Dharamsala: In a first for the country, an indigenous biochar plant designed to process forest biomass has been commissioned at the Neri campus of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF) in Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur district.
The plant, with a processing capacity of 1.5 tonnes of biomass per day, has been developed to convert highly combustible chir pine needles and other forest residues into biochar, helping reduce the risk of forest fires while supporting climate change mitigation, The Tribune reported.
The project has been jointly developed by the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, IIT Roorkee, UHF and climate technology firm ProClime. Officials said it is India’s first indigenously designed biochar facility dedicated to processing forest biomass and could serve as a scalable model for sustainable forest management in Himalayan states.
Every summer, dry, resin-rich chir pine needles accumulate on forest floors across Himachal Pradesh, making forests highly susceptible to wildfires. The new facility aims to utilise this biomass instead of allowing it to fuel forest fires.
According to Dr Sushil Kumar Singla, Secretary, Department of Environment, Science, Technology and Climate Change, the plant will process around 1.5 tonnes of biomass daily to produce about 450 kg of biochar, along with bio-oil and wood vinegar as by-products. Besides commercial production, the facility will function as a research, demonstration and training centre.
The plant will also process agricultural residues, forest waste and invasive plant species, expanding the range of biomass that can be converted into value-added products.
The facility uses pyrolysis, a process in which biomass is heated in a low-oxygen environment. Instead of releasing carbon dioxide through open burning or decomposition, the process converts biomass into biochar, a stable charcoal-like material capable of storing carbon in soils for hundreds of years.
Officials said the initiative would contribute to long-term carbon sequestration, improve soil health and support the state’s climate goals through collaboration between government agencies, research institutions, local communities and the private sector.
Apart from capturing carbon, biochar improves soil structure, enhances water retention, reduces nutrient losses and increases soil fertility, making it a promising soil amendment for sustainable agriculture.
The project also seeks to create rural livelihoods by paying local residents to collect dry pine needles and other forest residues. Officials said the programme is expected to generate employment opportunities, particularly for women and self-help groups, while encouraging greater community participation in forest conservation.
If the pilot project proves successful, the model could be replicated across other Himalayan states facing recurring forest fires, while also contributing to waste management, carbon removal and climate-resilient agriculture.
