WWF Living Forests Reports: Chapter 2 - Forests and Energy

WWF envisions a world where energy consumption is reduced and supplied 100 per cent from renewable sources by 2050. A scenario detailed for WWF's Energy Report suggests that, to achieve this vision, 40 per cent of energy demand will need to be met with bioenergy.

Bioenergy can provide diverse sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, plus new incomes and increased energy security for rural communities. However, for these benefits to be realized, its use must be carefully planned, implemented and monitored for environmental and social sustainability. Expanding bioenergy production has the potential to compound food and water shortages and accelerate natural habitat loss. Managing these risks will require strong social and environmental safeguards.

Future technologies may allow energy to be produced from feedstocks that use less of the world's finite land and water resources and are viable for a wide range of uses. This chapter of the Living Forests Report explores the land-use implications of a growing bioenergy sector, looking at the main trends projected over the next few decades.