Biofuels, generally defined as liquid fuels derived from biological materials, can be made from plants, vegetable oils, forest products, or waste materials. The raw materials can be grown specifically for fuel purposes, or can be the residues or wastes of existing supply and consumption chains, such as agricultural residues or municipal garbage. In this series of reports, sponsored by the Energy Foundation, we explore the production and use of biofuels from an ecological perspective.
These reports, which were reviewed by an Advisory Committee, are based upon scientific manuscripts initially presented at a conference in Washington, DC, on March 10, 2008. The conference was hosted by the Ecological Society of America (ESA) and sponsored by a consortium of other scientific organizations, nongovernmental organizations, federal agencies, and the private sector. ESA also issued an official statement on the topic in January 2008. As innovations are made in the production and use of biofuels, ecologists worldwide will continue to actively monitor their impacts.
Paper copies are available for a nominal charge of $1 to cover mailing for as long as supplies last. Orders can be placed at eservices.esa.org/services/source/Orders/index.cfm?section=unknown&activesection=Orders (see “Biofuels Reports” in the category listing.)