Agricultural land use in Wales is predominantly grassland. In 2004, land use in Wales consisted 62% permanent grass (1010000 ha), 23% rough grazing (383000 ha), 11% arable land (177000 ha) and 4% woodland and other lands including set-aside (64000 ha) (Anonymous, 2005). The Common Agricultural Policy reform is bound to lead to a substantial reduction in arable and livestock production and a shift in agricultural land use in Wales. Recent government policy on renewable energy, such as biomass crops scheme, is anticipated to change agricultural land use and hence the biodiversity of the rural landscape by incorporating short rotation coppice (SRC) and perennial biomass grass crops.

Given the right economic incentives and the potential market for biomass crops, very large areas could be committed to biomass cropping over a short period of time. For example, co-firing of coal with biomass crops is already underway in South Wales; and the Aberthaw Power Station, in the Vale of Glamorgan, will need around 2000 ha of SRC willow by 2006/2007 (Gwlad, 2005). This could potentially lead to monoculture; and the domination of the landscape by new crops such as miscanthus and SRC may potentially have a negative impact on regional biodiversity and the landscape (but not if put on to arable or improved pasture). Therefore, it is important that the development of biomass crops in any particular region maintains and enhances the diversity of the cropping.

The positive global benefits of replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources (such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, public health improvements and security of energy supply) are reasonably well known. However, many renewable energy schemes have failed or been rejected due to local environmental concerns, poor communication between the developer and the community, and the limited availability of information about the local impacts of renewable energy schemes. The general public is relatively unfamiliar with the concept of biomass and dedicated energy crops. Consequently, it is important that research undertaken to identify potential impacts of these crops is widely disseminated and that local concerns are considered at the policy and planning stages of all bioenergy projects.

There are various concerns regarding the establishment of commercial scale biomass crop production systems, such as environmental impact, land availability, the possible conflict with food production and visual/aesthetic impact. Other concerns raised over the environmental impacts of energy crops include:

i) species which prefer open or grazed habitats may be displaced
ii) willow may impact upon the hydrology of an area and surrounding wetland habitats
iii) native and semi-native willows may be threatened by cross-breeding with new varieties
iv) the ecology and biodiversity of perennial biomass grasses such as miscanthus and reed canary grass as habitats have not been documented

To address these concerns, few studies have been carried out to investigate the ecology and environmental impacts of energy crops in the UK. A three years study (funded by DTI) on the effects of perennial biomass grasses on biodiversity in Herefordshire have been completed by Dr Tzehaye Semere from the Wales Biomass Centre. The results have shown that because perennial rhizomatous grasses require a single planting and related tillage; and because the crops are harvested in February/March and the land is not disturbed by cultivation every year, these fields were used as over-wintering sites for birds, also by small-mammals and invertebrates suggesting immediate benefits to biodiversity. The Game Conservancy Council has also produced reports documenting the bird use, invertebrate fauna and general ecology of willow coppice in lowland England (Sage, 2000). Currently, the Wales Biomass Centre is studying the ecology of willow coppice in Wales (in collaboration with IGER); and soil biodiversity of perennial grass crops in Wales and Herefordshire.

The production of biomass crops in Wales could potentially contribute to the environmental improvement of the farm-land whilst maintaining and improving biodiversity. Further improvements could also be achieved by integrating ‘entry level agri-environmental schemes' with the production biomass crops. With appropriate agronomic management strategies, such as low agro-chemical inputs and using conservation headlands, biomass crops can provide substantially improved habitat for many forms of native wildlife.

Some additional general environmental benefits of energy crops include:

Low Input Crops - herbicides are recommended for the establishment year only; once mature the SRC willow have higher tolerance to weeds and canopy closure shades many weeds out. Pesticide use is not generally recommended for SRC or Miscanthus. The application of synthetic fertilisers is not recommended and use of organic materials is regulated by Environment Agency to prevent water pollution.

Carbon Neutral – perennial biomass crops take up as much carbon as is released when they are burnt and hence there is no net increase in carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon budgets which include transportation of materials also indicate that the entire cycle releases less carbon than when compared with fossil fuel combustion cycles.

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Anonymous. Farming facts and figures - Wales. 2005. (http://www.wales.gov.uk/statistics)

Gwlad. Agriculture and rural affairs information from the Welsh government. Issue 44, Sept 2005. p.16.

Sage RB. The Ecology of short-rotation coppice crops: wildlife and pest management. PhD Thesis based upon published work. University of Hertfordshire; 2000.