Abstract
The energy use of forest biomass is an important component of modern bioeconomics, which affects the dynamics of forest cover, the balance of greenhouse gases, and the ecological sustainability of forest ecosystems in regions with active harvesting of wood raw materials. The purpose of the study was to assess the environmental impact of using forest biomass in energy, identifying changes in forest cover, and analysing CO2 emissions compared to fossil energy sources. A combination of theoretical analysis of literature sources and empirical analysis of Sentinel-2 and Landsat satellite data (2015-2024) was used. A comparative analysis of changes in forest cover is performed using Normalised Difference Vegetation Index and normalised burning ratio indices. CO2 emissions were calculated based on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change emission factors for biomass, coal, and natural gas. In the regions of active biomass use (Amazon, Southeast Asia), forest cover is reduced by 0.8-1.5% annually, while in countries with developed forest policies (Canada, Finland), forest areas remain stable. CO2 emissions from biomass (112 kg/GJ) are higher than natural gas (56 kg/GJ) but lower than coal emissions (97.5 kg/GJ). Assessment of the relationship between forest ecosystems and climatic factors showed that a reduction in forest cover leads to a loss of water retention capacity (up to 20%) and an increase in soil erosion by 3-4 times. The results of the study confirmed the need to introduce environmentally responsible approaches to Forest Resource Management. The use of close-to-nature forestry methods, the development of satellite monitoring, and the introduction of certification standards can contribute to maintaining ecosystem balance