Utilization of Woody Biomass for Energy
Purpose
Recommendations on expanded uses of woody biomass for energy production, continued support for associated
product and market research and development, identification of social and environmental benefits of woody
biomass utilization, and resource inventory and monitoring.
Scope
Woody biomass used for energy production or energy substitution that is generated from forest product
manufacturing, forest management, forest conservation and restoration treatments, forest salvage activities,
and/or urban wood waste.
Position
The Society of American Foresters (SAF) believes woody biomass used to produce energy is a key strategy in
achieving net-zero emissions locally and globally. However, SAF asserts that biomass markets must
complement, not replace, primary timber markets, including those for sawlogs and pulpwood. A sustainable
biomass market cannot independently support the forest industry’s economic and environmental goals; it must
operate in tandem with, and be secondary to, higher-value timber products.
SAF strongly advocates for policies that promote markets for fuel, heat, and power from sustainably sourced
woody biomass, contingent on the health and stability of primary timber markets across all landownerships in
the United States. SAF also encourages continued investments in research and development of forest products
to bolster these interdependent markets, recognizing that biomass depends on the infrastructure and profitability
of merchantable log markets.
Approved: February 2025