym}, title = {Marginal lands - ecological limitations and economic potentials}, series = {9th International Symposium on Ecosystem Behavior BIOGEOMON, Litomysl, Czech Republic, August 20-24, 2017}, booktitle = {9th International Symposium on Ecosystem Behavior BIOGEOMON, Litomysl, Czech Republic, August 20-24, 2017}, editor = {Nov{\´a}k, Martin and Kr{\´a}m, Pavel and Step{\´a}nov{\´a}, Mark{\´e}ta}, publisher = {Czech Geological Survey}, address = {Prague}, pages = {S. 362}, abstract = {The term "marginal land" refers to generally unfavourable site conditions for traditional economic agriculture or forestry. The definitions of marginality differ widely and also the scientific perspective on this type of land is very heterogeneous. However, with regard to the fast growing competition for arable lands between agricultural food production and the increasing need for growing renewable resources, such marginal lands could offer a mitigation option. Whereas agriculture is concentrating rapidly on the most fertile soils, the production of biomass as the renewable basis for various products could be shifted to sites with lower soil fertility. This in general is the main objective of the H2020 funded EU project SEEMLA (acronym for "Sustainable exploitation of biomass for bioenergy from marginal lands"). This project aims at an establishment of suitable innovative land-use strategies for a sustainable production of plant-based energy on marginal lands, while improving general ecosystem services. This approach will be tested in selected casestudy regions in Europe on marginal lands with different reasons for their marginality. One of the central tasks of this project was the characterization and classification of the investigated marginal sites according to a common definition. For that reason the Muencheberg Soil Quality Rating (SQR) system1 was adapted and applied at sites in Germany, Greece and Ukraine. This paper gives an overview of the importance and properties of different soil parameters and ecological site conditions for this classification. Even if the occurrence of the single site limitations epends on regional conditions, some generalizations are possible. Based on the respective dominating soil related restrictions, a classification of types of marginality and of marginal lands can be derived also with regard to their land use potentials for renewable resources. Further, cultivating biomass on marginal lands may offer remediation potentials with regard to the described ecological restraints of marginal sites.}, language = {en} } @misc{GerwinRepmannGalatsidasetal., author = {Gerwin, Werner and Repmann, Frank and Galatsidas, Spyridon and Vlachaki, Despoina and Gounaris, Nikos and Baumgarten, Wibke and Volkmann, Christiane and Keramitzis, Dimitrios and Kiourtsis, Fotios and Freese, Dirk}, title = {Assessment and quantification of marginal lands for biomass production in Europe using soil-quality indicators}, series = {SOIL}, volume = {4}, journal = {SOIL}, number = {4}, issn = {2199-398X}, doi = {10.5194/soil-4-267-2018}, pages = {267 -- 290}, abstract = {The cultivation of bioenergy plants in fertile, arable lands increasingly results in new land use conflicts with food production and cannot be considered as sustainable. Marginal lands have been frequently considered as potential alternatives for producing bioenergy from biomass. However, clear definitions and assessment methods for selecting marginal lands and for calculating potentials are still widely missing. The project "SEEMLA" aims at triggering the exploitation of currently underused marginal lands for biomass production for energy purposes. Study sites have been selected in different European countries: Germany, Greece, and Ukraine. The selected sites represent a wide variety of different types of marginal lands. Based on a soil assessment set given by the Muencheberg Soil Quality Rating (SQR) system potentially "marginal" sites have been investigated. The SQR system allows for clearly distinguishing between soils of higher and lower quality. Soils with SQR scores below 40 are regarded as "marginal". They can be classified into different groups with regard to the importance of soil hazard indicators as evaluated by the SQR approach. The calculated SQR scores correlate significantly with biomass yields of bioenergy plants. Further, the SQR method was adapted for use in a GIS study on marginal-land potentials in Europe. Thus, 46\% of the investigated European area could be classified as "marginal" with SQR scores below 40. From that area 22.6\% can be considered as potentially suitable for producing renewable resources after eliminating protected sites or other places not suitable for any kind of land use. Taking the ecological demands of selected bioenergy plants into account it is possible to give first preliminary recommendations for regional crop cultivation. It can be concluded that Europe offers a large potential for renewable resources from marginal sites. However, the implementation into practice is often impeded by missing or varying policies and regulations. A proper implementation needs clear regulations and also incentives for farmers at the European level.}, language = {en} } @misc{KiourtsisKeramitzisPapatheodorouetal., author = {Kiourtsis, Fotios and Keramitzis, Dimitrios and Papatheodorou, Ioannis and Tsoulakaki, Dimitria and Gontzaridou, Marina and Lampetsou, Eugenia and Fragkiskakis, Nikitas and Gerwin, Werner and Repmann, Frank and Baumgarten, Wibke}, title = {Marginal sites in for biomass production - case study sites in northern Greece : obstacles and solutions}, series = {European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2017 Vienna, Austria, 23-28 April 2017}, journal = {European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2017 Vienna, Austria, 23-28 April 2017}, publisher = {European Geophysical Society}, address = {Katlenburg-Lindau}, abstract = {In 2016, D.A.M.T, the Hellenic Forest Service for northern Greece (Macedonia and Thrace Regions), with the support of BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg Reseach Center Landscape Development and Mining Landscapes experts and following common standard protocols of the SEEMLA project, established three plots, in the northeastern part of Greece, in Rodopi prefecture (main forest species for biomass production: Pinus Nigra, Pinus Brutia and Robinia Pseudacacia). Nearby productive ecosystems (including forests etc.) or successional sites will be used as references for estimating the potentials of MagL. Further existing plantations of energy crops on similar MagL, will be used to assess potential crop yields. These plots represent different types of marginal lands, they were specifically selected for SEEMLA purposes (reliable and sustainable exploitation of biomass) and are entirely different from other inventories, used for typical forest operations in Greece. The main differences are: - an intensively studied core area, - Soil Quality Rating (SQR) method measurements, - Soil Classification Maps - parameters estimation (land capability classes and landforms), - tightly spaced plantations (1,5 m x 1,5 m), - cropping systems, - shorter rotations and - the need for special forest management study. The combination of these requirements with the soil conditions of the area has created significant issues on plots establishment and accurate recording of supply chain stages. Main expected SEEMLA impacts are: • provide a substantial amount of EU energy needs from marginal/degraded land, • avoidance of land use conflicts by strengthening the ability to use MagL for biomass production for energy, • reduction of EU-wide greenhouse gas, • mitigation of conflicts regarding sustainability and biodiversity for the utilization of MagL for biomass production, • growth of plantations of bioenergy carriers from MagL at competitive costs, • expansion of economic opportunities for farmers, foresters and rural regions in general through biomass production on MagL and related processing activities, • investments in new technologies and the design of new policy measures.}, language = {en} } @misc{GalatsidasGounarisVlachakietal., author = {Galatsidas, Spyridon and Gounaris, Nikos and Vlachaki, Despoina and Dimitriadis, Elias and Kiourtsis, Fotios and Keramitzis, Dimitrios and Gerwin, Werner and Repmann, Frank and Rettenmaier, Nils and Reinhardt, Guido and Ivanina, Vadym and Hanzhenko, Olexander and Gnap, Iryna and Bogatov, Konstantin and Barbera, Federica and Mattioli, Diego and Volkmann, Christiane and Baumgarten, Wibke}, title = {Revealing Bioenergy Potentials: Mapping Marginal Lands in Europe - The SEEMLA Approach}, series = {Papers of the 26th European Biomass Conference Setting the Course for a biobased Economy, Conference held in Copenhagen, Denmark, 14-17 May 2018}, journal = {Papers of the 26th European Biomass Conference Setting the Course for a biobased Economy, Conference held in Copenhagen, Denmark, 14-17 May 2018}, editor = {Persson, M. and Scarlat, N. and Grassi, A. and Helm, P.}, publisher = {ETA-Florence}, address = {Florenz}, isbn = {978-88-89407-18-9}, doi = {10.5071/26thEUBCE2018-1AO.4.1}, pages = {31 -- 37}, abstract = {Marginal land (MagL) use for biomass production has received a lot of attention in the past decades. This alternative land use is free from conflicts with food crops, however it presents multiple challenges. The major issue to be resolved is the definition of marginal lands, which varies between disciplines and is often determined based on management goals. Moreover, concerns over the impacts of MagL use on environment, ecosystem services and sustainability have to be addressed. In response to these issues, the SEEMLA approach proposes an algorithm and tools to support MagLs identification and mapping, as well as the assessment of their potential for biomass production. The SEEMLA algorithm assesses land marginality using the Muencheberg Soil Quality Rating (M-SQR) developed by Mueller et al. (2007). The algorithm also incorporates criteria to eliminate MagLs that may not be exploitable for bioenergy due to ecological and environmental issues or regulatory and legal restrictions and constraints posed by national or EU policies applied. Finally, MagL suitable for bioenergy production is categorized based on climatic zone and crop suitability. Alternative exploitation scenarios are developed for each class of MagL. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) will determine the sustainability of each scenario, considering also the results of the pilot sites that have been established in Germany, Greece and Ukraine.}, language = {en} } @misc{GerwinRepmannGalatsidasetal., author = {Gerwin, Werner and Repmann, Frank and Galatsidas, Spyridon and Vlachaki, Despoina and Gounaris, Nikos and Baumgarten, Wibke and Volkmann, Christiane and Keramitzis, Dimitrios and Kiourtsis, Fotios and Freese, Dirk}, title = {Assessment and quantification of marginal lands for biomass production in Europe using soil quality indicators}, series = {Soil : an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union}, journal = {Soil : an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union}, issn = {2199-398X}, doi = {10.5194/soil-2018-14}, pages = {44}, abstract = {The cultivation of bioenergy plants at fertile, arable lands increasingly results in new land use conflicts with food production and cannot be considered as sustainable, therefore. Marginal lands have been frequently considered as potential alternative for producing bioenergy from biomass. However, clear definitions and assessment methods for selecting marginal lands and for calculating potentials are still widely missing. The project "SEEMLA" aims at triggering the exploitation of currently underused marginal lands for biomass production for energy purposes. Study sites have been selected in different European countries: Germany, Greece and Ukraine. The selected sites represent a wide variety of different types of marginal lands. Based on a soil assessment set given by the Muencheberg Soil Quality Rating (SQR) system potentially "marginal" sites have been investigated. The SQR system allows for clearly distinguishing between soils of higher and lower quality. Soils with SQR scores below 40 are regarded as "marginal". They can be classified into different groups with regard to the importance of soil hazard indicators as valuated by the SQR approach. The calculated SQR scores correlate significantly with biomass yields of bioenergy plants. Further, the SQR method was adapted for use in a GIS study on marginal land potentials in Europe. 46 \% of the investigated European area could be classified as "marginal" with SQR scores below 40. From that area 22.6 \% can be considered as potentially suitable for producing renewable resources after eliminating protected sites or other places not suitable for any kind of land use. Taking the ecological demands of selected bioenergy plants into account it is possible to give first preliminary recommendations for regional crop cultivation. It can be concluded, that Europe offers a large potential for renewable resources from marginal sites. However, the implementation into practice is often impeded by missing or varying policies and regulation. A proper implementation needs clear regulations and also incentives for farmers at European level.}, language = {en} } @misc{GerwinRepmannGalatsidasetal., author = {Gerwin, Werner and Repmann, Frank and Galatsidas, Spyridon and Gounaris, Nikos and Vlachaki, Despoina and Dimitriadis, Elias and Ivanina, Vadym and Volkmann, Christiane and Baumgarten, Wibke}, title = {The potential of marginal lands for bioenergy}, series = {BE Sustainable : the magazine of bioenergy and the bioeconomy}, journal = {BE Sustainable : the magazine of bioenergy and the bioeconomy}, number = {9}, pages = {10 -- 13}, abstract = {For a longtime, marginal lands have been considered as promising alternative for sustainable production of bioenergy. However, there are many issues to tackle before determining whether a marginal land is able to sustain production on in dustrial scale or not.}, language = {en} }