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Is energy cropping in Europe compatible with biodiversity?. Opportunities and threats to biodiversity from land-based production of biomass for bioenergy purposes

Based on literature and six country studies (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands,
Sweden, Slovakia) this paper discusses the compatibility of the EU 2020 targets for
renewable energy with conservation of biodiversity.
We conclude that increased demand for biomass for bioenergy purposes may lead to
a continued conversion of valuable habitats into productive lands and to intensification,
which both have negative effects on biodiversity. On the other hand, increased demand for
biomass also provides opportunities for biodiversity, both within existing productive lands
and in abandoned or degraded lands. Perennial crops may lead to increased diversity in
crop patterns, lower input uses, and higher landscape structural diversity which may all
have positive effects on biodiversity.
In production forest opportunities exist to harvest primary wood residues. Removal of
these forest residues under strict sustainability conditions may become economically
attractive with increased biomass demand.
An additional biomass potential is represented by recreation areas, road-side verges,
semi-natural and natural areas and lands which have no other use because they have been
abandoned, polluted or degraded.
Whether effects of cropping of biomass and/or removal of biomass has positive or
negative impact on biodiversity depends strongly on specific regional circumstances, the
type of land and land use shifts involved and the associated management practices in
general. However, it is clear that in the six countries studied certain types of biomass crops
are likely to be more sustainable than others.

Details

Aantal pagina's 14
Volume 55
Pagina's (van-tot) 73–86
Type A1: Web of Science-artikel
Categorie Onderzoek
Tijdschrift Biomass and bioenergy
Issns 0961-9534
Uitgeverij Pergamon
Taal Engels
Bibtex

@misc{78a0a60b-37c1-44f7-9f88-6dd51339c8ce,
title = "Is energy cropping in Europe compatible with biodiversity?",
abstract = "Based on literature and six country studies (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands,
Sweden, Slovakia) this paper discusses the compatibility of the EU 2020 targets for
renewable energy with conservation of biodiversity.
We conclude that increased demand for biomass for bioenergy purposes may lead to
a continued conversion of valuable habitats into productive lands and to intensification,
which both have negative effects on biodiversity. On the other hand, increased demand for
biomass also provides opportunities for biodiversity, both within existing productive lands
and in abandoned or degraded lands. Perennial crops may lead to increased diversity in
crop patterns, lower input uses, and higher landscape structural diversity which may all
have positive effects on biodiversity.
In production forest opportunities exist to harvest primary wood residues. Removal of
these forest residues under strict sustainability conditions may become economically
attractive with increased biomass demand.
An additional biomass potential is represented by recreation areas, road-side verges,
semi-natural and natural areas and lands which have no other use because they have been
abandoned, polluted or degraded.
Whether effects of cropping of biomass and/or removal of biomass has positive or
negative impact on biodiversity depends strongly on specific regional circumstances, the
type of land and land use shifts involved and the associated management practices in
general. However, it is clear that in the six countries studied certain types of biomass crops
are likely to be more sustainable than others.",
author = "B Pedroli and B Pedroli and B Elbersen and B Elbersen and P Frederiksen and P Frederiksen and U Grandin and U Grandin and R Heikkila and R Heikkila and P Henning Krogh and P Henning Krogh and Z Izakovicová and Z Izakovicová and A Johansen and A Johansen and Linda Meiresonne and Linda Meiresonne and J Spijker and J Spijker",
year = "2013",
month = jan,
day = "01",
doi = "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2012.09.054",
language = "Nederlands",
publisher = "Pergamon",
address = "België,
type = "Other"
}

Auteurs

B Pedroli
B Pedroli
B Elbersen
B Elbersen
P Frederiksen
P Frederiksen
U Grandin
U Grandin
R Heikkila
R Heikkila
P Henning Krogh
P Henning Krogh
Z Izakovicová
Z Izakovicová
A Johansen
A Johansen
Linda Meiresonne
Linda Meiresonne
J Spijker
J Spijker