Energy-related services and global environmental concerns - what possible strategies for forestry?

The issues surrounding biomass-based energy are different for industrialised and developing countries and the prospects for future biomass energy use in these two country groups are also different. Many industrialised countries are aiming to increase their use of renewable energy sources (including biomass), in part to fulfill their commitments on greenhouse gas emission levels agreed to in Kyoto. Conversely, many developing countries are aiming to increase their use of fossil fuels in order to increase development and to diversify their energy sources. This paper examines past trends in energy use and demand and indicates sectors in which biomass energy use could be expanded. Since biomase energy has cross-sectoral impacts (e.g. in energy, agriculture, forestry, industry) the paper also indicates why integration within countries regarding the development of energy biomass energy is needed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.