In recent years, concerns about energy security, climate change and support for rural development have climbed rapidly up political agendas, both in developing and industrialised countries.
As a number of sustainability schemes develop principles and criteria for sustainable bioenergy production, this paper aims to outline examples of existing tools and approaches to reduce, manage and mitigate these risks which can be adapted (where necessary) and applied, and indeed, to promote synergies between bioenergy production and biodiversity conservation and livelihood development.
This paper addresses a range of stakeholders, including:
• Governments, through agricultural, energy and environment departments
• Agri-businesses and land-owners
• Civil society groups
• Communities and individuals
Section 3 provides a background to the bioenergy debate. Section 4 explores environmental tools. Section 5 explores socio-economic tools.

By: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

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