The Forestry Commission today welcomed the announcement by DTI and Defra of the Government’s response to the Biomass Task Force report. The response sets out an action plan to unlock the potential for renewable energy from organic materials, including wood.

The report highlights a key role for the Forestry Commission in the long-term development of a UK-wide sustainable biomass industry.

Lord Clark, Chairman of the Forestry Commission, said:

“We welcome this response, in particular the opportunities it presents for woodfuel in meeting renewable energy goals in England. We believe that our forests and woodlands have a vital role to play in mitigating some of the impacts of climate change."

One of the areas highlighted by the report is the potential for a sustainable biomass supply from existing woodlands.

The Forestry Commission in England has been asked to prepare a strategy and implementation plan to take this forward. This will involve working with the private sector and Regional Development Agencies to progressively deliver an additional 2 million tonnes a year from existing woodland. This work could help support a major increase in woodland management activity across England.

In Scotland and Wales, the Commission is also working closely with the devolved administrations, and with the private sector, to ensure that woodfuel has its proper place in the delivery of renewable energy strategies.

The Commission will also, through its research agency, Forest Research, develop a one-stop-shop resource for expert information and advice on biomass - the Biomass Energy Centre. This is a natural extension of its role in carrying out research and collecting data to develop best practice for industry and the public.

Lord Clark added:

“This response puts the Commission at the heart of woodfuel developments in England as well as in Scotland and Wales. We have project officers on the ground across Britain and with their colleagues in Forest Research they give us a body of experience and expertise to help deliver on renewable energy over the coming months and years.

“These developments could make an enormous difference to the management of woodland across the sector. In England especially, we could engage more woodland owners in the profitable management of woods. This kind of advance is a double hit for us – it will not only raise our game in the climate change battle, but also give us more managed woodlands where the active interest of owners and managers will make for better habitats for our wildlife."

Professor Jim Lynch, the Chief Executive of Forest Research, said:

“Clearly the potential contribution of woodfuel to meeting energy needs is something on which we have been working closely with our colleagues in UK government and the devolved administrations. This response gives us another opportunity and remit to take this forward. Forest Research has already created a Woodfuel Research Centre, which brings together some of our key research projects in this field, and co-ordinates work in this ever-expanding area of interest.

“We feel there are real solutions here, and have seen the efficiency and effectiveness of woodfuels in projects up and down Britain. Clearly there are some strong challenges ahead for us in delivering these strands of work, but this report confirms our direction and mandate to continue our work developing biomass opportunities, and having done research on biomass utilization personally over many years I am delighted to be associated with the creation of the Biomass Energy Centre”




Notes to Editors:

1. Defra and DTI jointly published their response to the Biomass Task Force Report today (Thursday 27 July).

The full report is available by linking from Defra's biomass page at www.defra.gov.uk/farm/acu/energy/biomass-taskforce.

More information about the Biomass Energy Centre is also available from the Forest Research website at http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/fr/INFD-6P8G8E

2. The response follows the publication of the Biomass Task Force report in October 2005. The Task force was commissioned by Defra and DTI in October 2004 to help Government and industry develop biomass energy in support of renewable energy targets and sustainable farming and forestry and rural objectives. The members of the task force were Sir Ben Gill CBE (Chair), John Roberts CBE and Nick Hartley.

3. Biomass is material from renewable, organic sources such as trees, other plants, and animal wastes.

4. The Forestry Commission is the government department for forestry in Great Britain. It supports woodland owners with grants, tree felling licences, regulation and advice; promotes the benefits of forests and forestry; and advises Ministers in the UK Government, the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly Government on forestry policy. It manages more than 1.04 million hectares (2.56 million acres) of national forest land owned by Ministers for multiple public benefits such as sustainable timber production, public recreation, nature conservation, and rural and community development. For further information, visit www.forestry.gov.uk.

5. Forest Research is the Commission's agency that carries out world-class scientific research and technical development relevant to forestry for a range of internal and external clients. For further information, visit www.forestresearch.gov.uk.

6. In England, through its regional Conservancies, the Forestry Commission works with partners to deliver regionally developed and implemented Forestry Frameworks. These work alongside Biomass Implementation Groups and Woodland Initiatives to develop biomass and woodfuel opportunities at local and regional level.

7. The Forestry Commission is also using woodfuel energy in heating and energy supplies in new developments at FC sites at Bedgebury in Kent, Grizedale in the Lake District and Dalby in Yorkshire, and regional offices in Aberdeenshire and Inverness.

8. The Biomass Energy Centre outlined in the response will work alongside Forest Research’s Woodfuel Research Centre – which integrates the activity of various project teams investigating aspects of the woodfuel supply chain, particularly in the economic and environmental areas. An ultimate aim of the existing centre is to provide results able to assist the establishment of woodfuel supplies chains throughout Britain.


Issued by the Forestry Commission
Media calls to Rebecca Britton, on 01223 346 027

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