Humboldt State University Forestry Professor Han-Sup Han is available to comment on how harvesting woody biomass can reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in California and beyond.
Han is a forestry expert and the principal investigator on a $5.88 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to research the energy potential of woody biomass, the name given to tree limbs, stumps and brush that are typically burned after timber harvesting operations or left on the forest floor to rot. This material can be converted into biochar, torrefied pellets and briquettes, and burned to create renewable energy.
In addition to providing energy, collecting woody biomass can mitigate catastrophic wildfires in California, which have grown in number and severity in recent years due to climate change and forest overgrowth, costing taxpayers $1.2 billion annually.
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