The Ecological Impact of Biofuels

The ecological impact of biofuels is mediated through their effects on land, air, and water In 2008, about 33 3 million ha were used to produce food-based biofuels and their coproducts Biofuel production from food crops is expected to increase 170% by 2020 Economic model estimates for land-use change (LUG) associated with food-based biofuels are 67-365 ha 10(-6) l(-1), leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions for decades compared to business as usual Biodiversity is reduced by about 60% in U S corn and soybean fields and by about 85% in Southeast Asian oil palm plantations compared to unconverted habitat Consequently, the largest ecological impact of biofuel production may well come from market-mediated LUG Mitigating this impact requires targeting biofuel production to degraded and abandoned cropland and rangeland, increasing crop yields and livestock production efficiency, use of wastes, residues, and wildlife-friendly crops, and compensatory offsite mitigation for residual direct and indirect impacts