As part of a consortium combining expertise on landscape architecture, renewable energy, forestry, carbon modeling and biomass production, Face the Future was involved in the development of a concept to integrate urban forests with local energy production and recreation. The partner organizations are Advin B.V., Borgman Beheer Advies B.V. and Europe’s Energy Point. The initiative has been implemented with support from the Dutch government, based on the grant program Mooi Nederland. The study started at the end of 2010 and has now been completed.

The establishment of urban forests creates the unique opportunity to generate biomass for local energy production for adjacent neighborhoods. At the same, with a smart design, these forests are attractive to the city population too. The concept applies to new forests and the conversion of already existing forests.

The study focuses on two case studies in the cities Leeuwarden and Zutphen. Het Leeuwarderbos, one of the cases, is the first climate forest that has been established with carbon finance from Face the Future. While planting started in 1992, this is among the first climate forests worldwide. The study shows that this forest can generate energy for heating and electricity for 180 houses. The amount of biomass can be increased with a factor 7.

A Dutch version of the public report can be requested via info@face-thefuture.com