RCI Report Highlights How Biomass Production and Biodiversity Protection Can Coexist
New study identifies agricultural and forestry practices that support biodiversity while maintaining long-term biomass productivity for a sustainable bioeconomy.
Increasing biomass production for the transition towards a climate-neutral bioeconomy does not have to come at the expense of biodiversity, according to a new report by the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI) and its research partners. The study identifies practical measures for agriculture and forestry that can protect ecosystems, improve resilience and maintain long-term biomass productivity amid growing demand for renewable carbon resources.
Balancing Biomass Production with Biodiversity Conservation
The transition towards a climate-neutral bioeconomy requires greater use of biomass as a renewable carbon source. However, expanding biomass production must also account for ecological limits, including biodiversity loss, soil degradation and ecosystem instability.
These challenges affect not only environmental conditions but also the long-term productivity and resilience of biomass supply systems.
The report highlights that biomass production and biodiversity conservation are not necessarily conflicting objectives. Maintaining biodiversity can also support the long-term productivity of agricultural and forestry systems.
Research Assesses Biodiversity-Friendly Production Measures
The study was conducted by the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI), together with nova-Institute, Kieler Institut für Europäische Landwirtschaftsstudien (KIELS) and Peterson Solutions.
The project assessed a broad range of measures to identify practical approaches for combining biomass production with biodiversity protection.
The research brought together a comprehensive literature review conducted by nova-Institute and structured assessment frameworks developed by KIELS and Peterson Solutions. It evaluated the biodiversity benefits of different practices alongside their effects on agricultural and forestry yields, production stability and resilience.
The findings indicate that compatibility between biomass production and biodiversity protection depends on management practices, spatial planning and the timeframe over which their effects are assessed.
The report is intended to guide biomass producers and companies sourcing bio-based feedstocks in identifying measures suited to their production systems.
Agricultural and Forestry Practices That Support Biodiversity
A central objective of the study was to identify measures that deliver biodiversity benefits without significantly compromising biomass yields.
While some practices can provide substantial ecological benefits, they may also reduce yields, limiting their suitability for productive biomass systems.
The report therefore examines individual measures, their environmental benefits and potential trade-offs with biomass production. It also explains how selected practices can be combined to achieve cost efficiency and balance biodiversity protection with productivity over both short and long periods.
Examples of recommended approaches include:
In agriculture:
- Landscape diversification
- Cover crops
In forestry:
- Mixed-species systems
- Soil protection measures
These practices can contribute to biodiversity conservation while supporting the ecosystem services required for reliable biomass production.
Soil Protection and Technology for Long-Term Productivity
The assessment also considers how biodiversity-friendly measures influence productivity over time.
Protecting soil resources and improving ecosystem resilience can help maintain future biomass supplies. The report also highlights the role of precision farming and forestry technologies in supporting these objectives.
Monitoring tools and drones can help producers target interventions more accurately and improve input efficiency, contributing to both production performance and biodiversity protection.
Financial Incentives and Policy Support
Several participants in the bioeconomy, including RCI members, are already implementing biodiversity-friendly measures in their feedstock sourcing activities on a voluntary basis.
Some of these practices also receive financial support through European Union, national and regional programmes.
The report highlights the importance of improving awareness of existing support opportunities and expanding suitable incentives to encourage wider adoption among biomass producers.
It also examines policy recommendations and support frameworks that could help advance biodiversity-friendly production practices.
By bringing together research evidence, practical measures and examples of existing initiatives, the report provides guidance for companies and producers seeking to develop a resilient bioeconomy while maintaining biodiversity.
Second Report in RCI's Biodiversity Research Series
The publication is the second part of a two-part series examining biodiversity in relation to biomass production and the bioeconomy.
The report, Balancing Biomass Production and Biodiversity Protection for the Bioeconomy, is available here:
The first report examines the integration of biodiversity into sustainability assessments, particularly Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and is available free of charge:
Read the First RCI Report on Biodiversity in Sustainability Assessments