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How does biomass energy affect biodiversity and ecosystem services?

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Biomass energy is the use of organic matter, such as plants, wood, animal waste, or landfill gas, to generate heat or electricity. It is often considered a renewable and low-carbon source of energy, as it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel dependence. However, biomass energy also has significant impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services, which are the benefits that nature provides to humans and other living organisms. In this article, you will learn how biomass energy affects different aspects of biodiversity and ecosystem services, and what can be done to minimize the negative effects and maximize the positive ones.

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Bill Copeland

Healthy lands, waters and people

1 What is biodiversity and why is it important?

Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, including genes, species, and ecosystems. It is essential for the functioning of natural systems, such as nutrient cycling, water purification, soil formation, climate regulation, and pollination. Biodiversity also supports human well-being, health, food security, culture, and recreation. According to the United Nations, biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate due to human activities, such as land use change, overexploitation, pollution, invasive species, and climate change. This poses serious risks for the sustainability of life on Earth and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

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2 How does biomass energy affect biodiversity at the landscape level?

Biomass energy can have positive or negative effects on biodiversity at the landscape level, depending on the type, source, and management of biomass. For example, using waste biomass, such as agricultural residues, animal manure, or municipal solid waste, can reduce pressure on land and forests, and provide nutrients and organic matter to the soil. However, using dedicated biomass crops, such as fast-growing trees or grasses, can cause land use change, habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation, and affect the distribution and abundance of species. Moreover, harvesting biomass from natural or semi-natural ecosystems, such as forests or grasslands, can alter the structure, composition, and function of these habitats, and reduce their resilience and adaptive capacity.

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Bill Copeland

Healthy lands, waters and people
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The removal of biomass from terrestrial systems for use in energy generation is nearly always damaging to that system. The removal of wood from forests, for example, removes nutrients, reduces available food stores, eliminates habitats (macro and micro) and reduces soil moisture. The biomass removal process itself - which uses large machines - is physically destructive, killing animals and plants by crushing and compacts the soil. Propagules of invasive plants are often brought to previous uncontaminated sites on these machines. At the landscape scale, biomass extraction reduces resilience and fragments the landscape, reducing connectivity. In a warming climate forest biomass extraction, where extensive, may lead to system collapse.

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3 How does biomass energy affect biodiversity at the species level?

Biomass energy can also have positive or negative effects on biodiversity at the species level, depending on the diversity, productivity, and sustainability of biomass. For example, using diverse and native species of biomass can enhance species richness, genetic diversity, and ecosystem stability. However, using monocultures or invasive species of biomass can reduce species diversity, increase pest and disease outbreaks, and displace or compete with native species. Moreover, harvesting biomass at unsustainable rates or without proper management can threaten the survival and reproduction of endangered or vulnerable species, especially those with low population sizes, slow growth rates, or limited ranges.

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Bill Copeland

Healthy lands, waters and people
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There is not a single species that benefits from biomass extraction for energy except humans (OK, maybe dogs). Using diverse and native species as biomass feedstock is a terrible idea because it damages - not enhances - richness, genetic diversity and ecosystem stability. Intentional monocultures are an efficient way to generate carbon feedstock but have major downsides: heavy fertilization and pesticides are required to do this, displacing more naturally diverse systems, fragmenting habitat and polluting waterways.

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4 How does biomass energy affect ecosystem services?

Biomass energy can also have positive or negative effects on ecosystem services, depending on the trade-offs and synergies between different types of services. For example, biomass energy can provide provisioning services, such as energy, fuel, and income, and regulating services, such as carbon sequestration, air quality improvement, and erosion control. However, biomass energy can also affect supporting services, such as soil fertility, water cycle, and biodiversity, and cultural services, such as aesthetic, recreational, and spiritual values. Moreover, biomass energy can have direct or indirect impacts on ecosystem services, depending on the scale, location, and intensity of biomass production and consumption.

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Bill Copeland

Healthy lands, waters and people
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At every scale, extraction for biomass for energy is almost always damaging to ecosystem services because the energy and material removed for our economic use is taken out of the ecosystem where it would normally support these services. Biomass extraction depletes calcium and other nutrients, acidifies soils, reduces water retention and filtration, eliminates trophic structure and diversity and increases the likelihood of disease and invasive establishment. Calcium depletion in terrestrial systems is well documented and calcium is critical in the plant immune response. The extraction of biomass energy reduces the aesthetic, recreational and spiritual values of land at every scale.

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5 How can biomass energy be more biodiversity-friendly and ecosystem-friendly?

Biomass energy can be more biodiversity-friendly and ecosystem-friendly by following some principles and practices that can reduce the negative impacts and enhance the positive impacts of biomass energy. For example, using waste or residual biomass instead of dedicated or natural biomass can avoid land use change and habitat loss. Using diverse and native species of biomass instead of monocultures or invasive species can increase species diversity and ecosystem stability. Using sustainable and adaptive management practices, such as rotation, intercropping, agroforestry, or restoration, can maintain or improve soil quality, water availability, and carbon storage. Using efficient and clean technologies, such as gasification, pyrolysis, or anaerobic digestion, can reduce emissions and waste. Using integrated and participatory approaches, such as life cycle assessment, certification, or stakeholder engagement, can balance the trade-offs and synergies between different types of ecosystem services and social values.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How does biomass energy affect biodiversity and ecosystem services?

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1 What is biodiversity and why is it important?

2 How does biomass energy affect biodiversity at the landscape level?

3 How does biomass energy affect biodiversity at the species level?

4 How does biomass energy affect ecosystem services?

5 How can biomass energy be more biodiversity-friendly and ecosystem-friendly?

6 Here’s what else to consider

Renewable Energy

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How does biomass energy affect biodiversity and ecosystem services?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 What is biodiversity and why is it important?

2 How does biomass energy affect biodiversity at the landscape level?

3 How does biomass energy affect biodiversity at the species level?

4 How does biomass energy affect ecosystem services?

5 How can biomass energy be more biodiversity-friendly and ecosystem-friendly?

6 Here’s what else to consider

Renewable Energy

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