Cincinnati Parks invests $1.1 million in a carbon-negative biochar project

Crystal Courtney from Cincinnati Parks Division of Natural Resources says much of the plant waste from the city's parks is underutilized, and often left to lay in piles around Cincinnati's natural areas. That's why the Cincinnati Parks Board and Great Parks of Hamilton County are directing grant funds from Bloomberg Philanthropies toward a new biochar production facility.

Biochar is a charcoal-like substance created by burning plant waste and converting it into a long-lasting soil additive that can promote the growth of new trees.

The investment will create a biochar facility managed by Cincinnati Parks and Carbon Harvest LLC, a local biochar and soil improvement company founded by Sam Dunlap in 2021.

Dunlap says biochar can be added to soil to keep nutrients in the ground for much longer than regular soil or mulch. This can help plants perform photosynthesis more efficiently, allowing them to capture more carbon, making cleaner air.