The Forestry Commission’s Woodfuel Task Force today presented a report to the Scottish environment minister, Michael Russell, outlining 26 recommendations by which Scotland can exploit its woody biomass in the generation of energy.

The Task Force has identified 7 million dry tonnes of new woody material which would be suitable for use in the bioenergy sector, including from waste wood, short rotation coppicing and short rotation forestry.

Recommendations include the development of new branch wood and branch recovery grant to encourage growers to bring wood to the market and carry out greater thinning in their forests and woodland.

The British Ecological Society sponsors a Fellowship at the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) for 2nd or 3rd year PhD students in ecology. Applications for the 2008 Fellowship should reach the BES offices no later than Friday 11 April 2008.

The successful applicant will receive a £5,000 award to cover his/her living costs while undertaking the three-month fellowship at the Houses of Parliament, London. The start date will be mid-September or thereafter.

The Fellow will work on a policy topic grounded in science and technology and will be expected to produce a POSTnote, contribute to a longer report, or assist a select committee of either House in a current inquiry.

Further information about this opportunity can be found at http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/articles/publicaffairs/POST/.