title: Potential impacts on ecosystem services of land use transitions to second-generation bioenergy crops in GB.
abstract: We present the first assessment of the impact of land use change (LUC) to second-generation (2G) bioenergy crops on ecosystem services (ES) resolved spatially for Great Britain (GB). A systematic approach was used to assess available evidence on the impacts of LUC from arable, semi-improved grassland or woodland/forest, to 2G bioenergy crops, for which a quantitative 'threat matrix' was developed. The threat matrix was used to estimate potential impacts of transitions to eitherMiscanthus, short-rotation coppice (SRC, willow and poplar) or short-rotation forestry (SRF). The ES effects were found to be largely dependent on previous land uses rather than the choice of 2G crop when assessing the technical potential of available biomass with a transition from arable crops resulting in the most positive effect on ES. Combining these data with constraint masks and available land for SRC andMiscanthus(SRF omitted from this stage due to lack of data), south-west and north-west England were identified as areas whereMiscanthusand SRC could be grown, respectively, with favourable combinations of economic viability, carbon sequestration, high yield and positive ES benefits. This study also suggests that not all prospective planting ofMiscanthusand SRC can be allocated to agricultural land class (ALC) ALC 3 and ALC 4 and suitable areas of ALC 5 are only minimally available. Beneficial impacts were found on 146 583 and 71 890 ha when plantingMiscanthusor SRC, respectively, under baseline planting conditions rising to 293 247 and 91 318 ha, respectively, under 2020 planting scenarios. The results provide an insight into the interplay between land availability, original land uses, bioenergy crop type and yield in determining overall positive or negative impacts of bioenergy cropping on ecosystems services and go some way towards developing a framework for quantifying wider ES impacts of this important LUC.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biological Sciences University of Southampton Southampton SO17 1BJ UK.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milner
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biological Sciences University of Southampton Southampton SO17 1BJ UK.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lovett
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ UK.
authors.forename: Gilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sunnenberg
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Aberdeen 23 St Machar Drive Aberdeen AB24 3UU UK.
authors.forename: Astley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hastings
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Aberdeen 23 St Machar Drive Aberdeen AB24 3UU UK.
authors.forename: Pete
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Aberdeen 23 St Machar Drive Aberdeen AB24 3UU UK.
authors.forename: Shifeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biological Sciences University of Southampton Southampton SO17 1BJ UK.
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taylor
keywords: GIS; Miscanthus; biofuel crops; ecological processes; ecosystem services; land use; short‐rotation coppice; short‐rotation forestry; sustainability; trade‐offs