How to Use Our National Forests
in the 21st Century

Bonnie Phillips
Wednesday, May 28, 2009

The timber industry is struggling during these economic hard times. In order to keep their industry alive, there is now a huge push to use our national forests for what is often termed "woody biomass." In essence, as the world looks for alternative energy sources, the idea of using trees to burn for energy has come to the forefront. Even usually environmentally aware Members of Congress often support such efforts. But many say there is a far better function for these forests in our challenge to mitigate climate change. That use is to keep the trees vertical for carbon storage.

The testimony of Mark E. Harmon, Ph.D. is an excellent explanation of how this works. This testimony was given before the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands of the Committee on Natural Resources in an oversight hearing on "The Role of Federal Lands in Combating Climate Change" on March 3, 2009.