Introduction

Across the United States, major discussions are taking place regarding the relationships between energy, economic growth and security, the environment, and national security.  A critically important part of these discussions is the intersection of energy security, environmental quality, and economic health (Fig. 1).  Integrated production, management, harvesting, and conversion of woody biomass to efficiently produce energy and replace a significant portion of fossil fuels are fundamental to optimizing this balance.  Our Nation's forests are a strategic asset in this arena.  To set the stage for this discussion of the role of woody biomass in fueling the future, we must consider three things.

First, biomass issues are not new - we have always faced too much or too little woody biomass in our forests. As a nation, we have historically used our forests to create shelter, provide agricultural lands, and fuel economic development.  We use science-based conservation and management to renew and restore our forests and sustainably enhance our economy and social well being. Forest Service, university, and industry researchers and other partners have led the way and have worked to develop methods to better restore, enhance, manage, use, and protect our forest resources. Our Nation's forests provide clean water and air, critical habitat, and abundant recreation opportunities to the American people.  Our nation has vast forest resources that reflect the American conservation ethic and our history of science-based management.

Second, using biomass for energy and other products is not new, and neither is our commitment to the development of science and technology for managing and using woody biomass.  A long time before the President admonished the U.S. as being "addicted to oil" and set a course to use biofuels to displace Middle East oil, Forest Service Research and Development has anticipated such issues. Our research program has been in the forefront in developing the needed science and technology to produce, manage, harvest, and convert forest biomass.  Biomass is not a stand-alone natural resource area, and it's not a stand-alone research program.  Biomass issues are addressed through many disciplines and research programs such a wood science, silviculture, engineering, climate change, water and air quality, economics, and many more. 

Third, as challenging as the science issues and technical barriers surrounding woody biomass and energy are, the social and economic implications for woody biomass policy are even more complex.  Woody biomass is an integral component of forest management that offers both problems and opportunities for managers, landowners, and for the nation.  Too little biomass results in lost production, regeneration, and benefits.  Too much biomass can cost the American taxpayer or reduce the return to owners and investors through declining forest health, loss to catastrophic fires, and reduced productivity and availability of wood and other ancillary benefits.  There are opportunities to use our forests as a renewable cornerstone of the biobased revolution, a fundamental change in the way we produce and conserve energy and industrial products (Biomass Technical Advisory Committee 2002).  We can derive products as diverse as fuels, lubricants, heat and electricity, chemicals, food, feed, building materials, paper, clothing, and much more from biological resources.  Biomass will have an important role in energy, environment, and economy of the future.

So with the stage set, the goal of this paper is to discuss:

• The role of biomass for energy and in the environment and economy;
• The role of the Forest Service in managing and using biomass; and 
• Opportunities and barriers for using biomass.

Why Is Biomass Important