What is it about?

Global demand for biomass from the southeastern U.S. to support bioenergy production is increasing. The region contains forest ecosystems with high biodiversity, including bottomland hardwood and longleaf pine ecosystems, which could be affected by bioenergy production. We used simulation models to project future changes in the areas of forest ecosystems under scenarios of bioenergy production. Using forests for biomass retained more forest overall, but resulted in smaller areas of high-biodiversity habitats. Conversely, using agricultural crops reduced forest area, but retained more high-biodiversity habitat. Our results demonstrate the complex effects of bioenergy production and can inform evaluations of bioenergy sustainability.

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Why is it important?

As policies promoting the use of bioenergy are increasing globally, it is important to examine all aspects of its sustainability. In the southeastern US, there is potential for a large amount of biomass to be produced for bioenergy, and specifically for wood pellets. Our work showed that biomass harvest could have a large effect on forests and habitats, and especially in the coastal plain, which is a region that has been globally recognized for its biodiversity. That means that developing and implementing best practices for biomass production will be essential for maintaining diversity, and for ensuring the sustainability of bioenergy.

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This page is a summary of: Bioenergy production and forest landscape change in the southeastern United States, GCB Bioenergy, August 2016, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/gcbb.12386.
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