Biochar: A Promising Tool for Managing Biomass in California
September 2, 2023
California is facing a biomass management crisis. Decades of forest management practices have led to an overabundance of woody biomass in our forests, which is contributing to the risk of catastrophic wildfires. Biochar can be a powerful tool to help us manage this biomass and improve the health of our forests.
What is biochar?
Biochar is a type of charcoal that is made from biomass that has been heated in an oxygen-limited environment. This process chars the biomass and creates a porous material that has a number of beneficial properties. Biochar can improve soil health, sequester carbon, and reduce the risk of wildfires.
How can biochar help California?
In California, there is a significant amount of biomass that could be used to produce biochar. In fact, the state generates an estimated 26.8 million tons of forestry biomass waste each year. This biomass could be used to produce over 5 million tons of biochar and generate more than 10,000 MW of renewable energy annually.
The production and use of biochar can help us to address a number of challenges facing California’s forests. Biochar can help to:
- Reduce the risk of wildfires. Biochar can adsorb water and prevent the spread of fire. It can also help to create a more fire-resistant soil.
- Improve soil health. Biochar can increase water retention, nutrient availability, and microbial activity in the soil. This can help to improve the growth of trees and other plants.
- Sequester carbon. Biochar can store carbon for hundreds or even thousands of years. This can help to mitigate climate change.
How can you help?
There are a number of things that you can do to help promote the use of biochar in California. Here are a few ideas:
- Learn more about biochar and its benefits.
- Talk to your elected officials about the importance of biochar.
- Support businesses that are using biochar.
- Get involved in biochar research and development.
- Start using biochar in your gardening or farming.
Together, we can help to make California a leader in the development and use of biochar.
