One important factor which is often overlooked when
considering the use of biomass to assist alleviate global
warming, is the time lag between the instantaneous release
of CO2 from burning fossil fuels and its eventual
uptake as biomass, which can take many years. One of
the dilemmas facing the developed word is the need to
recognize this time delay and take appropriate action to
mitigate against the lag period. An equal dilemma faces
the developing world as it consumes its biomass resources
for fuel but does not implement a programme of
replacement planting.