A friend in need: NRW relies on the SPC strategy.

In January 2007, Kyrill, a storm with hurricane-force winds, left 12 million cubic metres of windthrow in its wake in North Rhine-Westphalia. According to estimates by the forestry administration of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, 1,000 timber carriers would have had to make up to three trips every day until the end of the year to remove the trees.

The initial situation

In January 2007, after Kyrill has swept across Europe, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia finds itself unexpectedly confronted with almost three times the normal annual volume of round timber. The available HGV capacity is nowhere near enough to remove the trees quickly. Further damage is likely.

The requirement

To prevent pest infestation or desiccation of the stem wood, the huge volume of trees has to be quickly removed from the forest areas affected and placed in appropriate temporary storage.

The result

The strategy presented to the Ministry for the Environment and Nature Conservation, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia by the SPC in February identifies above all the capacity of nearby inland ports and waterways. With this initiative, the SPC lays the foundations for cross-modal coordination, as a result of which 220.5 million tonne-kilometres were shifted away from the roads and 15,427 tonnes of CO2 emissions were saved.

• Shortening the distance of the HGV trips means that they can set off more frequently.
• The inland ports offer open space for appropriate temporary storage and open up good intermodal possibilities for onward movement.
• Using inexpensive river/canal water for watering keeps the costs compatible with the achievable market price.