Developing a Common NGO Vision on Bio-Energy

About this grant

While biofuels can hold great promise, there are concerns that massive global production could lead to tropical rainforests being converted to palm oil plantations and grasslands being converted to sugar cane plantations.This short-term grant to FERN will provide resources to develop a longer-term bioenergy project that engages European, U.S.and developing country non-governmental organizations in a discussion on the types of safeguards and policies that need to be in place as bioenergy development continues. Activities to be undertaken with this grant include identifying a group of non-governmental organizations involved in bioenergy that represent a good regional mix as well as a wide range of expertise and understanding of the multiple aspects of the bioenergy debate; organizing a two-day meeting of this group; identifying gaps in research and analysis; and developing a follow-up project plan.