‘A’ rating supports development of industry and forest restoration Initiatives
Coconino County and Ecostrat are pleased to announce a new Bioeconomy Development Opportunity (BDO) Zone designation for woody biomass. Extending a 75-mile drive distance centered in Bellemont, AZ, it is the first BDO Zone ‘A’ rating in Arizona for Woodland Biomass, Forest and Sawmill Residuals.
The Coconino County BDO Zone, rated ‘A’ for ‘high quality’ feedstock supply chains and robust infrastructure, offers a secure annual supply of 100,000 bone dry tons of wood fiber. Sourced from planned ecological restoration and fire management operations, low-risk feedstock availability, absence of local competition for wood fiber, combined with a dedicated local network of organizations committed to biomass supply chain development makes it an optimal site location for medium-scale biobased projects.
“This BDO Zone ‘A’ rating for Coconino County aptly reflects both the material and political conditions of our region,” said Jay Smith, Coconino County Forest Restoration Director. “We have a vast forest in need of restoration and the urgent removal of biomass to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. Our community is motivated to see this work happen immediately.”
Jordan Solomon, Chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative added, “The BDO Zone Rating not only opens doors to new markets for underutilized wood fiber, rejuvenating the state's forestry industry, but also plays a vital role in concurrently mitigating wildfire risk, supporting Coconino County's proactive approach to forest restoration and wildfire management.”
To see the full BDO Zone Rating for Coconino County, Arizona please click here, or visit www.bdozone.org.
