Low emissions development strategies in the Balkan countries of Albania, Macedonia, and Serbia involve forest restoration, promoting the use of wood fuel for spaceheating using efficient woodburning technologies, and protecting forested watersheds to support hydroelectric power production.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions can contribute to ecologically and socially sustainable development in both developed and developing countries. Low emissions development strategies (LEDS) in all countries – development that reduces greenhouse gas emissions while promoting sustainable economies – need to take biodiversity conservation, forestry, and land use issues into account. Increasing the use of renewable energy – whether it is wood fuel, liquid biofuels, or electricity from wind, photovoltaic, or hydroelectric installations – is part of the equation of lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Each of these renewable energy sources could threaten biodiversity, if their development is not carefully analyzed and planned. We assist clients with assessment of the potential impacts of renewable energy development on biodiversity, forests, and other natural resources, and recommend mitigation actions. Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) also contributes to LEDS, and we provide assistance in designing REDD+ strategies, including Social and Biodiversity Impact Assessments (SBIAs) of proposed REDD+ projects.
