To fulfil the objectives in SEEMLA, the project partners utilised a number of different approaches. In the first phase, the definition of marginal lands (MagL) was established, and all existing data concerning the current status of marginal lands was collected. Pilot case sites were selected and established, soil samples were taken and analysed in a laboratory and the sites were classified in accordance with the Müncheberg Soil Quality Rating (SQR) approach of Müller et al. 2007. Hence, in total four pilot case sites were chosen in Germany, Greece, and Ukraine, on which both woody (lignocellulosic), and grassy bioenergy crops were grown, i.e. poplar, willow, and switchgrass amongst others.
With regard to an appropriate legal framework, an overview of the already existing policies and programmes had been elaborated, and was continuously updated throughout the project’s lifetime. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Renewable Energy Directive (RED and the upcoming REDII) were playing a key role in the SEEMLA approach, besides the goals that were given in the partner countries National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs). Thus, the status of developing a stable and sustainable bio-economy differed a lot amid each SEEMLA partner country. This was taken into account when developing recommendations for a specifically tailored policy framework for a sustainable exploitation of biomass from MagL for bioenergy purposes. Several dissemination events and international symposia were held including: five national workshops, in Italy, Germany, and Ukraine, where large numbers of local stakeholders were able to attend. Other dissemination events included the SEEMLA international symposium in Copenhagen, and the SEEMLA & ADVANCEFUEL final conference and workshop. There were a range of different participants in these events from foresters and farmers, to experts from the business world, as well as researchers, and decision makers. All participants were involved in the development of a suitable SEEMLA approach including a legal framework to support the stakeholders by e.g. incentive programmes (cf. e.g. to “Greening” in the CAP or the market incentive programme of the German Renewable Energy Sources Act, EEG).
The partner IFEU performed life cycle assessment and environmental impact assessment analyses in the second reporting period of the project; while partners with pilot cases provided data, e.g. yields, and soil data etc. which were incorporated in these analyses. In this context, suitable value chains were selected, including the use of biomass for heating, e.g. in form of pellets or wood chips.
SEEMLA partner DUTH developed a web-based GIS application for the SEEMLA approach based on a GIS-tool adapted for the MagL assessment, allowing the identification of such MagL not only in the partner countries, but also in the remaining EU Member States. The web-based GIS application and also the SEEMLA reports and documents are available on the projects’ website: www.seemla.eu.
