Warmth from the woods
PETERSHAM, Mass. — In heavily wooded New England, forests are dynamic ecosystems that support a range of plants and animals, and their ability to soak up carbon also makes them an important piece of the climate-change puzzle. How changes to forests over time affect the flow of carbon through the atmosphere has long been a focus of researchers at the 3,700-acre Harvard Forest. Now, three wood-fired boilers are providing those scientists with a new tool to expand their understanding. The new, super-efficient, thermal biomass system, which provides heating to five nearby buildings, is expected to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions because it is fueled by wood that has been responsibly harvested by the woods crew. The system will allow researchers to explore how using plants can be an integral component of an actively managed forest that supports long-term conservation and local economies. “With this project, we are putting our assertions into practice and providing...