Abstract
Recent claims attibuting rising fuel costs and deforestation to biofuels are examined. Given a priority to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services, it is important to further explore the drivers for conversion of land at the frontier and to consider the effects, positive and negative, that U.S. biofuel policies could have in these areas. This means it is critical to distinguish between valid concerns calling for caution and alarmist criticisms that attribute complex problems solely to biofuels. This article discusses how plant-based fuels developed in economically and environmentally sensible ways can contribute significantly to the nation�s�indeed, the world�s�energy security while providing other benefits and reducing pressures on native ecosystems.
