There is a growing demand for timber as a source of renewable energy in Germany. However, the possibilities to produce wooden biomass on agricultural land are limited. Fast-growing tree species like aspen, poplar, alder or birch can be integrated as pioneer crops in silvicultural management on clearings and planting sites where commercial tree species (spruce, douglas fir, beech, oak) are simultaneously established. Within this context, the Energie Baden-Württemberg AG (ENBW) foundation supports a project in collaboration with the Silvicultural Institute of the University of Freiburg to develop environmentally friendly, multilayered silvicultural systems with pioneer crops of fast-growing tree species. UNIQUE assisted the Silvicultural Institute mainly in the area of implementation.

• Development of business models.
• Establishment of well-defined relationships between energy wood consumers and forest enterprises.
• Establishment of sample areas for cultivations: choice of variations, implementation.
• Preparation of silvicultural and economic models and calculations.
• Processing of results concerning timber and combustion properties.