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Forests and trees are a vital natural resource upon which people rely for firewood, shelter and to power machinery and industrial activities. In recent years, a modern form of energy derived from biomass, known as bioenergy, has become more common. Currently, typical sources of biomass include crops, natural forests and managed tree plantations and agricultural crops. In the future, new technologies are likely to produce fuel from a wider range of materials, including algae.
Globally, some 2.5 billion people use traditional biomass, such as wood and charcoal, for cooking and heating. It can also be converted into heat, electricity and liquid fuels.
Bioenergy as substitution of fossil fuels and carbon storage can reduce greenhouse gas emissions because the carbon released from biomass burring can be recaptured during plant growth. However, depending on the location and choice of species, it may take decades for emissions from bioenergy to be absorbed. It offers the potential to sustainably meet growing energy needs with the added benefits of restoring degraded land and providing food and livelihoods for local communities.