Family Forests: Source of Clean, Renewable Energy
The nation’s family-owned forests can help fuel the next generation of America’s renewable energy. Family forests can sustainably supply roughly 90 million dry tons of renewable material annually, mostly small diameter trees and harvesting byproducts, This can be converted into between 4-6 billion gallons of renewable fuel or enough electricity to power over 1 million homes. In addition to the clean energy benefits, producing renewable energy from sustainable family forests, gives family owners additional markets and revenue streams for their products.
Harvesting renewable energy from forests will lead to cleaner water, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved wildlife habitat, and increased opportunities to keep families on the land and keep their lands forested.
Because of these benefits for family forest owners and the environment, the American Forest Foundation supports increased opportunities for the production of renewable energy from sustainably managed family forests.
To increase opportunities for renewable energy production from family forests biomass, Congress should enact renewable energy policies that:
- Allow all sustainably harvested forest biomass: renewable energy policies, whether incentives or mandates, should encourage the use of any forest biomass that is harvested sustainably, including with verification through appropriate mechanisms.
- Encourage family forest owner participation in markets: renewable energy policies should ensure that small family forest owners can participate in market opportunities and avoid overly burdensome requirements that would prevent landowners from participating.
- Ensure long-term viability of the industry: renewable energy policies should encourage a long-term, sustainable, renewable energy industry that supports strong rural economies and healthy forest landscapes.
- Help Supplement forest products markets: Renewable energy policies should supplement, not replace, existing forest products markets.
- Consider Impacts on Forest Resources: Policies that encourage energy production from forest biomass must consider both the short and long-term impacts of renewable energy markets on forest resources and avoid incentives that lead to unsustainable forest management practices.
Family Forest Owner Testifies before Congress Asking for a fix in the Renewable Fuels Standard Family Forest Owners Urge Congress Not to Leave Them Out of Federal Renewable Energy Policies Foundation weighs in on Renewable Electricity StandardFamily Forest Owner talks about Biomass Crop Assistance Program and Renewable Energy Markets The American Forest Foundation is a nonprofit conservation organization that strives to ensure the continuation of America’s family forests. Each year we train 30,000 educators and help 90,000 landowners to manage forests for wildlife, habitat, recreation and sustainable products.
Policy approved by American Forest Foundation Board, to expire December 31, 2009
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