
Forest Biomass Learning Network Webinar
Forest Biomass Learning Network Webinar
Date: Wednesday, July 9th, 2025
Time: 1–3 PM PDT / 2–4 PM MDT / 3–5 PM CDT / 4–6 PM EDT
Location: Online (Zoom)
This webinar is for Tribal forestry staff, carbon removal companies, and other partners interested in how Tribal forest management efforts can open up new opportunities in forest biomass utilization and emerging carbon removal markets.
As Tribes confront rising wildfire risks, markets are growing for woody biomass from their fuel management work in forests. Companies use the material for durable carbon removal, biochar, biomass energy, activated carbon, mass timber, and other products. Could these emerging opportunities help cover the costs of Tribes’ forest management and contribute to other Tribal priorities?
This session will bring together tribal forestry staff and CDR industry partners to discuss these emerging opportunities. We’ll also explore pathways to advance Tribal-led priorities—such as expanding management authority, increasing federal support for research and demonstration projects, and fostering stronger collaboration across Tribal and industry stakeholders.
Featured Speakers:
Mac Lefebvre (Director of Originations - Inland Empire, Mast Reforestation) - Mast Reforestation is a climate tech company scaling reforestation in wildfire-damaged areas by developing carbon credits to fund restoration projects.
Jeffrey Brown (Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Nature Focus) & Vibrant Planet - Jeffrey will speak about Biochar and Woody Biomass Burial and will co-present with a speaker from Vibrant Planet. Vibrant Planet supports land management decisions with fine scale data, state-of-the-art wildfire modeling, and forecasted outcomes.
Additional Speaker - Carbon Removal Markets - We’ve invited a third speaker and are holding space for their participation.
About the Forest Biomass Learning Network & Global Ocean Health
This webinar is hosted by Global Ocean Health’s main program, Partnerships for Tribal Carbon Solutions, and is the first in a series as part of the Forest Biomass Learning Network. Collaborators in this effort include the Carbon Business Council, the Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal at American University, and the Indigenous Greenhouse Gas Removal Commission.
From Biomass to Carbon Storage: 6 Pathways
After removing excess biomass from forests to reduce wildfire risk, Tribes can use that material in a variety of carbon removal pathways:
-
Woody Biomass Burial
Tree trimmings and forest debris are buried in a way that prevents them from decomposing and releasing carbon back into the air. This locks the carbon underground for the long term.
-
Biochar
Biomass is heated in a no- or low-oxygen environment (a process called pyrolysis) to create biochar—a stable charcoal that can be added to soils. It improves soil health and locks in carbon for centuries. Biochar has been part of Indigenous practices for thousands of years.
-
Bioenergy with Carbon Capture
Forest biomass is used to create energy, and the carbon released in the process is captured and durably stored—either underground or in long-lasting materials.
-
Building Materials
Carbon can be stored long-term in buildings by using materials that lock in CO₂. This includes engineered wood products like cross-laminated timber made from biomass. These materials not only store carbon but also reduce the need for high-emission alternatives like traditional steel and cement.
-
Activated Carbon
Activated carbon refers to a highly porous carbonaceous material that is widely used for various applications such as water and air purification, as well as in wastewater treatment and catalysts. It has a large surface area and pore volume, making it effective for adsorbing a wide range of pollutants.
-
Bio Oil
Biomass is converted into a stable oil through pyrolysis. When this oil is injected deep underground for long-term storage, it becomes a form of carbon removal. It can also be used as a low-emission fuel, however this is not a form of CDR.