Anthropocene Magazine · Climate & nature

Burying wood debris could fight wildfires and climate change, scientists say

New research suggests that burying wood debris from forest thinning, rather than burning it, could be a more effective strategy for both combating climate change and improving forest health. This method could also generate significant revenue through carbon credits.

Logging companies often face the challenge of disposing of excess wood from forest thinning. Burning this biomass is common but releases stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. A new study published in Science Advances proposes burying this wood underground as a way to trap carbon and potentially create a profitable venture through carbon credits.

The strategy involves utilizing plants' natural ability to capture carbon dioxide. When vegetation is buried and shielded from air, much of the carbon it contains remains stored, similar to how fossil fuels formed. This contrasts with burning or natural decay, which release carbon back into the atmosphere.

Researchers compared various methods, including burning, natural decay, biochar production, and burial. Their modeling indicated that over a century, burning stores only 4.5% of carbon, while natural decay is similarly ineffective. Biochar captures 44%, but burial in specialized landfills achieves 78% carbon capture, comparable to burning with carbon capture technology (81%).

Financially, burning is the most expensive option. If carbon credits are sold at $100 per metric ton, burial could yield approximately $21 per ton, bioenergy $12, and biochar would break even. Given the scale of forest management, the cost savings and revenue potential of burial are substantial.

Several companies are already exploring this approach. Graphyte is developing a plant in Arizona to process wood waste into solid blocks for burial. Woodcache and Mast Reforestation are also implementing similar methods on smaller scales.

However, the researchers caution that burial is not a universal solution. Factors like soil type and rainfall are critical. In unsuitable conditions, digging burial sites could release more carbon than the wood stores, emphasizing the need for careful site-specific planning. As lead author Leah Clayton noted, "No single pathway is a silver bullet."

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