Scanning innovations for managing conflicts towards the sustainable supply of forest ecosystem services in the context of using forest biomass for biofuels

Beginning in January 2021, the project „Availability of Woody Biomass for the Production of Biofuels in Germany and the European Union until 2040” seeks to identify possible stakeholder conflicts, synergies, and potential for innovation that a change in forest management due to changes in biomass use could entail. Expert interviews, scenario-based workshops, and focus group discussions were carried out involving a wide range of stakeholders from nature conservation, forestry, academe, wood industry, tourism and recreation. Limitations and synergies of an intensified use of forest biomass for biofuel production were discussed. On this basis, policy recommendations were developed for dealing with potential stakeholder conflicts. Findings show that those who participated in the research prioritized the following conflicts: energetic vs. material use of forest biomass, wood utilization vs. non-utilization / biodiversity & carbon storage, social benefits of forests vs. nature conservation vs. timber industry, and new products vs. established products. Four primary recommendations were developed for the alleviation of conflicts between user groups: (1) a holistic view of the limitations of increased forest biomass use for biofuel production and its consequences for the provision of the wide-range of forest ecosystem services for society needs to be established. (2) There is a need to strengthen societal participation and promote participatory processes for forest management issues, promoting decision-making involving concerned sectors of society. (3) The opportunities and limitations of using market-based policy instruments (MBIs) and of payment and compensation mechanisms for forest ecosystem services need to be explored. This involves the promotion of transparency in communication, assessment, and quality control. (4) Existing forest policy strategies and regulations need to be implemented more consistently (harmonization of political goals and strategies).