Forest Thinning

Decades of fire suppression have led to overly dense forests across the American West, increasing the risk of catastrophic wildfires, especially when combined with drought and insect infestations. As these fires grow larger and more frequent, they threaten to release vast amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, turning forests from carbon sinks into carbon sources.

Thinning overly dense forests is a proven method for reducing wildfire risk and improving ecosystem health, but the process is often cost-prohibitive because there is no viable market for the removed biomass. As a result, much of the material is either left to decay or burned in slash piles—both of which release carbon back into the air.

Wood Vaults solve this economic barrier by creating value for thinned biomass. By providing a market for this otherwise unmerchantable material, Wood Vaults help landowners and forest managers fund essential fire risk reduction efforts while ensuring that the removed carbon stays locked away for centuries to millennia.