Role of Bio-Energy Plantations for Carbon-Dioxide Mitigation with Special Reference to India |
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Authors: | N Hooda V R S Rawat |
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Institution: | (1) Biodiversity and Climate Change Division, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun, 248006, India |
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Abstract: | Fuelwood plays an important role in the rural economy of the developing countries of Asia and Africa. Optimizing energy fixation
in forest trees through high density energy plantations (HDEP), gasification of wood, and conversion of forest tree biomass,
are some of the potential areas whereby additional research and development input for efficient management of atmospheric
carbon in our energy system can be incorporated. For example, the photosynthetic efficiency of forest trees is rarely above
0.5%, which on the basis of theoretical considerations can be increased by up to 6.6%. Thus there is an ample scope to improve
the efficiency up to 1%, which amounts to doubling of the productivity of the forests.
Recent policy changes and experiences with wood-based bio-energy programmes in several countries indicate that woodfuels may
become increasingly attractive as industrial energy sources. Use of biodiesel and the formulation of a project for undertaking
13.4 million ha of Jatropha plantations in India highlight the seriousness with which the Government of India is promoting carbon neutral energy plantations.
The cost of establishment of plantations primarily for fuel production and its conversion to energy are major deterrents in
this pursuit. Some of the issues in developing countries, like low productivity on marginal lands, degraded forest lands,
and unorganized units for biomass energy conversion, result in cost escalation as compared to other energy sources. This paper
revisits the scope for raising energy plantations, a comparison of the direct and indirect mitigation potential uses of plantations
as an adaptation strategy through reforestation and afforestation projects for climate change mitigation and socio-economic
issues to make this venture feasible in developing countries. |
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Keywords: | biodiesel carbon neutral energy carbon sequestration clean development mechanism developing countries energy plantation rural energy |
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