By Kelpie Wilson, USBI Board Member

In the western US, climate change, drought, and a century of fire suppression have created a wildfire crisis that threatens ecosystems and communities. As forests go up in smoke, we are also experiencing the loss of one of our most important natural carbon sinks, at a time when we must rely more and more on natural climate solutions to drawdown carbon.

Excluding fire from landscapes has created the current dangerous fuel loading conditions. Fire exclusion has also deprived forest soils of natural biochar. The amount of charcoal generated by wildfire depends on fire intensity, fire return interval, vegetation type, and fuel loading, but researchers estimate that 10-50% of the carbon found in forest soils is charcoal. Periodic, low-intensity, safe fire provides a regular input of biochar and minerals to rejuvenate forest soils. When we make biochar in the woods from material that is too expensive to haul out for any other use, we are helping to improve forest resilience. Biochar is a form of biomimicry that restores important soil components and helps retain water.

Forests need our help. Biochar is our gift to trees. Please join me and 15 other presenters to learn about our work developing cost effective methods and systems for making biochar at The Biochar in the Woods Workshop. Events takes place online on January 27 and in-person (at locations near Chico, California) on February 1-3. Here's more information and a registration link.