A study conducted at the University of Groningen by Finn Danielson explored the impact of palm oil plantations on greenhouse gas emissions and their effects on biodiversity. The study was an extensive review of how carbon stock varies with changes in land use, compared to the reduction in carbon emissions observed when fossil fuels are replaced with biofuels.

Currently, rain forests contain approximately 46% of the world’s carbon; and deforestation of this climate accounts for about 25% of net global carbon emissions. As such, there is much debate on whether or not the deforestation (for the purposes of building of biofuel production facilities) of tropical rain forests, one of the world’s largest carbon sinks, is an efficient method of reducing global carbon emissions.

The consensus was that further deforestation of vibrant rain forests is, on the whole, counterproductive and may, in fact, lead to accelerated climate change. Their proposed alternative suggests using degraded grasslands, as well as those rainforests that have already been severely depleted.

The study also briefly addressed the effects of deforestation on biodiversity in the tropical regions of the world. The conclusions reached regarding this matter was, though some steps have been made by the palm oil industry to minimize the impact of its plantations on biodiversity, there is currently little regard for any potential impacts on the global climate.

In the on-going race to “green our world” many efficiency studies are proving to be worth their weight in carbon. It’s due to such consistent evaluations that the scientific community can now recognize that rain forest preservation is just as important as the creation of alternatives to fossil fuels in the search for a more energy efficient world.

Discussion Question: With the understanding that tropical land must be preserved as carbon sinks and that agricultural land must also be preserved without jeopardizing the public food supply, what sorts of dilemmas will the biofuel industry face with such a scarcity of land?

Article Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090414120452.htm

Journal Link: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121536533/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0