ENVIRONMENTAL groups have called for a rethink of the bio-energy industry because of the damage the say it is doing to wildlife.

They say that industries such as biomass - which generates energy from wood and grasses - and biofuel - which creates fuels from plants such as oilseed rape - need so many energy crops that they are changing the landscape.

The comments are contained in the report, Bioenergy in the UK, produced by 11 organisations including the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, the Wildlife Trusts, the Woodland Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

They say that, although they welcome the development of green technologies, there is a danger that the crops that feed them - including willow, oil-seed rape and miscanthus (elephant grass) - will create vast areas with little wildlife-benefit.

The comments are particularly relevant to Teesside which has a biofuel industry and Wilton 10, a £60m biomass power station capable of producing energy for 30,000 properties.

Operated by SembCorp Utilities UK at the Wilton International chemical complex, near Redcar, east Cleveland, Wilton 10 burns wood, classed as "carbon neutral" because the carbon dioxide it emits when burnt is the same as that taken in by the tree during growth.

Such industries have created opportunities for landowners and farmers as part of their supply chain.

The report calls for:

* Minimum environmental standards and best practice guidelines for all bioenergy developments and government support to be conditional on meeting them;

* Further research into the environmental impacts of energy crops;

* Restoration of ancient woodland and other areas planted with non-native conifers;

* The promotion of smaller bioenergy projects for heat and power generation, which the organisations say could have considerable potential and be more environmentally-friendly.