Wayne,
Certain types of biomass crops currently in production (e.g.
short-rotation woody biomass) do have a higher biodiversity value to
certain taxa than traditional intensively managed row-crops. This
includes next-generation crops such as switchgrass and mixed-grass-forb
prairie, which are only now entering production in North America thanks
to incentives provided through the BCAP program. These feedstocks also
appear to provide enhanced biodiversity value over rowcrops that they
may replace and can increase landscape heterogeneity, which also
benefits biodiversity at larger spatial scales. While research is still
needed, especially to study how various biodiversity components will
fare in more intensively managed perennially-based feedstock stands,
these types of biomass feedstocks seem to have potential to enhance
biodiversity when they enter existing agricultural landscapes.
Replacement of grasslands with any type of crop is, of course, going to
be a very bad decision for biodiversity given the history and state of
this ecosystem in North America. The Europeans have been attempting to
provide some guidance for producers on how to produce bioenergy with
minimal impacts to biodiversity. While they have had some failures in
this respect, they are well ahead of North America in that they have
enforced producer standards to minimize biodiversity losses.
Bruce
On 8/15/2011 4:52 PM, Wayne Tyson wrote:
Ecolog:
Whilst "researching" something else, I came across this interesting item and website. I
have not delved into the details, but couldn't help but stumble when I came to: "The challenge
is to provide a methodology and relevant information for all Article 17(c) categories that an
operator can follow to avoid these grassland areas."
I am struck by the implicit presumption (perhaps well-calculated evidence exists, but I
am ignorant of it) that ANY kind of "biofuel" production has any net positive
effect upon any ecosystem, or, for that matter, that any such production even pencils out
on the positive side of an net-energy calculation.
I stand ready to be educated to the contrary.
WT
http://www.natureserve.org/publications/library.jsp#techrpts
World Grasslands and Biodiversity Patterns
2010
The European Union Directive from 2008 on the promotion and use of energy from renewable resources
referred to as "RED" states that biofuels and bioliquids cannot be produced from raw
material obtained from land with high biodiversity value. These lands are defined to include, among
other categories, "highly biodiverse grassland areas, including natural and non-natural
grasslands." The challenge is to provide a methodology and relevant information for all
Article 17(c) categories that an operator can follow to avoid these grassland areas. 29 OF PAGES,
PDF file (422 KB); Details of source information, XLXS file (755 KB)
--
Bruce Robertson
Postdoctoral Fellow
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Migratory Bird Center
National Zoological Park
PO Box 37012, MRC 5503
Washington, DC 20013-7012
[email protected]
206-718-9172
Homepage: http://brucerobertson.weebly.com/
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"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known"
- Carl Sagan
