Congratulations to Claudie-Maude Canuel on on her successful doctoral defense!
Congratulations to Claudie-Maude Canuel, who successfully defended her PhD thesis in forest sciences on Friday, March 14, 2025! Through her innovative research, she makes a significant contribution to the field of sustainable forest resource management and bioenergy, highlighting the role of forest biomass in the energy transition and the fight against climate change.
Under the supervision of Evelyne Thiffault and co-supervision of Nelson Thiffault (Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada), her thesis, titled « Integrating Forest Biomass for Bioenergy into Wood Supply: A Silvicultural Tool to Combat Climate Change in Eastern Canada » , explores how the harvesting of forest biomass for bioenergy can be integrated into the wood supply for conventional industries. Her work sheds light on the impacts of this approach on forest productivity, economic flows, and the carbon balance of harvesting activities, emphasizing its potential for more sustainable forest management.
Bravo, Claudie-Maude! This achievement marks a key milestone in a promising career, filled with professional successes and inspiring contributions to the field of forestry.
Thesis Committee Members:
- André Desrochers – Committee Chair – Faculty of Forestry, Geography, and Geomatics, Université Laval
- Évelyne Thiffault – Research Supervisor – Faculty of Forestry, Geography, and Geomatics, Université Laval
- Nelson Thiffault – Co-Supervisor – Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada
- Nadia Lehoux – Internal Examiner (UL) – Faculty of Science and Engineering, Université Laval
- Samuel Royer-Tardif – External Examiner (Non-UL) – Forestry Teaching and Research Center (CERFO)
- Blas Mola – External Examiner – University of Eastern Finland
Once again, congratulations!
Photo Credit : Carole Girard
Abstract:Â The use of residual forest biomass for bioenergy production is recognized as necessary for the energy transition. However, the levels of forest biomass mobilization remain insufficient to meet climate targets. Canada has an abundance of forest biomass, especially in the form of wood that cannot be processed. Without the harvest of biomass, these woods are left on the cutting sites and can create debris piles that affect the establishment of regeneration. This can harm forest productivity and its ability to act as a carbon sink. High supply costs and the uncertain potential for harvesting forest biomass to reduce carbon emissions are obstacles to bioenergy development. Integrating biomass harvest into silvicultural activities such as harvesting and site reforestation is considered a solution to promote the development of profitable and sustainable business plans.
The thesis aimed to assess the potential of integrating forest biomass harvesting for bioenergy into the wood supply for conventional industries. It examines the contribution of forest bioenergy compared to conventional wood industries regarding site reforestation, cash flows, and the carbon balance of harvesting activities. The goal was to identify the conditions that could facilitate the mobilization of forest biomass within a framework of sustainable forest management. To achieve this, the research used an experimental setup consisting of six study sites established in the temperate and boreal forests of Eastern Canada. This setup allowed for the comparison of wood harvesting for conventional industries in combination with an increasing intensity of biomass harvesting.
The results show that although the intensification of harvesting significantly reduced the amount of ground debris, its influence on regeneration remained limited, as this was more influenced by ecological factors. The additional costs incurred by biomass harvesting were negligible relative to the total wood supply costs for mixed stands, while they were higher for coniferous stands. However, for coniferous stands, these additional costs could be partially offset by savings in site reforestation. More intensive wood harvesting allowed for an increase in the carbon sink of forest ecosystems, but this net sequestration struggled to offset emissions from wood products. The following conditions were identified to ensure that biomass supply for bioenergy helps reduce carbon emissions: it must replace other high-emission energy sources and/or increase forest productivity.
In summary, this thesis demonstrates that integrating forest biomass into the wood supply for conventional industries can be part of a low-carbon footprint silvicultural strategy that allows for greater value to be derived from forests. It thus has the potential to be as sustainable as wood supply for conventional industries, according to the studied aspects. However, conditions must be met to achieve this. By identifying these, the thesis aims to contribute to the sustainable development of biomass forest-based bioenergy systems. The findings suggest that forest biomass supply must be integrated into coherent silvicultural, forest management, and energy transition strategies.