Biofuels and Biodiversity, Wildlife Habitat Restoration

Abstract

In an effort to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and enhance energy security, many countries have tried mandating the use of bioenergy and heavily investing in its research, development, and production. At first glance, these mandates and the bioenergy production they spark appeared to be a boon for the environment, including wildlife; society is attempting to make much needed shifts from fossil fuels, curb greenhouse-gas emissions, and reduce the impacts of future climate change. Closer scrutiny, however, reveals that large-scale bioenergy production can constitute an environmental boondoggle, largely because of shifts in land use that are occurring to support it. The conversion of native systems to bioenergy production is clearly harmful, while the replacement of high-input and low-diversity crops on non-prime agricultural lands with high-diversity systems could be helpful. Ultimately, whether future bioenergy production is helpful or harmful to wildlife depends on society’s choice of bioenergy production systems and their configuration at a variety of scales.