There has been an increasing demand for wood to burn for energy, but our forests cannot afford to be depleted. Talk instead has suggested planting forests for the specific use of using them as bioenergy. Until recently, burning biomass has been suggested to be a renewable, sustainable energy resource. Recent studies have shown that burning trees is worse than burning coal, because it emits more carbon than does burning coal.
Once these ecosystems are destroyed, they can’t be replaced. Another problem with these forests are their intention to be shipped overseas. The energy the forests could provide may not even be used near where the are to be grown; this is a large negative for local stakeholders. There is debate about whether trees should be for biofuel or if solely their residues from logging should be used, but the suggestion of planting multiple species to make purpose grown forests, is a novel one that has its own negatives, such as their possible location.
Further Reading/Sources:
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/12/bio-energy-forest-plantations-for-the-southeastern-united-states
http://www.nrdc.org/energy/forestsnotfuel/
http://bioenergy.ucdavis.edu/outreach.php
http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/biomass_report_tcm9-326672.pdf
Picture: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pines_grown_for_profit_in_the_South_Oakley_Inclosure,_New_Forest_-_geograph.org.uk_-_111009.jpg