Biofuel Vs. Forests Conservation

The spiraling increase in energy demand has encouraged India recently in looking for alternate options. Biofuel is one such area, which is getting tremendous attention from the policy makers.

Biofuel has many attributes. It is fully renewable if produced in a sustainable manner, grows in any soil and climatic condition, contribute in reduction of green house gases (GHG) and helps in arresting environmental pollution. Further, biofuels are non toxic and biodegradable. Among all the biofuel crops available, Jatropha is the most accepted species because of its several positive points over other oil seeds bearing species. Apart from contributing to the energy security of our country, it helps in greening the wastelands and preventing droughts, generates jobs in the economically backward areas. In addition to that, oil content in jatropha seeds is highest amongst other non edible oilseeds bearing plants. (Biofuel Development report _2003)

Government of India has planned for the potential plantation of Jatropha species in almost all the states and identified the wastelands available throughout the country (both forested and non-forested areas).


WWF believes that biofuel can provide diverse sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, additional incomes for rural communities and contribute to development under the right conditions. However, biofuel development must be very carefully planned, implemented, and continually monitored for its environmental and social sustainability. Depending on which crops are produced, where and how, biofuel developments can cause significant negative environmental and social impacts, including deforestation, biodiversity loss, soil erosion, excessive water use, conflicts over land rights and land use, food shortages and staple food crop price spikes. It is also acknowledged that inappropriately developed biofuel production can lead to increased poverty and loss of traditional tenure rights.

WWF will only support biofuel that is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.

WWF-India as a part of global programme has started a scoping study on biofuel with special focus on jatropha plantation in India to look at the impact of large scale plantation of jatropha on the forests, biodiversity and wildlife.