THE GROWING demand for new crops of biofuel plants - potentially one of the greatest changes in agriculture for generations - could present yet another threat to British wildlife, according to a warning issued today by some of the country's leading scientists.

With the world's oil and natural gas reserves increasingly at risk because of political turmoil, the large-scale planting of biofuel crops like oilseed rape, willow and even elephant grass could soon become a norm in many areas of Britain.

This report should serve as a wake-up call to
government

Abi Bunker - RSPB

But a group of leading environmentalists is asking the Government to ensure that regulations are introduced to ensure that such areas of "mono-culture" to not add further threats to wildlife that has already suffered badly under modern farming techniques.

Eleven of the country's leading conservation bodies joined together to produce a report called Bioenergy in the UK, which was published this morning. Although welcoming biofuels as an important new "green" energy source, it warns:

"Without proper management, cultivation of crops for fuel, electricity and heat could cause further declines of farmland wildlife, damage the character of landscapes, harm historic and archaeological sites and damage soil and water quality."

And it calls for:

• A UK-wide assessment of bioenergy's potential and drawbacks;
• Certification of all bioenergy schemes to ensure producers prove cuts to greenhouse gas emissions;
• Planning policies that guard against unsuitable bioenergy developments and changes in land use.

The report, being published by 11 organisations including the RSPB, National Trust, CPRE, Council for British Archaeology, and The Wildlife Trusts welcomes the opportunities bioenergy development creates and says the potential for environmental harm from new energy schemes can be avoided.

The organisations believe that where farmers are paid to grow bioenergy crops, they should be required to assess their environmental impact.

Ian Woodhurst, CPRE's farm campaigner and chairman of the group, said: "It's vital that bioenergy crops deliver the real carbon savings that they promise without damaging the character of our landscapes and our wildlife.

"With the right crop, in the right place, managed in the right way we can provide our communities with the sustainable energy supplies they need to tackle climate change. But we need to make sure we don't end up with an agro-fuel industry that ends up wrecking the very thing we seek to protect."

Abi Bunker, Agriculture Policy Officer at the RSPB, said: "This report should serve as a wake-up call to government. Instead of jumping on the bioenergy bandwagon and regretting the damage later, the UK should be developing the bioenergy sector with care, avoiding damage to wildlife and making sure that emissions really are reduced.

"Nearly 2.5 million acres could soon be planted with crops for biofuels and heat and power generation by 2020. That is a lot of land to sacrifice if environmental safeguards are not in place."

• Biofuel planting is already increasing the price of food; it was reported earlier this week. And, unless properly managed, it could be a long-term threat to UK food supplies. See our latest Week in the Country feature.