The 2008 Joint Meeting of the Society for Range Management and the America Forage and Grassland Council. |
Tuesday, January 29, 2008 - 8:40 AM
Biofuels and Bioenergy Production from Rangelands and Grasslands
P. Daniel Cassidy1, James Dobrowolski1, and Brad Venuto2. (1) Natural Resources and Environment, USDA Cooperative State Research, Eduation, and Extension Service, 900 8th St SW, Washington, DC 20024, (2) ARS, USDA
Biomass production systems for energy development that utilize cellulosic feedstocks from rangelands have been proposed in several possible configurations. Dedicated cropping systems may replace rangeland for crops selected and grown specifically for high biomass production. Experiments are underway to investigate the biomass to ethanol conversion efficiencies of woody rangeland plants such as mesquite and juniper, and optimal spatial distribution of ethanol plants related to rangeland brush availability, possible fuel demand, brush regrowth potential, and available transportation networks. Researchers are considering the use of monoculture and mixed-species, C4-dominated grasslands as biofuel sources. Rangelands have the potential to be an economically competitive source of cellulosic feed-stocks for ethanol production, though the current selections for fuel production have the potential to escape cultivation and become invasive threatening rangeland riparian areas and wetlands, alter fire cycles, and have a negative impact on wildlife habitat. Other challenges to making ethanol feed-stocks from rangelands include development of production and/or harvesting systems that is compatible with other land uses, management goals, and the maintenance of ecosystems services. We’ve organized this oral symposium to emphasize the potential production aspects, economic, policy implications and environmental concerns around rangeland biofuel issues, expanding upon recent discussions and symposia at the Ecological Society of America. Key concerns highlighted in the symposium include an overview of the current status and future prospects of cellulosic biofuels, economic analysis of biofuels production, an investigation focusing on feedstocks from rangelands and grasslands, potential impacts of biofuels and Bioenergy production upon wildlife, and expected impacts upon private rangeland and grassland owners. We have designed our symposium to promote participant/speaker interaction with time reserved for a question and answer period at the conclusion of the formal program.