Key messages

• There is potential for certain types of degraded land to be restored into sustainable forest and to produce biomass for renewable energy, if implemented under careful management.
• Improved strategies are needed to increase the efficiency and sustainability of bioenergy production from forests and restored degraded land.
• The first requisite step towards the development and implementation of forest-based energy systems are feasibility studies in order to avoid harmful environmental impacts, and to improve socioeconomic well-being.
• Efficient energy production from forest biomass requires the development of interdisciplinary strategies to sustain continuous biomass supply from available land and maintain ecosystem services and community needs; as well as the employment of suitable energy technologies.