SUSTAFFOR

Bridging effectiveness and sustainability in afforestation / reforestation in a climate change context: new technologies for improving soil features and plant performance

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The aim of SUSTAFFOR (Bridging effectiveness and sustainability in afforestation / reforestation in a climate change context: new technologies for improving soil features and plant performance) is to conceive, produce, develop and on-field validate novel techniques aiming at improving afforestation / reforestation projects from an environmental, technical and economic point of view, as well as to explore the synergies between them.

These novel techniques are: 1. MULCHING TECHNIQUES, aiming at reducing the need for weeding and soil water evaporation: 1.1. A flexible plate based on a mixture of bio-plastics in a matrix of a woven structure of vegetable fibers. 1.2. A mat based on plant proteins and non-woven vegetable fibers. 1.3. Different biodegradable mats made of woven and non-woven textiles based on natural fibers, strengthened with bio-resins. 1.4. A reusable mat built with recycled rubber (worn-out tires and conveyor belts). 2. SOIL CONDITIONERS, aiming at retaining and releasing water available for plants while improving soil structure and fertility. A mix of new generation hydro-absorbent polymers combined with fertilizer and growth precursors.

All of them are built in Europe, made exclusively with local materials mainly coming from waste, and are either 100% biodegradable or re-usable inert material. SUSTAFFOR Partnership is: - 4 SMEs producing novel techniques: DTC, La Zeloise, Ecorub (Belgium) and Terracottem International (Spain) - 2 SMEs specialized on commercialization of reforestation and afforestation techniques: Terrezu (Spain, project coordinator) and Ceres (Poland) - 4 RTDs with different specializations: Forest Sciences Center of Catalonia (Spain, scientific and technical conception and design of afforestation and reforestation and soil sciences); IC2MP - Environmental and Material Chemistry Institute of Poitiers (France, soil sciences); Belgian Textile Research Centre (Belgium, materials sciences and mechanical tests) and Edma Innova (Spain, electronic and scientific equipment)'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Scientists are developing a range of plantation techniques that could significantly improve tree survival avoiding the need for tending.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

A significant part of the 100 million trees planted yearly in Europe die because of weed competition and drought. Current reforestation techniques against these threats rely heavily on the recurrent use of herbicides and fossil fuels, which come at a high economic and environmental cost.

The aim of the EU-funded http://www.sustaffor.eu/ (SUSTAFFOR) project is to design new technologies that improve the economic and environmental outcomes of reforestation projects. A consortium of 10 European enterprises and research and development organisations is aiming for sustainable cradle-to-grave product design, cost efficiency, sustainability and versatility for diverse climates.

SUSTAFFOR has developed prototypes of soil conditioners including water-absorbent polymers among other 22 ingredients aiming at improving conditions at micro-site level and four prototypes of mulches, aiming at impeding weed establishment and reducing soil water evaporation near the tree. Three of these mulches are 100 % biodegradable, composed of new biopolymers or of woven jute fibres treated with bio-resin. The fourth model is made of recycled rubber, being reusable in successive plantations.

The expected successes of these techniques include a 90 % tree survival rate, with 50 % growth increase in the early stages with respect to untreated trees. Rigorous field and laboratory tests are currently underway before producing commercial prototypes for international marketing and sale.

Overall, these techniques are expected to be commercially viable, providing reforestation projects with at least 20 % savings of investment in weeding and drought-mitigation measures in the first 5 years of plantation. In addition, the positive environmental-social impacts include reducing considerably carbon emissions and harmful by-products currently produced by the use of herbicides, mechanical weeding and petrol-based mulches.