Impacts of Increasing Land Use under Energy Crops
Project Status: Completed
Type of Project: Research Project
Principal Investigator: Dr Angela Karp, Rothamsted
Research (Email)
Website
Publications, Data and Other Outputs
Policy and Practice Note
Objectives
Future policies are likely to encourage more land use under energy crops: principally willow, grown as short rotation coppice, and a tall exotic grass miscanthus. These crops will make an important contribution to the UK’s commitment to reducing CO2 emissions. However, it is not clear how planning decisions based on climate, soil and water should be balanced against impacts on the landscape, social acceptance, biodiversity and rural economy.
This project integrates social, economic, hydrological and biodiversity
studies in an interdisciplinary approach to develop a scientific framework
for Sustainability Appraisal (SA) of the medium and long term conversion
of land to energy crops. We will provide scientific tools for updating
Best Practice Guides and Environmental Impact Assessments, Strategic
Environmental Assessments or SAs involving projects, policies or programmes
where increased planting of energy crops is proposed or anticipated.
The project profits from involvement of the Regional Development Agencies
of the East Midlands and South-West regions used as study areas, industry
representatives and DEFRA. It supports the “sustainable rural
development”, “protection of the rural environment”
and “economic vitality of rural areas” priorities of RELU.
Results will benefit farmers, energy producers, land planners, regional
development agencies, policy makers, environmental agencies and the
public.