Biodiversity conservation in the era of biofuels: risks and opportunities

© The Ecological Society of America www.frontiersinecology.org E energy demands, volatile petroleum prices, and growing concerns about climate change have spurred worldwide interest in alternatives to fossil fuels. Biofuels, or fuels produced from biomass, have become a major focus of attention, because they represent a potential means of both reducing dependence on fossil fuels and lowering net emissions of atmospheric CO2 (Fargione et al. 2008; Charles 2009). In the US, legislation has stimulated rapid expansion of biofuel production by subsidizing producers and refiners, enacting tariffs on imports, and requiring benchmark production goals (US Congress 2007). To meet these production goals, a substantial shift in land area devoted to the production of biofuel crops is expected (eg Donner and Kucharik 2008; McDonald et al. 2009). Because of the importance of habitat alteration to biodiversity, there is an urgent need for information regarding the potential consequences of increased biofuel production on biodiversity (Robertson et al. 2008). Using a quantitative meta-analysis, we evaluate the biodiversity value of different biofuel crops being considered in the US relative to habitats that they could replace. We then discuss the role of management strategies relevant to biofuels production and biodiversity within fields and across production landscapes. Finally, we identify important open questions and research needs, and highlight opportunities for biodiversity conservation associated with increased biofuel production.