Biomass in different biotopes – an extensive resource - Biomass as Energy Source: Resources, Systems and Applications - page 91

Table 5.2. Areal distribution in Northern European countries.

Land area Forest Agriculture Arable land SUM Cereals

[km 2 ] [km 2 ] [km 2 ] [km 2 ] [km 2 ] [km 2 ] 2008/2009

Austria 82450 38870 31710 13740 84320 8380

Belgium 30280 6780 13730 8450 28960 3450

Denmark 42430 5440 26680 24000 56120 14977

Estonia 42390 22170 8030 5980 36180 3164

Finland 303900 221570 22960 22555 267085 11331

Germany 348630 110760 169220 119330 399310 69084

Netherlands 33760 3650 19293 10666 33609 2208

Norway 305470 100650 10243 8447 119340 3059

Ireland 68890 7390 42001 11010 60401 2935

Latvia 62190 33540 18250 11700 63490 5409

Lithuania 62670 21600 26721 18615 66936 11035

Poland 304220 93370 161540 125710 380620 85828

Sweden 410340 282030 30930 26260 339220 10321

Switzerland 40000 12400 15613 4083 32096 1530

UK 241930 28810 176840 60050 265700 31730

Russian Fed 16376870 8090900 2154940 1216490 11462330 417157

Belarus 202900 86300 89170 55160 230630 24180

Table 5.3. Cereal production in northern European countries.

2008/2009 Cereal production [t/ha]

Austria 6.1 Belgium 9.6 Denmark 6.8 Estonia 2.8

Germany 7.2 Netherlands 9.0 Norway 3.1 Ireland 6.8

Latvia 3.1 Lithuania 3.4 Poland 3.5 Sweden 5.1

Switzerland 6.6 UK 7.0 Russian Fed. 2.3 Belarus 3.4

matter/ha from straw for the cereals, which should be very interesting as raw material for biogas
and ethanol production.
Concerning forestry the dominating trees in the northern boreal region is spruce, pine and
birch. Further to the south, we have more broadleaf hardwood, although there is also a significant
portion of pine and spruce as well. Birch is still common, but also beech ( Fagus silvatica ),
aspen, ashtree, horse chestnut, maple, linden, oak, walnut and other trees. Hazel and juniper are
also common. Larch is more common towards the east. The region consists primarily of Poland,
Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and UK/Ireland.
There is one region in-between the northern/easternTaiga with very harsh conditions in winter-
time and the milder broadleaf region in the south. This consists of southern Norway, southern
Sweden, southern Finland, Estonia, Latvia, northern Lithuania, northern Belarus and central
European Russia. The regions have a lot of mixed trees dominated by oak ( Querqus robur ), Picea
abies (more to the north of the region where it is more moist) and Pinus sylvestris (where it is
drier).
Concerning agricultural crops, the dominating species are wheat and other cereals, potato,
maize, sugar beet and different vegetables. In the Netherlands a lot of vegetables are produced for
export, like tomato, cucumbers, paprika and others. Carrots, onion, beetroot are other important
crops. With respect to fruits apples, plums and berries like wine berries, grapes, raspberries and
strawberries are common, but in Scandinavia and Russia, also wild berries like blue berries and
lingo berries are of significant interest. Some wild trees and bushes like hazelnut also have a
significant interest from the food perspective for both humans and animals.