No smoke without fire: the impact of Denmark’s biomass energy on Estonian and Latvian forests

Written by Erica Gentili  – Cover picture by Tiit Jürisson

Denmark’s reliance on biomass energy is driving deforestation, biodiversity loss, and increased carbon emissions in Estonia and Latvia. A new report co-authored by BirdLife Partner LOB (Latvian Ornithological Society) reveals that large-scale logging to supply Danish power plants is turning these crucial carbon sinks into carbon emitters, undermining Denmark’s reputation as a leader in green energy.

Denmark’s biomass dependency

Denmark has long been praised for its transition to renewable energy, with renewable energy use rising from 6% in 1990 to 42.8% in 2022. However, behind this achievement lies an overdependence on woody biomass, which now accounts for up to 68% of its total renewable energy use. This growth has been sustained through direct and indirect subsidies, often exceeding those allocated to wind and solar energy.

Denmark’s dependence on woody biomass is largely fuelled by imports from Estonia and Latvia. The country ranks among the largest, if not the largest, importer of woody biomass from the Baltic region, with 52% of its wood chips and pellets coming from these two nations.

Despite being classified as “green” and carbon-neutral, burning woody biomass can produce more greenhouse gases than fossil fuels. The excessive reliance on wood fuels not only accelerates deforestation, but also degrades forest biodiversity, fragments habitats, and reduces the ability of forests to absorb carbon.

To mitigate these impacts, Denmark has incorporated the EU Renewable Energy Directive’s sustainability criteria into national legislation. This law aims to protect valuable ecosystems and species. However, evidence from Estonia and Latvia suggests that these fall short of preventing environmental degradation. Certification schemes required by the Danish Energy Authority do not effectively ensure compliance with the sustainability law, allowing destructive logging practices to continue unchecked.

From carbon sinks to carbon emitters

Forests play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by acting as carbon sinks, absorbing and storing large amounts of CO₂. But logging for biomass energy severely diminishes the carbon sequestration capacity of Estonian and Latvian forests. When trees are burned for energy, their stored carbon is released immediately, worsening climate change instead of fighting it.

Although forests can regrow, young trees take decades to absorb as much carbon as mature ones, creating a prolonged carbon debt. Additionally, logging disturbs forest soils, releasing even more carbon into the atmosphere. This undermines the claim that biomass is “carbon-neutral,” as emissions from burning wood are immediate, while forest regrowth is too slow to compensate for it.

Forest birds in decline

Intensive logging is also devastating Estonian and Latvian bird populations. Many species depend on old, undisturbed forests for nesting, breeding, and foraging. Large-scale clear-cutting and intensified forestry operations are rapidly destroying these habitats, leading to population declines. Even species protected by EU nature laws are in decline. Outside Natura 2000 areas, no effective habitat protection measures exist, even for species listed as specially protected.

The Black Stork, once a symbol of Latvia’s relatively undisturbed forests, is now critically endangered nationally. Other declining species include the Hazel Grouse, Pygmy Owl, Boreal Owl, Goshawk, Common Buzzard, Three-toed Woodpecker, and Marsh Tit. The loss of deadwood, crucial for many insects and small organisms, further disrupts ecosystems, depriving birds of essential food sources. Even within designated conservation areas, logging continues to threaten rare and vulnerable species.

Loopholes allow logging in protected areas

Despite the high biodiversity value of Natura 2000 sites, loopholes in sustainability criteria enable logging in these ecologically sensitive areas, causing irreversible damage.

The destruction of old-growth and semi-natural forests wipes out critical habitats for a wide range of species, including birds, mammals, insects, and plants. Some of these forests take centuries to regenerate, making their destruction particularly concerning for biodiversity conservation. Logging roads and clear-cut patches fragment landscapes, isolating wildlife populations and reducing genetic diversity.

The need for a biomass-free future

So, is Denmark actually leading the global energy transition? Not if it is increasing emissions and destroying vital forest ecosystems in Estonia and Latvia. To uphold its commitment to sustainability, Denmark must immediately phase out biomass energy and invest in truly clean alternatives such as wind and solar. Stronger policies, better enforcement of sustainability standards, and international cooperation are essential to protecting Baltic forests and ensuring that renewable energy does not come at an unsustainable cost.

This article is based on the report “NOAH 2025 – No smoke without fire: How the Danish energy transition harms the forests of Estonia and Latvia”. You can find the full report here.