Benefits and Challenges Associated with the Development of Forest-Based Bioenergy Projects in India: Results from an Expert Survey

Development of energy systems, based on forest biomass, is a challenging issue in India. The study investigated perceptions of fifty-five Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers in relation to the potential benefits and challenges associated with the development of forest-based bioenergy (FBE) projects...

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Main Authors: Pradipta Halder, Javier Arevalo, Liisa Tahvanainen, Paavo Pelkonen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2014-03-01
Series:Challenges
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/5/1/100
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author Pradipta Halder
Javier Arevalo
Liisa Tahvanainen
Paavo Pelkonen
author_facet Pradipta Halder
Javier Arevalo
Liisa Tahvanainen
Paavo Pelkonen
author_sort Pradipta Halder
collection DOAJ
description Development of energy systems, based on forest biomass, is a challenging issue in India. The study investigated perceptions of fifty-five Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers in relation to the potential benefits and challenges associated with the development of forest-based bioenergy (FBE) projects in India when they participated in two training programs in Finland during 2010. They generally agreed that development of FBE projects could have beneficial impacts on job creation, income generation, rural development, and restoring ecological degradation. They perceived lack of public acceptance and political support, impacts on biodiversity, and lack of technologies and infrastructure as the considerable challenges to the development of FBE projects in India. The study could provide some policy directions towards developing the FBE sector in India. It recommends conducting further studies to include a larger group of experts and other stakeholders to investigate the broader societal perceptions of FBE projects in India. In addition, the study also recommends building the capacity of the IFS officers so that they can play a key role from the government side for developing the FBE sector in the country.
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spelling doaj.art-7c432328c0804d4d9db10e6ef133a7252022-12-22T02:43:32ZengMDPI AGChallenges2078-15472014-03-015110011110.3390/challe5010100challe5010100Benefits and Challenges Associated with the Development of Forest-Based Bioenergy Projects in India: Results from an Expert SurveyPradipta Halder0Javier Arevalo1Liisa Tahvanainen2Paavo Pelkonen3School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistokatu 7, Joensuu 80101, FinlandSchool of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistokatu 7, Joensuu 80101, FinlandSchool of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistokatu 7, Joensuu 80101, FinlandSchool of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistokatu 7, Joensuu 80101, FinlandDevelopment of energy systems, based on forest biomass, is a challenging issue in India. The study investigated perceptions of fifty-five Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers in relation to the potential benefits and challenges associated with the development of forest-based bioenergy (FBE) projects in India when they participated in two training programs in Finland during 2010. They generally agreed that development of FBE projects could have beneficial impacts on job creation, income generation, rural development, and restoring ecological degradation. They perceived lack of public acceptance and political support, impacts on biodiversity, and lack of technologies and infrastructure as the considerable challenges to the development of FBE projects in India. The study could provide some policy directions towards developing the FBE sector in India. It recommends conducting further studies to include a larger group of experts and other stakeholders to investigate the broader societal perceptions of FBE projects in India. In addition, the study also recommends building the capacity of the IFS officers so that they can play a key role from the government side for developing the FBE sector in the country.http://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/5/1/100bioenergyforestsbenefitschallengesIndiaexpertsperceptions
spellingShingle Pradipta Halder
Javier Arevalo
Liisa Tahvanainen
Paavo Pelkonen
Benefits and Challenges Associated with the Development of Forest-Based Bioenergy Projects in India: Results from an Expert Survey
Challenges
bioenergy
forests
benefits
challenges
India
experts
perceptions
title Benefits and Challenges Associated with the Development of Forest-Based Bioenergy Projects in India: Results from an Expert Survey
title_full Benefits and Challenges Associated with the Development of Forest-Based Bioenergy Projects in India: Results from an Expert Survey
title_fullStr Benefits and Challenges Associated with the Development of Forest-Based Bioenergy Projects in India: Results from an Expert Survey
title_full_unstemmed Benefits and Challenges Associated with the Development of Forest-Based Bioenergy Projects in India: Results from an Expert Survey
title_short Benefits and Challenges Associated with the Development of Forest-Based Bioenergy Projects in India: Results from an Expert Survey
title_sort benefits and challenges associated with the development of forest based bioenergy projects in india results from an expert survey
topic bioenergy
forests
benefits
challenges
India
experts
perceptions
url http://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/5/1/100
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AT liisatahvanainen benefitsandchallengesassociatedwiththedevelopmentofforestbasedbioenergyprojectsinindiaresultsfromanexpertsurvey
AT paavopelkonen benefitsandchallengesassociatedwiththedevelopmentofforestbasedbioenergyprojectsinindiaresultsfromanexpertsurvey