What is forest biomass?
Forest biomass is defined as any plant or tree material produced by forest growth. Much of the forest biomass is currently used as a raw material in the manufacturing and refining of traditional types of wood products, such as lumber, plywood, paper, chemicals, and many other items. These types of items are typically produced from trees that are over 5″ in diameter at breast height (dbh), reasonably straight, and otherwise sound. Biomass used in these trees is considered “merchantable”. Forest biomass energy systems are capable of using otherwise wasted or “unmerchantable” biomass. Specific types of biomass targeted for use in energy systems include: tops and branches of trees left after timber harvests, poor quality trees in managed forests, trees removed during land clearing operations, wood waste from urban areas, and wood residues produced by sawmills. As demand for these types of forest biomass increases, their value value will increase and they will become merchantable.
