WWF

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Forests and Energy: WWF recognizes beneficial impact of well managed plantations on renewable energy strategy

The WWF’s latest ‘Forests & Energy’ report focuses on bioenergy – a potentially renewable and carbon-neutral energy source, but also a potential threat to world forests, food production and, ironically, the climate.

The WWF report uses the Living Forests Model, created in collaboration with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, to examine the land use implications of two key WWF targets: reducing deforestation to near zero by 2020 and meeting 100% of the world’s energy needs from renewable sources by 2050.

The results show that “*we can successfully switch to renewable energy and still protect forests*”.

The report also focuses on the ‘New Generation Plantations’ framework as a valuable tool for energy companies looking into fast-growing plantations. New Generation Plantations stick to the principles of ecosystem integrity, protecting and enhancing high conservation values, ensuring effective stakeholder involvement, and contributing to economic development.

JATRO is pleased that the WWF explicitly recognizes that:

“Well managed plantations in the right places can play a positive role in a future renewable energy strategy”