Designing Sustainable, Working Landscapes with Perennial Crops for Bioenergy and Ecosystem Services New Short Course — April 5-6, 2017 — State College, PA

Completed Events, Events, Pennsylvania

December 19, 2016

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An in-depth look at opportunities for the use of perennial biomass crops in accomplishing conservation and rehabilitation goals on a landscape scale.

Though difficult to quantify in dollars, vegetative ecosystem services such as water filtration, carbon storage, erosion and runoff prevention, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and scenic beauty provide extraordinary value to society. Perennial vegetation in the form of biomass crops that reach bioproduct and biofuel markets are becoming more of an option for farmers, landowners, and land managers, and they can also supply these ecosystem services. Many of these crops exhibit conservation or site rehabilitation value, introducing new opportunities for simultaneous economic and environmental benefits.

This short course provides an in-depth look at opportunities for the use of perennial biomass crops, including grasses and short-rotation woody crops, in accomplishing conservation and rehabilitation goals on a landscape scale. Presentations, panels, and discussion sessions feature leading researchers, agency representatives, and industry professionals in the field.

Who Should Attend?

Bioenergy Professionals
Ecosystem Services Professionals
Policy Makers
Researchers
Project Developers
Public Sector Professionals

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Program:

05 April:
13:00	Guided tour of sites where perennial crops are being used for mineland reclamation, water quality improvement, wastewater treatment, and other applications.
18:00	Networking reception at the Penn Stater Conference Center
06 April:
08:20	Welcome and Introductions
08:30	The Opportunity for Bioenergy and Ecosystem Services in the Northeast US
09:00	Terrestrial rehabilitation keynote
09:45	Break
10:00	Land Panel: Minelands, Landfills, Pollinator Services, Site Reclamation, Site Improvement, Phytoremediation
12:00	Lunch
13:00	Water Quality Keynote
13:30	The Chesapeake Bay and Bioenergy
14:00	Water Panel: Buffers, Bay Water Quality, Precision Plantings, Wastewater Treatment
16:00	Discussion and Wrap-up

Who Should Attend?

This short course is designed for individuals seeking to gain a better understanding of the opportunities and issues related to utilizing bioenergy crops both as an energy resource and as an ecosystem service provider in an integrated ecological system. Bioenergy professionals, ecosystem services professionals, policy makers, researchers, project developers and public sector professionals are all strongly encouraged to attend.

Speakers

Presenters, panelists, and moderators for the short course include experts in ecosystem services and landscape management relative to bioenergy crops and opportunities. This includes:

Jeff Skousen, West Virginia University
Dan Arnett, Ernst Biomass
Tim Volk, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Kelly Shenk, US EPA
Armen Kemanian, Penn State Department of Plant Science
Susan Parry, USDA NRCS
Peter Woodbury, Cornell University
Lara Fowler, Penn State Law
Sally Claggett, US Forest Service
Duane Diefenbach, Penn State University

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