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Wales Energy Crops Information Centre

Biodiversity and environment

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Energy crops and their effects on the environment have lead to some level of debate. There is some public concern that huge swathes of land will be turned over to these crops to the detriment of the landscape.  Similar to all crops, energy crops need to be managed in a sustainable way.  Whilst they are recognised as carbon neutral, it is also important to consider and address the energy implications of production, processing and subsequent transportation of the harvested crop. 

Examples of positive and negative aspects of Willow and Miscanthus

Positive:

  • Much lower agricultural inputs than arable crops.  Fertiliser and herbicide use is generally restricted to the crop establishment phase.
  • Reduced nitrate leaching
  • Improvements to soil structure and nutrient levels and no annual soil disturbance through cultivation activities.
  • Willow crops do not displace species and have high levels of biodiversity
  • Miscanthus offers new over wintering sites to birds, small mammals and invertebrates

Negative: 

  • Willow roots can cause damage if planted near drains
  • Crops are very tall and like tree plantings can have a significant visual impact on the landscape
  • Miscanthus is not a UK native, however it is not invasive and most varieties are sterile hybrids.
  • Could possibly have a negative impact if grown extensively as a monoculture.

The effects of energy crops on the Welsh landscape will depend upon a number of factors such as, crop chosen for a given site, the land use they are replacing, the way they are managed and the scale and pattern of planting.  There needs to be a balance between climate, water availability, soil, biodiversity and the rural economy.  As a result sites for growing energy crops must meet the requirement of an Environmental Impact Assessment.

Where energy crops form part of a farm or regions cropping they add to diversity. Due to the lower levels of fertilisers, herbicides etc and reduced soil cultivations they can contribute to improving farmland in environmental terms.

The Wales Biomass Centre website has some excellent pages on the environmental aspects of energy crop production covering Willow, Miscanthus, Reed Canary Grass together with management techniques.

If you wish to look at this topic in greater depth a range of reports can be accessed via Department of Trade and Industry website.  Examples include:

  1. The effects of energy grass plantations on biodiversity.
  2. ARBRE Monitoring – Ecology of Short Rotation Coppice 
  3. Assessment of the visual impacts of SRC plantations.
  4. The effects on fauna and flora of converting grassland to Short rotation Coppice.