Conclusions

Abstract

Mitigation of climate change is among the main priorities of global environmental policy. In forestry, the mitigation includes reducing sources and increasing sinks of greenhouse gases, especially those for carbon dioxide (CO₂). In this context, management of forests e.g., proper tree species choice, soil management, and control of spacing and rotation is among the keys to substantially increase the sink of CO₂ on forest biomass and soils. The use of forest biomass also provides a way to cycle carbon in the biosphere/atmosphere system, with an opportunity to reduce the use of carbon from fossil energy. The integrative management of forest for timber and energy biomass is probably a proper way to increase the supply of energy biomass to meet the future demand. However, large-scale and long-term use of forest biomass for energy are dependent on the sustainability in their production, economic competitiveness with other energy system, and future climate and policy measures, which may lead the decision-making even more complex.