From Crisis Comes Opportunity
The time is now to address California’s wildfire crisis. Our forests need to be restored to a more sustainable state.
It will take human solutions to correct a human-created problem. Green forests need to be thinned to be less vulnerable to severe wildfires. Burned forests need to be replanted and restored.
There is a problem.
Many of these trees are too small or too decayed to be used as lumber. In California, much of this excess wood is left on site to decay or is piled and burned, thus releasing a range of greenhouse gases into the air shed.
We need another solution.
There is an environmentally friendly alternative. Wood fiber can be made into composite panels, including, Oriented strand board (“OSB”)for building homes, Particle board and medium density fiberboard (“MDF”) for cabinets, furniture, and wood fiber insulation.
The Western US needs these materials to address its housing crisis. And these solutions store carbon for generations.
Today there are no wood composite panel manufacturing facilities in California. West Forest believes these facilities can be sound economic investments and will be a key part of our future.
West Forest’s goal is to jumpstart building environmentally responsible composite panel facilities in California. Our grant from Cal Fire is helping us lay the groundwork, working with both private and public entities to make this vision a reality.
OSB, MDF, and Particle Board Mill Sites Today
Close to market
A California composite panel facility would benefit from being close to the large Western US population centers, making it more responsive to demand changes and having lower shipping costs than other mills.
Locally Made Materials
Flooring, roofing, wall sheathing, cabinets, doors, and furniture would use composite panels. Even insulation can be made from wood.
Revitalized rural communities
Hundreds of new jobs would be created in rural areas and small towns that are most in need, including truckers, mill workers construction workers, and all the services needed to support them.
