Mountain and forest view
Master's of Environmental Management

Turning Waste into Climate Solutions

WCU MEM Students Are Leading the Way with Biochar

Biochar isn’t just a byproduct; it’s a breakthrough. Through an innovative capstone project, students in Western Colorado University’s Master’s in Environmental Management (MEM) program are transforming wood waste into a practical, scalable, and deeply connected climate solution.

A biochar ring has wood on fire.

Biochar Basics & Student Projects

A team works on creating biochar.

What Is Biochar?

Biochar is a carbon-rich product made by heating organic materials, like wood chips, without oxygen, a process known as pyrolysis. When added to soil, biochar improves water retention, boosts soil fertility, and locks carbon in the ground for hundreds to thousands of years.

It’s a win-win for soil health and climate resilience.

A man teaches about the importance of biochar.

Real-World Impact

The MEM Biochar Project began with a simple question: What if students could turn an environmental challenge into a community asset?
This student-led capstone addresses waste and carbon drawdown in Gunnison, Colorado, where wildfire mitigation and forest thinning generate tons of woody debris. Students source local wood waste and process it into biochar, creating a sustainable resource for agricultural producers, gardeners, and land restoration efforts.
A man examines a biochar location.

Leading Change

This project puts students in the driver’s seat of sustainability. From collaborating with the U.S. Forest Service to testing biochar in local soils, MEM students gain hands-on experience in:
  • Environmental entrepreneurship
  • Community partnerships
  • Carbon sequestration research
  • Soil science and land restoration
  • Outreach and education

Growing Partnerships & Community Benefits

The biochar project is deeply integrated with local and regional initiatives. Western’s students partner with:
  • U.S. Forest Service and public land agencies
  • Local ranchers, farmers, and gardeners
  • Sustainable development coalitions
  • Wildfire mitigation and forest health programs
These partnerships help strengthen rural resilience while allowing MEM students to apply academic knowledge in real-world settings.

Student-Powered Biochar Capstone Project

Man creates biochar.

This sets Western’s Master of Environmental Management program apart; our students don’t just study climate solutions, they create them. They’re turning local forest residue into real, impactful tools like biochar that help communities build resilience and fight climate change. Dive into the whole narrative of Forest Biochar Potential for Gunnison County, a project designed and executed by Western students, to see how they champion carbon sequestration, soil resilience, and community impact.

See the Capstone Project

See Western's students in the news.

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    New Study Shows the Impact Trail Recreation Has on Deer, Elk in the Gunnison Basin

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An aspen forest during peak fall colors.

Learn More & Get Involved

Interested in using biochar? Want to collaborate on environmental innovation?
Explore the MEM Program or contact the project team to learn how you can participate in this climate-positive initiative.
Master of Environmental Management