Potential and Availability of Forest Biomass Energy Production in the East China Sea Regions

Abstract

In the East China Sea region, tree planting can help manage environmental problems and provide alternative energy sources by significantly improving circumstances and producing renewable biomass energy. Biomass plantations provide an effective means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and offer benefits to rural residents by diversifying their sources of income through providing multipurpose products. A larger area for fuelwood plantations is required to improve the rural energy situation and reduce the pressure from fuel gathering. The incentives in maintaining such plantations depend on the land areas and relative fuel prices in the locality. Fuelwood production should ideally be included in an integrated watershed development program, in which forestry is combined with crops and pasture on appropriate soil and slopes to maximize the conservation of soil and moisture. China needs to reforest almost 5 million ha per year for the next 25 years and increase the amount of forested land to approximately 20 % for this program to have a significant effect. An effective means of reducing greenhouse gases is using wood and other biomass and their residues as substitutes for coal. This practice increases carbon sequestration. Apart from providing sustainable energy in gaseous, liquid, and solid forms, bioenergy can create new job opportunities, improve rural infrastructure, and enhance the local and global environment.