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The Key Role of Forest Biomass in Energy Sustainability

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The recently published "2024 Firewood Characterization Report" by CONAF provides a critical diagnosis of the sector. The study, conducted across 584 storage sites between the Maule and Aysén regions, revealed that 86% of the inventoried firewood corresponds to dry firewood. Additionally, it was found that 82% of the storage sites report backing the legal origin of their firewood, while 88% implement quality controls to ensure commercialization meets adequate standards.

The Dendroenergy Program of the National Forestry Corporation is implemented in these regions due to their high concentration in the production, sale, and use of biofuels. This process has been developed with the intervention of various public policies promoted by the Ministries of Agriculture, Energy, and the Environment. In this context, data collection was carried out through the "Storage Site Characterization Survey," a tool developed by CONAF's Dendroenergy Unit, which allows analyzing key aspects such as raw material supply, production processes, and commercialization.

Among the most relevant findings, the report highlights that 74% of storage sites are small-scale (less than 500 m3 annually) and that 51% of them belong to owners who produce their own raw material. Additionally, it was identified that 65% of storage sites have initiated operations with the Internal Revenue Service (SII), and 24% hold the "Firewood Quality Seal" certification.

Aída Baldini, Executive Director of CONAF, emphasized the importance of this study, stating that "the characterization of firewood storage sites provides us with key information to continue advancing in the regulation and strengthening of the sector. This report not only helps gauge the scale of the firewood market in the country but also provides essential data to improve oversight and promote sustainable production."

She also added that "the role of the future National Forestry Service (Sernafor) will be crucial in consolidating these strategies, providing a more robust institutional framework to balance conservation and productive development. The data gathered in CONAF's report is a fundamental tool to continue driving the transition toward more efficient, traceable, and sustainable forest biomass."

In economic terms, the collected data reflects that firewood commercialization generates 288 permanent jobs and 1,115 temporary ones, with a 24% increase in job creation compared to 2023. Additionally, the employment generation rate reached 4.3 workers per every 1,000 cubic meters of firewood sold.

Facing the challenges of sustainable forest management, CONAF has reinforced its strategies to increase the area under silvicultural management. This effort seeks to ensure the sustainable production of essential goods and services for local markets, thereby balancing conservation and productivity.

Internationally, forest biomass has gained greater relevance with applications in pulp, boards, energy, biomaterials, and composting. Sustainability in this field is a growing concern, with increasingly stringent traceability standards. In Chile, biomass has played a key role in the energy matrix in recent years, especially in the industrial and residential segments.

The Ministry of Energy, together with CONAF, has been a key player in implementing Law 21,499 on Solid Biofuels Regulation to improve the sustainability and quality of biomass use. Within this framework, various institutional initiatives have strengthened this market, including oversight, forestry extension, and productive linkages. An example is the Dendroenergy Program of CONAF's Management of Forest and Xerophytic Ecosystems, which coordinates public policies to meet user demand while preparing them for current legislation.