Endowment and State Foresters Launch “Issues in the Forest” Series

Torrefied wood may be an excellent companion to coal as utilities across the nation seek ways to increase the use of renewable energy sources and reduce their carbon footprint.  The first in a series of co-branded briefs, Issues in the Forest, produced jointly by the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (the Endowment) and National Association of State Foresters (NASF) provides a solid overview of where torrefaction technology stands and who’s pursuing it.

Issues in the Forest is aimed at informing dialogue on topics relevant to sustainable forestry today.  “We hope the extensive research compressed into a one-page format will help keep our partners and other interested parties up-to-speed on fast moving and critical forestry topics,” said Endowment President Carlton Owen.

The Endowment and U.S. Forest Service joined forces in early 2010 through a pilot effort called the Woody Biomass Joint Venture to focus on promising technologies and new procurement model development.  Rapid learning and communication for the broader forestry and biomass energy development communities was one targeted outcome for that collaboration.

This year NASF joined in to help build awareness of the effort as well as expand it beyond woody biomass for heat and energy to a range of topics influencing forest management and policy.  “State Foresters know that keeping forests as forests requires not only traditional markets but new markets like biomass energy, green building materials and forest certification standards,” said NASF Executive Director Jay Farrell.  “Tracking policy implications and public perceptions on issues that impact healthy markets will be helpful for all forestry advocates.”

Sign up to receive Issues in the Forest through the Endowment’s listserv via the Home Page or follow the Woody Biomass Joint Venture on Facebook.