The Directive on the promotion of energy from renewable sources (RES-D; Directive 2009/28/EC) sets a binding target for the EU to achieve a 20 % renewable energy share by 2020, in which the largest contribution is expected to come from biomass from agriculture, forestry and waste for heat and power generation as well as transport fuels. In 2011, the Year of the Forest, the COST-ESF High-level Research Conference will contribute to understanding bio-energy drivers, options and impacts on forest growing, management and production of traditional goods and services in the future.