USDA Forest Service Commits $2M to Innovative Model Using Biochar to Capture Carbon and Mitigate Wildfires
Seattle, WA – December 11, 2024 – The Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials (CORRIM), in partnership with Circular Spring, has been awarded a $2 million grant from the USDA Forest Service to pilot an innovative funding mechanism for wildfire mitigation and forest health efforts in Washington State. The project, “Building a Biochar Market for Forest and Climate Resilience” explores the use of biochar, a charcoal-like material produced from waste biomass, to sequester carbon and improve soil health, while also generating carbon credits to fund forest management practices for small forest landowners.
“This project exemplifies CORRIM’s commitment to generating practical, data-driven solutions for complex challenges facing our forests,” said Elaine Oneil, PhD, Director of Science and Sustainability at CORRIM. “By evaluating the potential of biochar and carbon markets to fund wildfire mitigation efforts, we aim to provide landowners and policymakers with the information they need to make informed decisions that promote forest health and resilience.”
The initiative will train landowners and forestry service providers on biochar production, utilization, and the protocols necessary for generating carbon credits. The project aims to explore how these carbon credits can offset the costs of forest management practices, creating a sustainable funding model for small forest landowners to steward their forests and increase wildfire resilience.
“The science and innovative forest practices around biochar hold immense potential, and carbon credits could unlock the funding to scale these solutions,” explains Korina Stark, Founding Partner at Circular Spring. “We’re assembling the ecosystem for a circular economy, making it feasible for small forest owners to manage their forests sustainably and affordably.”
The project will adhere to the rigorous standards set by the Climate Action Reserve‘s US/CAN Biochar Protocol for carbon credit generation. To ensure the highest levels of accuracy and transparency, the project is partnering with Wilson Biochar Associates, experts in biochar production and carbon quantification via the CHARR App to facilitate precise field measurements and data collection for the MRV process. This data will also serve as critical inputs for a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to be conducted by CORRIM, further evaluating the environmental benefits of the project.
The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with a diverse group of partners, including Conservation Districts, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, and local forestry service contractors. It will focus on high fire-risk areas in the state, and will prioritize underserved landowners, including those in economically disadvantaged communities.
Register Interest:
Interested parties are invited to sign up for project updates and participation opportunities by visiting https://bit.ly/Biochar-Markets-for-Forest-Health.
About CORRIM:
CORRIM has been a leader in developing the methodologies for conducting life cycle assessments (LCA) of harvested wood products in North America and are well versed in the developments of national greenhouse inventories and national and internationally accepted protocols for reporting carbon changes from land, land-use change, and forestry. We understand the challenges of integrating multiple fields of inquiry to arrive at credible, scientific answers to the complex questions around carbon accounting and the sustainability of our forests and the best use of wood resources. CORRIM has extensive experience in the management and production of harvested wood products with over 25 years of LCA data encompassing the major wood products.
Contact: info@corrim.org
About Circular Spring:
Circular Spring is a consulting and research firm specializing in accelerating the transition to circular products, services, business models, and ecosystems. Founded by experts in design, strategy, and sustainability, the organization helps businesses align their sustainability goals with actionable strategies to create lasting environmental and economic impact.
Contact: press@circularspring.com
About Wilson Biochar Associates:
With 35 years of experience in renewable energy, sustainable forestry and resource conservation, Wilson Biochar Associates provides strategic advice and services to businesses and organizations, helping with technology assessment, project development, research, analysis, and documentation. We also present classes and workshops on biochar technologies and applications.
Contact: kelpiew@gmail.com