Fuel from forests is new clean energy goal

Money may not grow on trees but they could help power cars, thanks to a path-breaking effort to develop biofuel from forests.

By 2010, China plans to plant an area the size of England, or 13 million hectares, with trees from which biofuel can be extracted as a source of clean energy, according to the State Forestry Administration (SFA).

Jatropha, also called physic nut, is currently grown on around 2 million hectares across the country and produces non-edible oil for making candles and soap.