The Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced a scoping project to examine the potential of forestry to provide a source of renewable energy. Around £1.5 million of funding has been allocated for a three year research project to examine the feasibility of short rotation forestry as a viable renewable energy source.
The project will establish a number of sites where intensive research will be carried out and operational-scale plots will be planted. The species will include both naturalised and native broadleaved trees as well as other species such as eucalyptus that have the potential to be used for biomass.
The plots will be monitored to establish the environmental impacts and sustainability of short rotation forestry as a renewable energy source. Defra will be working closely with the Forestry Commission England to set up the project which will provide ongoing monitoring and scientific data on hydrology, economic viability, carbon balance and possible environmental risks such as the impact of the project on landscape and biodiversity.
Monitoring and evaluation will also be linked to the results of short rotation forestry trials in Scotland which are currently being established.
Forestry Update is sponsored by Greenwood Management. For more information on investing in Forestry please click here
