Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Homepage
Scottish Environment LINK - The voice of Scotland's environment movement

THE STATE OF SCOTLAND'S FARMED ENVIRONMENT 2005

12. DEVELOPMENT DIVERSIFICATION AND LAND USE CHANGE INCLUDING ENERGY CROPS

Biomass fuels Related to forestry and agriculture

Biomass fuels are a particular opportunity and have been extensively reviewed in the past 2 years in relation to agricultural diversification (e.g. Towers et al. 2004). Table 12.1 provides a summary of the main biomass fuel groups and fuel types (adapted from Towers et al., 2004).

Table 12.1: Main biomass fuel groups and types

BIOMASS FUEL GROUP

FUEL TYPE

Agricultural Residues

  1. Straw
  2. Animal Manures (Wet)
  3. Animal Manures (Dry)
  4. Animal By-products

Wood Residues

  1. Forestry Residues
  2. Wood Processing Co-products

Energy Crops

  1. Short Rotation Coppice (SRC)
  2. Short Rotation Forestry (SRF)
  3. Energy Grasses
  4. Energy Crops for Liquid Biofuels

Source: Towers et al. (2004)

It is likely that the production of biomass fuels will become locally important over the next decade, however in Scotland the main potential is thought to be associated with wood residues rather than energy crops.

Sources

  • Birnie, R.V ., Curran, J., MacDonald, J.A., Mackey, E.C., Campbell , C.D., McGowan, G., Palmer, S.C.F., Paterson , E., Shaw, P., and Shewry, M.C. (2002): 5. The Land Resources of Scotland : Trends and Prospects for the Environment and Natural Heritage. In The State of Scotland’s Environment and Natural Heritage ed. by Usher M.B., Mackey, E.C. and Curran, J.C. The Stationery Office, Edinburgh . pp.41-81.
  • Haines-Young, R.H. et al., (2000): Accounting for Nature: Assessing Habitats in the UK Countryside. Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, London .
  • Harding , N.J . , Green, R.E. and Summers, R.W. (1994): The Effects of Future Changes in Land Use on Upland Birds in Britain . Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Edinburgh .
  • Hartley, S.E. (1997): The effects of grazing and nutrient inputs on grass-heather competition. Botanical Journal of Scotland , 49, 315-324
  • Jackson , D.L. (2000): Guidance on the interpretation of the biodiversity broad habitat classification (terrestrial and freshwater types): definitions and the relationship with other habitat classifications. Joint Nature Conservation Committee Report No.307.
  • Mackey, E.C ., Shaw P., Holbrook, J., Shewry, M.C. Saunders, G., Hall, J. and Ellis, N. (2001): Natural Heritage Trends: Scotland 2001. Scottish Natural Heritage, Perth .
  • Mackey, E.C ., Shewry, M.C. and Tudor, G.J. (1998): Land Cover Change: Scotland from the 1940s to the 1980s . The Stationery Office, Edinburgh .
  • McGowan, G.M ., et al. (2001): Trends in broad habitats: Scotland 1990-1998. Unpublished report from CEH Banchory.
  • Mellor, D.J. , Love, S., Walker, R., Gettingby, G. and Reid, S.W.J. (2001): Sentinel practice-based survey of the management and health of horses in northern Britain . Veterinary Record149, 417-423.
  • Quetier F.F . and Gordon, I.J. (2003): ‘Horsiculture’: how important a land use change in Scotland ? Scottish Geographical Journal119(2), p.153-158.
  • Scottish Executive (2000a): Statistical Bulletin Environment Series: Scottish Vacanat and Derelict Land Survey 1999 . Government Statistical Service, Edinburgh.
  • Scottish Executive (2005):Agriculture Facts and Figures SEERAD 2005 External Website
  • SNH (2001a): Natural heritage trends: land cover 1947-1988. Semi-natural habitats. Information & Advisory Note No. 124.
  • SNH (2001b): Natural heritage trends: land cover 1947-1988. Mountain, moor and heath. Information & Advisory Note No. 127.
  • Staines , B.W ., Balharry, R. and Welch, D. (1995): The impact of red deer and their management on the natural heritage in the uplands. In Heaths and Moorland – Cultural Landscapes ed. by D.B.A. Thompson, A.J. Hester and M.B. Usher. HMSO, Edinburgh. pp. 294-308.
  • Towers, W., Birnie, R.V., Booth, E., Walker, K., Howes, P. (2004): Energy from crops, timber and agricultural residue. Report to SEERAD under contract MLU/926/03. Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen.

Land Tenure and Ownership >>