Biofuels Potential Harm To Biodiversity Claims European Report
Rome, Italy (SPX) Jan 25, 2011 Biofuels and their invasive potential is a problem being address worldwide. A report was written for the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (known as the Council of Europe-Bern Convention) by the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) - an agency led by the Italian Ministry for the Environment. Following the report the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention, worried that the increase of biofuel cropping systems may lead to cultivation escapes of invasive taxa with subsequent negative effect on native biological diversity, adopted advices to reduce impacts, of potentially invasive alien plants being used as biofuel crops, on species biodiversity and natural ecosystems. The Recommendation, warns that some biofuel crops may invade areas outside cultivated fields, and in so doing may impact on native biodiversity. The Council of Europe, made advices to reduce potential invasiveness of alien plants being used as biofuel crops. It is important, stated the group of experts, to bring in pre-cultivation screening for each proposed genotype and region. In addition new cultivation criteria to limit the dispersal and recruitment capacity of the invasive crops need to be introduced. Without these measures, escaped biofuel crops may cause loss of native biodiversity and farmland functionality.
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Energy Department backs biofuel plant Washington (UPI) Jan 21, 2011 The U.S. Department of Energy said it was offering a conditional loan guarantee of $241 million for a Louisiana biofuels plant. Diamond Green Diesel - a joint venture between Valero Energy Corp. and rendering company Darling International Inc. - would be capable of producing more than 9,300 barrels a day - 137 million gallons a year - of renewable diesel. Valero Energy, the na ... read more |
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