Anlage 3a: Assessment Report – Englische Version ReedBASE Development of a cross-border innovation platform/cluster for using common reed Phragmites australis biomass as a source of sustainable energy ASSESSMENT REPORT and ReedBASE Memorandum of Understanding October 2017 Implemented by PROJECT PARTNERS Michael Succow Foundation, Germany (Lead Partner) Institute of Market Problems and Economic-Ecological Research (NAS), Ukraine Agricola NGO, Ukraine Agency of European Innovation, Ukraine Cross-Border Cooperation and European Integration Agency, Moldova WWF Danube Carpathian Programme, Romania Funding This project (Nr. 76845) was funded by the German Federal Environment Ministry’s Advisory Assistance Programme (AAP) for environmental protection in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia and other countries neighbouring the European Union. It was supervised by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the German Environment Agency (UBA). Disclaimer The responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the authors. The contents of this publication are purely for information and research purposes and should not be used as the basis for any commercial decisions. 2 ReedBASE Assessment Report, October 2017 CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 2. INTRODUCTION 4 2.1 ReedBASE Project Overview 4 2.2 Regional Overview and Desk Study 5 2.3 Stakeholder Analysis and Consultation “Roadshow” 7 3. WETLAND BIOMASS RESOURCE USE 8 3.1 Current Biomass Utilisation 8 3.2 Potential Biomass Utilisation 8 4. ReedBASE CLUSTER FORMATION 10 4.1 Triple Helix Approach 10 4.2 Main Directions of ReedBASE Cluster Activities 10 4.3 Potential ReedBASE Innovation Projects 11 ANNEX Potential Collaborative Projects 13 A2.1 Prut floodplain 13 A2.2 Danube floodplain between Reni and Orlivka 14 A2.3 Danube floodplain around Leski and Vylkove 15 A2.4 Dniester Delta 16 ReedBASE Memorandum of Understanding 17 1 ReedBASE Assessment Report, October 2017 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The ReedBASE project commenced in national to local level, which are or should be September 2016 and will end in March 2019. involved in sustainable reed bed utilisation in Funded by the German government, it concerns the project area; and the development and fostering of a broad-based 3. Conducted a stakeholder consultation cross-border innovation group (covering “roadshow” in order to identify potential Ukraine, Moldova and Romania) for using reed partners for promoting the sustainable use of biomass as a source of sustainable energy as reed biomass harvested in the project area. well as raw material for other products. This in turn promotes the conservation and wise use of As a result of this work, this assessment report reedbeds around the north-west coast of the presents the most promising approaches in the Black Sea. project region for future cooperation, between the administration of nature conservation and ReedBASE aims to establish a working group science. In practice, this report proposes a (or “cluster”) of interested organizations, Memorandum of Understanding for the including so-called “Triple Helix” institutions formation of a ReedBASE cluster under the (government, business, and researchers), in order leadership of the Institute of Market Problems to enhance their collaboration. and Economic-Ecological Research (National Academy of Science of Ukraine) in Odessa. The group will seek to identify priority research areas, development projects and commercial In addition, the report proposes a range of investments for improving traditional utilisation potential projects (see Annex) that could be as well as renewable energy production from jointly developed and implemented by the reed biomass. ReedBASE cluster. These projects comprise: These priorities include innovations in wetland Prut floodplain between Cahul and Colibași management, harvesting machinery, processing • Willow cultivation (furniture, fencing, equipment, and products. Over time, it is energy) expected that the group would expand to other • Reed harvesting for construction materials European states with rich reed resources such as (thatch, panels, fencing) Poland, Hungary, Austria and Slovakia. Danube floodplain between Reni and Orlivka Up to now (September 2017), ReedBASE has • Rewetting unused land for restoring undertaken the following activities in the lower ecosystem services and reed production parts of the Danube, Prut and Dniester rivers (the • Willow cultivation (furniture, fencing, “project area”): energy) 1. Prepared a desk-based study concerning the former and current status of wetlands in the Danube floodplain around Leski and Vylkove project area, and identifying strengths and • Use of waste reed for renewable energy weaknesses in existing reed harvesting and production biomass processing and combustion • Conversion of rice paddy to wetlands for technologies; restoring ecosystem services and reed 2. Compiled a data base of stakeholders and production decision makers from different governmental Dniester delta and non-governmental organisations from • Research on peat formation, fire impact and 2 ReedBASE Assessment Report, October 2017 carbon sequestration across the whole area • Provision of renewable biomass for energy • Willow cultivation (furniture, fencing, energy) production and material use; • Reduction of energy imports on regional Thematic project scale; • Research and development on biomass • Support of regional economies and increase harvesting (reedbed management, cutting of local job perspectives; regime, mowing and baling equipment, • Establishment of showcase paludiculture- storage); processing (construction materials, based enterprises. briquettes, pellets) and marketing (certification, transport, export). Thus, the project area alone could sustainably generate some 100,000 tons of reed biomass per Such a combination of environmental research, year. In energy terms, this is equivalent to engineering and practical implementation of almost 50,000 tons of coal, or 39.5 million cubic sustainable wetland management and metres of gas. Using reed biomass would not paludiculture will lead to innovations in the only provide a substantial amount of energy, but management of reedbeds and other wetland also avoid emitting some 79,000 tons of CO 2 habitats that contribute to the: from burning fossil fuels. • Restoration of ecosystem services including amongst others the habitat improvement for Moreover, the extent of organic soils, which are migratory birds and waterfowl and the particularly suitable for carbon storage, cover mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions; significant areas in the Prut (3,873 ha) and lower • Nutrient retention and water purification in Dniester (20,466 ha). Modest estimates indicate reedbeds and therefore improvement of water that the organic soils in the project area contain quality of the Black Sea; around 850,000 tons of carbon, and this amount • Development of climate change adapted land is increasing as the organic matter accumulates management schemes; over time. 3 ReedBASE Assessment Report, October 2017 2. INTRODUCTION 2.1 ReedBASE Project Overview The ReedBASE project concerns the seek to identify priority research areas, development and fostering of a broad-based development projects and commercial cross-border innovation group (covering investments for improving traditional utilisation Ukraine, Moldova and Romania) for using reed as well as renewable energy production from biomass as a source of sustainable energy as reed biomass. These priorities include well as raw material for other products. This in innovations in wetland management, harvesting turn would promote the conservation and wise machinery, processing equipment, and products. use of reedbeds around the north-west coast of Over time, it is expected that the group would the Black Sea. expand to other European states with rich reed resources such as Poland, Hungary, Austria and Reeds grow prolifically in the lower parts of the Slovakia. Prut, Danube and Dniester river basins in Ukraine, Moldova and Romania. Indeed, one of Since its inception in September 2016, the largest extents of reedbeds in the world ReedBASE has undertaken the following occurs in the region. However, extensive activities in the lower parts of the Danube, Prut modification of floodplains since the 1950s (for and Dniester rivers (the “project area”): flood control, irrigation and fisheries) has had 1. Prepared a desk-based study concerning the significant impacts on wetland habitats and former and current status of wetlands in the biodiversity, as well as wetland ecosystem project area, and identifying strengths and services. In particular, monotonous reedbeds weaknesses in existing reed harvesting and have become more widespread, and generally biomass processing and combustion regarded as a nuisance. Yet, reeds mostly grow technologies; on land that is too wet or marginal for 2. Compiled a data base of stakeholders and conventional agricultural production and decision makers from different governmental represent a substantial source of biomass for and non-governmental organisations from construction materials, shade and shelter matting national to local level, which are or should be and renewable energy. Such use of reed biomass involved in sustainable reed bed utilisation in can contribute to climate change mitigation by: the project area; and • storing CO 2 on mid-term scales in 3. Conducted a stakeholder consultation construction materials; “roadshow” in order to identify potential