Biochar represents a new approach to fight global warming through its ability to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by carbon fixation. It has been proven to be efficient in increasing harvest through the effects of increasing WHC, pH level and the uptake of nutrients. Sweden has 12 biochar production facilities and therefore represents an interesting biochar developer. In this report, Different field studies on the use of biochar were compared both in Sweden and internationally. The field studies were identified based on crop type, soil type, climate, feedstock and pyrolysis method. Stockholm Stad was even observed as a consumer of biochar that is supplied by Stockholm Exergi in Sweden. Varying results have been observed on effects of biochar, mainly due to the different conditions in which it is applied. Due to the variable effects of biochar on the observed factors, it is recommended for the capability to customise the biochar by choosing the specific pyrolysis method and the type of feedstock. To have a better understanding and ability to customise biochar more extensive information is needed on biochar use and application in different areas. Biochar seems to respond most effectively to nutrient poor soils in both agriculture and forestry. Tropical and boreal forest seem to benefit the most from biochar application compared to temperate zones. / Biokol fungerar som en kolsänka och är en metod att bekämpa klimatförändringar. Det har även visat sig vara effektiv inom jordbruk då den ökar skörden genom att förbättra jordens vatten hållfasthet,näringsupptag samt öka pH. Sverige är ledande i biokol med 12 producerande faciliteter och därmed incitament att utveckla biokol. I rapporten jämförs olika fältstudier i Sverige och internationellt. Fältstudierna var baserade på grödan, jordtyp, klimat, råmaterialet och pyrolys metoden. Varierande resultat har observerats kring biocools användning och detta beror på de olika faktorerna där biokol applicerats. Därmed rekommenderas det att biokol skräddarsys genom bland annat specifik pyrolys metod och råmaterial. Mer omfattande information kring biokol använding i olika området krävs för att kunna skräddarsy biokol. Biokol verkar dock mest effektiv inom näringsfattiga områden både inom jordbruk och skog,specifikt boreala och tropiska zoner.

Wood is often perceived as a flawed material. When painted, technologically treated or sealed, in a pursuit to make it more predictable and durable, some of its most important qualities are mislaid. This project explores the aesthetic, material and constructional possibilities of wood, and suggests the possibility of a wood brutalism architecture. The project includes a written manifesto for the benefits of wood in the human habitat, proposes a CO₂ based economic strategy for our built environment and promotes massive wood buildings as our carbon savings account. To find out what a wood brutalism of today might be, the project includes an analysis of the relationship between the material concrete, Betón-brut and the zeitgeist of the 60´s and 70´s. In the application of the manifesto and Bois-brut on a case study housing project in Östberga, Stockholm, the Trellick tower has acted as a brutalist mirror reference. Vernacular timber buildings have provided clues in the search for the essence of wood.

Wir betrachten folgende Teile: die zusätzlichen Kohlenstoff(C)-emissionen, welche aus der Umwandlung von natürlichem Umland durch Stadtwachstum resultieren, und die Änderung des C-Flusses durch 'urbanisierte' Ökosysteme, soweit atmosphärisches C durch diese in umliegende natürliche Ökosysteme entlang der Kette “Atmosphäre -> Vegetation -> abgestorbene organische Substanzen” gepumpt wird: d.h. C-Export; für den Zeitraum von 1980 bis 2050. Als Szenario nutzen wir Prognosen der regionalen Stadtbevölkerung, welche durch ein 'Hybridmodell' generiert werden für acht Regionen. Alle Schätzungen der C-Flüsse basieren auf zwei Modellen: das Regression Modell und das sogenannte G-Modell. Die Siedlungsfläche, welche mit dem Wachstum der Stadtbevölkerung zunimmt, wird in 'Grünflächen' (Parks, usw.), Gebäudeflächen und informell städtisch genutzte Flächen (Slums, illegale Lagerplätze, usw.) unterteilt. Es werden jährlich die regionale und globale Dynamik der C-Emissionen und des C-Exports sowie die C-Gesamtbilanz berechnet. Dabei liefern beide Modelle qualitativ ähnliche Ergebnisse, jedoch gibt es einige quantitative Unterschiede. Im ersten Modell erreicht die globale Jahresemission für die Dekade 2020-2030 resultierend aus der Landnutzungsänderung ein Maximum von 205 Mt/a. Die maximalen Beiträge zur globalen Emission werden durch China, die asiatische und die pazifische Region erbracht. Im zweiten Modell erhöht sich die jährliche globale Emission von 1.12 GtC/a für 1980 auf 1.25 GtC/a für 2005 (1Gt = 109 t). Danach beginnt eine Reduzierung. Vergleichen wir das Emissionmaximum mit der Emission durch Abholzung im Jahre 1980 (1.36 GtC/a), können wir konstatieren, daß die Urbanisierung damit in vergleichbarer Grösse zur Emission beiträgt. Bezogen auf die globale Dynamik des jährlichen C-Exports durch Urbanisierung beobachten wir ein monotones Wachstum bis zum nahezu dreifachen Wert von 24 MtC/a für 1980 auf 66 MtC/a für 2050 im ersten Modell, bzw. im zweiten Modell von 249 MtC/a für 1980 auf 505 MtC/a für 2050. Damit ist im zweiten Fall die Transportleistung der Siedlungsgebiete mit dem C-Transport durch Flüsse in die Ozeane (196 .. 537 MtC/a) vergleichbar. Bei der Abschätzung der Gesamtbilanz finden wir, daß die Urbanisierung die Bilanz in Richtung zu einer 'Senke' verschiebt. Entsprechend dem zweiten Modell beginnt sich die C-Gesamtbilanz (nach annähernder Konstanz) ab dem Jahre 2000 mit einer fast konstanten Rate zu verringern. Wenn das Maximum im Jahre 2000 bei 905MtC/a liegt, fällt dieser Wert anschliessend bis zum Jahre 2050 auf 118 MtC/a. Bei Extrapolation dieser Dynamik in die Zukunft können wir annehmen, daß am Ende des 21. Jahrhunderts die “urbane” C-Gesamtbilanz Null bzw. negative Werte erreicht. / We calculate the additional carbon emissions as a result of the conversion of natural land in a process of urbanisation; and the change of carbon flows by “urbanised” ecosystems, when the atmospheric carbon is exported to the neighboring territories, from 1980 till 2050 for the eight regions of the world. As a scenario we use combined UN and demographic model′s prognoses for regional total and urban population growth. The calculations of urban areas dynamics are based on two models: the regression model and the Gamma-model. The urbanised area is sub-divided on built-up, „green“ (parks, etc.) and informal settlements (favelas) areas. The next step is to calculate the regional and world dynamics of carbon emission and export, and the annual total carbon balance. Both models give similar results with some quantitative differences. In the first model, the world annual emissions attain a maximum of 205 MtC/year between 2020-2030. Emissions will then slowly decrease. The maximum contributions are given by China and the Asia and Pacific regions. In the second model, world annual emissions increase to 1.25 GtC in 2005, beginning to decrease afterwards. If we compare the emission maximum with the annual emission caused by deforestation, 1.36GtC per year, then we can say that the role of urbanised territories (UT) is of a comparable magnitude. Regarding the world annual export of carbon by UT, we observe its monotonous growth by three times, from 24 MtC to 66 MtC in the first model, and from 249 MtC to 505 MtC in the second one. The latter, is therefore comparable to the amount of carbon transported by rivers into the ocean (196-537 MtC). By estimating the total balance we find that urbanisation shifts the total balance towards a “sink” state. The urbanisation is inhibited in the interval 2020-2030, and by 2050 the growth of urbanised areas would almost stop. Hence, the total emission of natural carbon at that stage will stabilise at the level of the 1980s (80 MtC per year). As estimated by the second model, the total balance, being almost constant until 2000, then starts to decrease at an almost constant rate. We can say that by the end of the XXI century, the total carbon balance will be equal to zero, when the exchange flows are fully balanced, and may even be negative, when the system begins to take up carbon from the atmosphere, i.e., becomes a “sink”.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:03:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JurandirRMJ_DISSERT.pdf: 1054152 bytes, checksum: 95f074a057b6d2e03d6f4a8700465d95 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-31 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / The aquatic ecosystems can play a role as carbon-dioxide-source or carbon-dioxide-sink systems due to the high predominance of heterotrophic or autotrophic metabolism. The primary production can strongly affect the carbon balance (CO2) through the consumption of carbon dioxide in the photosynthesis, especially in eutrophic environment, acting as a carbon sink. The present study tested the hypothesis that the eutrophic reservoirs in tropical semi-arid region are carbon dioxide-sink systems due to the high primary productivity presented in these systems. Five Brazilian reservoirs from the semi-arid in the northeast region were monitored monthly during four years (2010 to 2013) with a prolonged drought event identified during the study. The results showed an increasing level of eutrophication over the period of prolonged drought, with the predominance of autotrophy. Significant negative correlations were observed between the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) (p<0,001) and chlorophyll-a in the Boqueir?o, Passagem das Tra?ras, Dourado and Gargalheiras reservoirs, showing a pattern of the carbon dioxide-sink systems. However, this pattern was not found in Cruzeta reservoir. In summary, in the tropical semi-arid region, hydrological and morphometric variables can lead to different behaviors of the water-supply reservoirs on the carbon metabolism. The eutrophic reservoirs evaluated showed a negative relationship between pCO2 and Chl-a, which suggests that these water bodies show an autotrophic metabolism and behave as carbon dioxide- sink systems / Os ecossistemas aqu?ticos podem atuar como emissores ou sequestradores de carbono em fun??o da predomin?ncia do metabolismo heterotr?fico ou autotr?fico. A produ??o prim?ria pode afetar fortemente o balan?o de carbono (CO2) atrav?s do consumo de di?xido de carbono na fotoss?ntese, especialmente em ambiente eutr?ficos, atuando como sumidouros. O presente estudo testou a hip?tese de que reservat?rios eutrofizados da regi?o tropical semi?rida s?o sequestradores de CO2 em fun??o da alta produtividade evidenciada nesses sistemas. Cinco reservat?rios da regi?o semi?rida do nordeste do Brasil foram monitorados mensalmente durante o per?odo de 2010 ? 2013, com um evento de seca prolongada identificado durante o estudo. Os resultados mostraram um crescente n?vel de eutrofiza??o ao longo do per?odo de seca prolongada com predomin?ncia de autotrofia. Foram observadas correla??es negativas significativas entre a press?o parcial de CO2 (pCO2) (p<0,001) e clorofila-a nos reservat?rios Boqueir?o, Passagem das Tra?ras, Dourado e Gargalheiras, evidenciando um padr?o de sequestro de CO2 desses sistemas. Por?m, este padr?o n?o foi encontrado no reservat?rio Cruzeta. Em s?ntese, na regi?o semi?rida tropical, as vari?veis hidrol?gicas e morfom?tricas podem direcionar diferentes comportamentos dos reservat?rios de abastecimento no metabolismo do carbono. Os reservat?rios eutrofizados avaliados apresentaram uma rela??o negativa entre pCO2 e Chl-a o que sugere que estes corpos h?dricos evidenciam um metabolismo autotr?fico e se comportam como sequestradores de CO2

Abstract There are various after-use options on the cut-away peatlands, depending on the characteristics of the soil. If the soil is devoid of rock, cultivation of reed canary grass is a profitable after-use option. The aim of this study was to determine how characteristics of peat, peatland surroundings and fertilizers influence the element uptake of reed canary grass. In the present investigation the peat production areas of Luesuo, Piipsanneva and Jouttenisenneva were selected as study areas. A comprehensive sampling programme was carried out in each of the study areas. In addition, two experimental areas for cultivation of reed canary grass were established in Luesuo and Hankilanneva between 2004 and 2005. The results obtained indicate that all study areas were suitable for cultivating reed canary grass, but fertilizers must be added to make up nutrient deficiencies. The study areas were very clean from heavy metals. The results also suggest that the characteristics of peat or surroundings of peatland do not influence the nutrient level of peat significantly, considering the cultivation of reed canary grass. The large geochemical provinces have a smaller impact on nutrient and heavy metal levels in the peat on the peat cut-away areas compared to smaller geochemical units. Heavy metal content in the peat and in the mineral soil under the peat seems to correlate. Reed canary grass does not uptake heavy metals from the cultivation media effectively. Liming slag was better for liming in cultivation of reed canary grass than ash. Although ash has large amounts usable nutrients, especially potassium, it did not raise the heavy metal content in peat to harmful levels, it can therefore be used in the cultivation of reed canary grass. Stock fertilized fur animal manure compost produced almost as much biomass as optimized artificial fertilizers. After the correction of nutrient deficiencies, compost is suitable for the cultivation of reed canary grass in peatlands. Because the total nutrient levels are high in compost, its fertilizer effect lasts longer than in artificial fertilizers, where nutrients are all in a dissolved form. Already in the first growing season the cultivation of reed canary grass changed the cut-away peatland from a carbon source to a carbon sink. In this respect, the reed canary grass cultivation can be used to produce bioenergy to replace fossil fuels in accordance with the goals of Kyoto Protocol. / Tiivistelmä Turvetuotannosta vapautuneella suopohjalla toteutetaan erilaisia jälkikäyttötapoja riippuen suopohjan ominaisuuksista. Jos suopohja on kohtuullisen kivetöntä, ruokohelpiviljely on kannattavaa. Viljelty ruokohelpi poltetaan turpeen tai hakkeen seassa. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoitus oli selvittää miten pohjaturpeen ja suopohjan ympäristöalueiden ominaisuudet sekä viljelyyn käytetyt lannoite- ja kalkitusaineet vaikuttavat ruokohelpin käyttämiin ravinteisiin. Ruokohelpiviljelyn lannoituskustannukset ovat suuret, joten suopohjan luontainen ravinnetila kannattaa huomioida lannoitusta suunniteltaessa. Suopohjan ravinnetila saadaan selville laatimalla alueelle viljavuusanalyysi. Kyseisen analyysin yhteydessä on hyödyllistä tehdä myös raskasmetallianalyysit, jotta viljelykäyttöön tulevan suopohjan puhtaudesta voidaan varmistua. Tutkimuksen kohdealueiksi valittiin Luesuon, Piipsannevan ja Jouttenisennevan turvetuotantoalueet. Lisäksi tutkimusta varten perustettiin ruokohelpin viljelykoealueet Luesuolle ja Hankilannevalle vuosina 2004 ja 2005. Tutkimusalueilla suoritettiin kattava näytteenotto. Näytteistä analysoitiin tärkeimmät kasviravinteet sekä joukko raskasmetalleja. Tulosten perusteella tutkimusalueille laadittiin viljavuusluokittelu. Tutkimusalueet soveltuvat hyvin ruokohelpiviljelyyn, mutta ravinnepuutokset tulee korjata lannoituksella käytettäen suopohjille suositeltua lannoitusta. Tutkimusalueet osoittautuivat puhtaiksi raskasmetalleista. Tutkimuksen kohteina olleiden suopohjien liukoisen kaliumin ja fosforin pitoisuudet olivat hyvin alhaisia, eivätkä turpeen tai ympäristön ominaisuudet vaikuttaneet niiden pitoisuuksiin ruokohelpiviljelyn kannalta merkittävästi. Liukoisen magnesiumin ja kalsiumin pitoisuudet sen sijaan vaihtelivat tutkituilla suopohjilla kohtuullisen paljon riippuen turpeen ominaisuuksista. Geokemiallisella provinssilla ei todettu olevan niin suurta merkitystä suopohjien lopputurpeiden alkuainepitoisuuksiin kuin pienemmillä geokemiallisilla yksiköillä. Tutkittujen suopohjien turpeen ja sen alla olevan kivennäismaan raskasmetallipitoisuudet korreloivat keskenään. Tutkimustulosten mukaan kasvualustan raskasmetallit eivät siirry tehokkaasti ruokohelpiin. Poikkeuksena olivat sinkin ja molybdeenin pitoisuudet, joita ruokohelpissä esiintyi korkeampina pitoisuuksina kuin kasvualustassa. Haitallisten raskasmetallien pitoisuudet olivat huomattavasti alhaisempia ruokohelpissä kuin kasvualustassa. Ruokohelpi sisälsi raskasmetalleja erittäin pieninä pitoisuuksina, joten viimeisen kasvukuukauden muutokset olivat vaikeasti tulkittavissa. Näyttää kuitenkin siltä, että ruokohelpi siirtää ainakin osan kuparista, sinkistä ja molybdeenistä juuristoonsa talven ajaksi. Suoritettujen lannoituskokeiden perusteella teräskuona soveltuu voimalaitostuhkaa paremmin turvekentän kalkitukseen ruokohelpiviljelyssä. Voimalaitostuhka sisältää kuitenkin huomattavia määriä hyödynnettäviä ravinteita, etenkin kaliumia. Tutkimuksessa havaittiin, ettei voimalaitostuhka lisännyt edes ylisuurina annoksina kasvualustan raskasmetallipitoisuuksia haitallisesti, joten sitä voidaan käyttää ruokohelpiviljelyssä. Varastolannoitetulla kompostilla saavutettiin lähes yhtä hyvä ruokohelpisato kuin optimoidulla mineraalilannoitteella. Näin ollen turkislantakompostia voidaan ravinnekorjausten jälkeen käyttää mainiosti ruokohelpiviljelyyn. Kompostin ravinnevaikutus on myös suurten kokonaisravinnepitoisuuksien vuoksi pidempi kuin mineraalilannoitteilla. Fosforin varastolannoitus turkislantakompostilla onnistui ensimmäisen kasvukauden perusteella hyvin. Tutkimuksessa todettiin, että jo ensimmäisenä kasvukautena ruokohelpiviljelyllä saadaan muutettua hiililähteenä toimiva entinen turvetuotantoalue hiilinieluksi. Ruokohelpiviljelyllä tuotetulla bioenergialla voidaan lisäksi korvata fossiilisia polttoaineita Kioton ympäristösopimuksen tavoitteiden mukaisesti.

In this thesis an alternative exterior wall construction for a specific building isinvestigated. The focus has been on investigating the material straw as a possiblecomponent in the future project Kulturborgen in Skåne, Sweden.Straw is a bio-based building material which, with a consideration to the climate crisis,has become a viable alternative intended to minimize carbon dioxide emissions from thebuilding sector. Through a compilation of the latest research on the material, theproperties of straw are presented in the theory chapter. Previous studies have shown thepotential of straw to be used as a load-bearing frame in house construction. However, dueto an adaptation to existing blueprints, the focus in this project has been on using straw asonly an insulating material together with load bearing I-joists. By modeling in AutodeskRevit and making calculations on the structure's load bearing capacity and thermalinsulation, a solution on an outer wall has been presented. The work culminates in aproposal for detailed drafts for a specific building that can become the basis for a possiblefurther development. / Halm är en restprodukt från odling av säd och andra grödor och räknas ur miljösynpunkttill ett mer hållbart alternativ än de konventionella byggnadsmaterial som producerasidag. Växtbaserade byggnadsmaterial som halm kan utgöra kolsänkor tack vare sinförmåga att fånga upp koldioxid från atmosfären och med tanke på en störreklimatmedvetenhet har biobaserade material blivit ett aktuellt alternativ ämnat attminimera koldioxidutsläppet från byggbranschen. Tidigare studier visar att halm har godaförutsättningar att användas som ett isolerande material tack vare sin lågavärmekonduktivitet. Halm kan även användas som en självbärande stomme eftersom denhar en hög lastöverföringsgrad. I kombination med en regelkonstruktion av annat materialkan halmen användas enbart som ett isolerande skikt mellan reglarna.Kulturborgen är ett storskaligt byggnadskomplex projekterat som en ringborg med ettöppet torg i mitten. Den byggnad som har studerats i detta examensarbete är enbart en deli komplexet, nämligen ett vandrarhem i två plan. I arbetet undersöks de möjligheter somfinns när en betongväggkonstruktion ersätts med ett biobaserat alternativ samt vilkakonsekvenser det kan få för projekteringen.I detta examensarbete undersöks en alternativ ytterväggskonstruktion för Kulturborgen.Fokus har varit att undersöka materialet halm som en möjlig beståndsdel i det framtidaprojektet Kulturborgen i Skåne, där den ursprungliga planen var att uppföra byggnadenmed prefabricerade betongelement.I en sammanställning av den senaste forskningen om materialet har halmens egenskaperoch tillämpning inom byggbranschen redovisats i ett teorikapitel. Olika metoder för attanvända halm som ett byggnadsmaterial har också tagits upp med avsikt att undersökavilken byggnadsmetod som passar bäst för Kulturborgen.På grund av anpassning till befintliga ritningar på Kulturborgen har användningen avhalm i detta projekt behandlats som enbart ett isoleringsmaterial där halmen är ett 400mm isolerande skikt i kombination med lättreglar med en bärande funktion. Lättreglarvaldes därför att de tack vare sitt I-tvärsnitt har en lägre andel trä än en regel med ettrektangulärt tvärsnitt. Detta gör att lättreglar är materialbesparande och ett lägre U-värdekan erhållas.En modell har tagits fram genom användning av programmet Autodesk Revit.Beräkningar på lättreglar har gjorts för att säkerställa att byggnaden klarar av alla lasterden utsätts för. U-värdesberäkningar utfördes för att kontrollera att vägguppbyggnadensom valdes fick ett U-värde som låg under 0,15 W/m2K, vilket hamnar inom en rimliggräns för en yttervägg. Slutligen har en lösning på en ytterväggskonstruktion presenterats.Arbetet mynnar ut i ett förslag på detaljlösningar för Kulturborgens vandrarhem ochdessa kan ligga till grund för en eventuell vidareutveckling.

The study focussed on the research question namely: “How will the introduction of new ecological taxes impact the South African agricultural sector?” To answer the question, eight international eco-taxes were selected and further investigated. The nature and history of each eco-tax was examined. The effects or expected effects (where implementation have not yet taken place) of the eco-taxes on the agricultural sectors of the foreign countries, were then considered. The study continued by considering the possible impact on South African agriculture, should these taxes be implemented in South Africa. This was accomplished by extrapolating the foreign effects previously investigated. Mindful of findings, recommendations were then made of what eco-taxes could be implemented which will not impede South African agriculture. It was concluded that the British Climate Change Levy and Climate Change Agreement scheme, Australian Carbon Farming Initiative and Swedish meat consumption tax could be considered for implementation. / Financial Accounting / M. Phil (Accounting Science)

There is an urgent need to mitigate carbon emissions to the atmosphere to reduce the negative effects of climate change. Countries have pledged national strategies to reach their climate change mitigation goals in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). In the case of Colombia, the country envisions becoming carbon neutral by 2050.  A pathway to reach this goal is emission reduction through nature-based solutions (NBS). Biochar is an NBS with the potential to be used as a land-based emission mitigation technology. Records indicate that it was first used by indigenous communities in the Amazon about a thousand years ago. Biochar can be obtained through thermochemical conversion by slow pyrolysis of residual biomass. The original organic carbon present in the biomass is sequestered in the biochar as it is pyrolyzed and thus, CO2 emissions are prevented. Biochar is not yet considered in Colombia´s carbon neutrality strategy. The aim of this thesis project is to investigate the potential of biochar production in Colombia as a land-based mitigation technology (LMT). Therefore, a comprehensive assessment is performed with the purpose of identifying the status of biochar in the country. The motivation behind the assessment is to gain an understanding of the variables involved in biochar production. Factors such as the production sectors involved, feedstocks, production technologies, project costs and emission mitigation are of interest. The study explores these factors by following five methodological steps. First, the current research on the technology is mapped to understand biochar’s status at a national level. Second, experts are interviewed to collect their views regarding biochar and a PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental &amp; Legal) analysis is employed based on their point of view on the technology. Third, the potential sources of residual biomass which could be used to produce biochar in the agricultural sector are quantified. The approach to biochar’s potential is enriched with a focused in-person case study of biochar production from oil palm residues. Fourth, these residual biomass sources are subsequently employed to estimate the emissions sequestered in their biochar production. Lastly, project feasibility implementation is evaluated through a techno-economic to identify the project’s main cost drivers. The results are then discussed using a SWOT (Strength, Weaknesses, and Opportunities &amp; Threats) analysis. The existing studies and the local experts’ opinion indicate that biochar potential is in the agricultural sector and that it can be thought of for soil adaptation. Biochar’s emission mitigation is considered an added value. In 2021, the agricultural sector produced near 73 million tonnes of agricultural products. The residues from agriculture could be used for biochar production. If the residues from the most produced agricultural products are transformed into biochar, about 1 to 2,2 tonne of CO2 per tonne of biochar could be avoided. The published literature and the in-person study visit confirmed that the largest advance in biochar production and use in Colombia is in the oil palm sector. Palm kernel shell, fibre and empty fruit bunches are the oil palm residues that could be used to produce biochar. From 1 tonne of these three oil palm residues, about 60 kg of biochar can be obtained. The results show that currently there is no market for trading with biochar in Colombia. High investments, transport and feedstock costs are identified obstacles. An Advanced Technology pyrolizer cost can cost around 330.000 USD while a Basic Technology one can be around 100 USD. Taxes associated with revenue from the biochar trade can negatively impact a biochar project’s feasibility. In this study, a price for biochar is estimated using break-even analysis. Under the assumptions used, the biochar price per tonne is around 200 to 1.000 USD. Price variability is explained in the technologies used for production, feedstock biomass availability and variable revenues from biochar sales. / Koldioxidutsläppen till atmosfären behöver minskas för att undvika de negativa effekterna av klimatförändringar. Olika länder har presenterat på sina nationellt fastställda bidrag (NDC) hur sina mål för begränsning av klimatförändringarna skulle kunna uppnås. I Colombia är planen att uppnå koldioxidneutralitet år 2050. Ett sätt att uppnå detta mål är att minska utsläpp genom naturbaserade lösningar (NBS). Biokol är en NBS som kan användas som landbaserade åtgärder för att minska växthusgasutsläpp eller öka koldioxidupptag. Forskning har bevisat att biokol användes i Amazonas för ungefär tusen år sedan. Biokol framställs genom långsam pyrolys av restprodukter av biomass. Kolet i biomassan binds i biokolet genom pyrolysis, vilket förhindrar koldioxidens utsläppning till atmosfären. Biokol inkluderas ännu inte i Colombias strategi för koldioxidneutralitet. Syftet med detta projekt är att undersöka biokolets produktionspotential i Colombia son ett landbaserade åtgärder (LMT). En analys gjordes för att identifiera statusen av biokol runt om i landet. Faktorer såsom berörda produktionssektorer, råvaror, produktionstekniker, projektkostnader och koldioxidutsläppen var av intresse. Studien undersöker faktorerna ovan genom att tillämpa en femstegsmetod. Först identifierades den aktuella forskningen om biokol i Colombia. Sedan intervjuades experter för att samla in deras åsikter om biokol och en PESTEL analys (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental &amp; Legal) användes. Nästa steg i metoden var att kvantifiera potentialen av restprodukter inom jordbrukssektorn. Detta steg kompletterades med en fallstudie som fokuserade på biokolproduktion från rester från oljepalmer och sedan beräknades utsläppen som binds i biokol. Till sist utvärderades projektets genomförbarhet genom en teknoekonomisk analys som identifierade viktigaste drivkrafterna bakom kostnaderna. Resultaten diskuterades med hjälp av en SWOT analys (Strength, Weaknesses, and Opportunities &amp; Threats). Experter och forskningsresultat om biokol i Colombia anger att det finns stor potential nom jordbrukssektor där biokol skulle kunna användas för jordförbättring, medan utsläppsminskningar endast anses vara en ytterligare fördel. År 2021 Colombias jordbrukssektor producerade nästan 73 millioner tonne av jordbruksprodukter och restprodukter från jordbruket kan användas för produktion av biokol. För varje ton biokol som produceras undviks ungefär 1 till 2,2 tonne koldioxid. Litteraturen och studiebesöket bekräftade att största framsteget inom produktion och användning av biokol i Colombia händer inom oljepalmssektorn. Palmkärnor, fibrer och tomma fruktknippar är restprodukterna som kan användas för att producera biokol. En ton av dessa tre typer av oljepalmsrester ger cirka 60 kg biokol. Resultaten visar att det inte finns en marknad för biokol i Colombia. Höga investeringskostnader, transport-och råvarukostnader är främsta hindarna som identifierades. En pyrolysanläggning med avancerad teknik kostar cirka 330 000 US-dollar, medan en pyrolysanläggning med grundläggande teknik kostar cirka 100 US -dollar. Skatter på inkomster från biokolsförsäljning kan ha en negativ effekt på genomförbarhet. Studien uppskattas ett pris för biokol med hjälp av en break-even-analys och visar att cirka 200 till 1.000 USD per tonne biokol vore ett möjligt prisintervall. Prisvariationerna förklaras av tekniken som används för produktion, tillgång på biomassa som råvara och varierande intäkter från biokolförsäljning.

Northern Canadian peatlands contain vast deposits of carbon. It is with growing urgency that we seek a better understanding of their assimilative capacity. Assimilative capacity and peat accumulation in raised bogs are linked to primary productivity of resident Sphagnum species. Understanding moisture-mediated photosynthesis of Sphagnum spp. is central to understanding peat production rates. The relationship between depth to water table fluctuation and spectral reflectance of Sphagnum moss was investigated using multispectral imaging at a recovering raised bog on the southwest coast of British Columbia, Canada. Burns Bog is a temperate oceanic ombrotrophic bog. Three ecohydrological indicator species of moss were chosen for monitoring: S. capillifolium, S. papillosum, and S. cuspidatum. Three spectral vegetation indices (SVIs) were used to characterize Sphagnum productivity: the normalized difference vegetation index 660, the chlorophyll index, and the photochemical reflectance index. In terms of spectral sensitivity and the appropriateness of SVIs to species and field setting, we found better performance for the normalized difference vegetation index 660 in the discrimination of moisture mediated species-specific reflectance signals. The role that spatiotemporal scale and spectral mixing can have on reflectance signal fidelity was tested. We were specifically interested in the relationship between changes in the local water table and Sphagnum reflectance response, and whether shifting between close spatial scales can affect the statistical strength of this relationship. We found a loss of statistical significance when shifting from the species-specific cm2 scale to the spectrally mixed dm2 scale. This spatiospectral uncoupling of the moisture mediated reflectance signal has implications for the accuracy and reliability of upscaling from plot based measurements. In terms of species-specific moisture mediated reflectance signals, we were able to effectively discriminate between the three indicator species of Sphagnum along the hummock-to-hollow gradient. We were also able to confirm Sphagnum productivity and growth outside of the vascular growing season, establishing clear patterns of reflectance correlated with changes in the local moisture regime. The strongest relationships for moisture mediated Sphagnum productivity were found in the hummock forming species S. capillifolium. Each indicator Sphagnum spp. of peat has distinct functional traits adapted to its preferred position along the ecohydrological gradient. We also discovered moisture mediated and species-specific reflectance phenologies. These phenospectral characteristics of Sphagnum can inform future monitoring work, including the creation of a regionally specific phenospectral library. It’s recommended that further close scale multispectral monitoring be carried out incorporating more species of moss, as well as invasive and upland species of concern. Pervasive vascular reflectance bias in remote sensing products has implications for the reliability of peatland modelling. Avoiding vascular bias, targeted spectral monitoring of Sphagnum indicator species provides a more reliable measure for the modelling of peatland productivity and carbon assimilation estimates. / Graduate