1. Bio-energy Insurance Policy: Ensuring the Sustainability of Feedstocks Barbara J. Bramble Senior Program Advisor for International Affairs

2. NWF’s priorities are to Confront Global Warming, as the single most urgent challenge to protecting wildlife for our children’s future and to Restore Wildlife, through a robust network of habitats (terrestrial and aquatic) to support healthy plants and animals.

3. Clarify NWF Position: We support a long-term growth pattern to “sustainable” Next Generation Bio-energy – as one among many long-term strategies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We propose a specific new Farm Bill program for cellulosic ethanol.

4. Low Grade Woody Biomass Could Help Keep Standing Forests Standing: There is a CURRENT market for pellets and chips. No need to wait for carbon markets. Incentive to help pay for fire management Potentially an incentive to forestall forest conversion Deforestation produces almost 20% of global GHG

5. The Industry Must Demonstrate Sustainable Harvesting Practices Otherwise, biomass for power may get caught up in the NEW frenzy over biofuels And The decades OLD fight over logging practices and the role of the National Forests

6. Woody Biomass May Benefit from New Technology, as part of the Next Generation of Biofuels: Cellulosic ethanol, using mixed grasses and wood as feedstocks Clean biogas and pyrolysis Using a variety of waste products, instead of dedicated energy crops

7. But the current market is for 1st generation technology, using forest thinnings and residues for power Moderate contribution to energy consumption Conservation groups see this as a good use for limited biomass removal, if done with safeguards.

8. --NOT ALL BIO-ENERGY IS “SUSTAINABLE”-- THE BENEFITS ARE NOT PRODUCED AUTOMATICALLY THEY MUST BE PRODUCED UNDER SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS

9. Bio-energy that is produced with conservation safeguards for Water and Wildlife may gain public Support: Protect watersheds and waterways (Water will be even more stressed as global warming advances) Avoid erosion, water pollution and run-off Protect habitat values and biological diversity Follow the principles and criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council

10. But otherwise, controversy may stymie industry growth: The pushback is already beginning

11. Fossil Energy Balance Source: Worldwatch Institute

12. Greenhouse Gas Reductions

13. International Conference in Bonn: “Sustainability Criteria for Bio-energy” October 12-13, 2006 Products: Compilation of concerns about the potentially serious negative impacts Awareness that these concerns may produce conflicts and impede growth of the Bio-energy industries Chair’s Final Statement recommended next steps

14. Provocative conclusion from several experts’ studies: If land that currently stores significant amounts of carbon (such as forests, native prairies, peat lands) is plowed up to produce row crops for 1st generation biofuels, the GHG impacts are negative, not positive. Even if such land is plowed up to plant perennial energy crops, such as palm oil trees, the GHG balance can still be negative from 50 to 100 years.

15. Key Recommendations from Bonn Conference final document: “ Sustainability” safeguards are essential - To protect people and environment - To reduce controversies over negative environmental and social impacts Certification system is needed –To translate sustainability safeguards into performance measures –To involve stakeholders and ensure credibility –Can be legislative or voluntary

16. Conservation/Sustainability Legislative and Regulatory Initiatives The Netherlands: has proposed a new program to set Criteria for Sustainable Biomass Production Germany: proposal to link tax breaks for biofuels to certification that they were produced in a sustainable way The European Union: is evaluating how much biomass can be harvested sustainably from their forests. California’s new Biomass plan presumes need for sustainability standards

17. Recently Launched Private Sector Sustainability Standards Initiative Multi-stakeholder process, including industry, environmental and social advocates, producer groups including from developing countries, academic experts and inter-governmental bodies. Based in Switzerland at a technical university. Goal: to build on existing internationally agreed standards and assurance schemes, to create a practical and credible evaluation process for use by purchasers, banks, NGOs, governments, etc. Process will be transparent and balanced among stakeholders.

18. Barbara J. Bramble Senior Program Advisor for International Affairs bramble@nwf.org

19. Civil Society Organizations value forests for: Water retention Biological diversity Ecosystem services In addition to wood products.

20. Don’t repeat the mistakes of the past The bio-energy/ forestry industry could be a terrific and publicly supported piece of the overall solution to global warming, IF sustainable land management and production are the hallmarks. What a shame if it goes a different route, and runs into damaging controversy.