Ecolog: Whilst "researching" something else, I came across this interesting item and website. I have not delved into the details, but couldn't help but stumble when I came to: "The challenge is to provide a methodology and relevant information for all Article 17(c) categories that an operator can follow to avoid these grassland areas."
I am struck by the implicit presumption (perhaps well-calculated evidence exists, but I am ignorant of it) that ANY kind of "biofuel" production has any net positive effect upon any ecosystem, or, for that matter, that any such production even pencils out on the positive side of an net-energy calculation. I stand ready to be educated to the contrary. WT "World Grasslands and Biodiversity Patterns: 'The European Union Directive from 2008 on the promotion and use of energy from renewable resources referred to as "RED" states that biofuels and bioliquids cannot be produced from raw material obtained from land with high biodiversity value. These lands are defined to include, among other categories, "highly biodiverse grassland areas, including natural and non-natural grasslands." The challenge is to provide a methodology and relevant information for all Article 17(c) categories that an operator can follow to avoid these grassland areas.'" http://www.natureserve.org/publications/library.jsp#techrpts PS: I'm afraid I haven't heard of natureserve.org, but am I correct in presuming that I've missed something big?
