Outlook Forum 2007

Outlook Session 2007: Forum on Climate Change, Forests and Bioenergy

The future course of sustainable forest management in the US will be determined as much by energy as by traditional forest policy. Two major national priorities-mitigating climate change, and achieving greater energy independence through increased renewable energy production-have converged to create new and rapidly expanding markets for woody biomass. This rising energy source could represent a positive new force for sustainable forest management. Careful consideration is needed, however, to avoid unintended negative consequences for biological diversity, water quality, and other important conservation values. Speakers and participants in this forum addressed the potential for wood-based bioenergy development, implications for sustainable forest management on public lands, and policy tools that might be developed or adapted to provide essential environmental safeguards.

Session Summary: Ensuring Forest Sustainability in the Development of Wood-based Bioenergy. V. Alaric Sample, President, Pinchot Institute for Conservation. Download pdf

Presentations:

• Priorities in the 110th Congress for addressing challenges in climate change, forests and bioenergy. The Honorable Ron Wyden, Chairman, Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests.

• Anticipating and avoiding unintended negative consequences of wood-based bioenergy. Barbara Bramble, National Wildlife Federation. [Powerpoint]

• Wood-based bioenergy prospects: near-term and long-term: the 20x'25 initiative. Fred Deneke, 25x'25 America's Energy Future. [Powerpoint]

• Ensuring sustainability in private forests in the face of rapidly growing wood-energy demand: the Massachusetts Sustainable Forest Bioenergy Initiative. James DiMaio, Massachusetts Bureau of Forestry. [Powerpoint]

• Community-level wood-based bioenergy: experience and lessons learned. Tim Maker, Biomass Energy Research Center. [Powerpoint]
  

• CROP: Estimating potential sustainable supply for wood-based bioenergy on public and private forest lands. Catherine Mater, Mater Engineering. [Powerpoint]

• Private investment in wood-based bioenergy facilities: potential and needs. Steven Jay Mueller, DG Energy LLC. [Powerpoint]

• Restoration of Forest Resiliency on National Forest System lands: what role for renewable energy? Corbin Newman, USDA Forest Service. [Powerpoint]

Senator Wyden discusses Congressional priorities for forests and renewable energy. Download pdf

Speaker Bios: Download pdf

List of Participants: