Kyle Park Rose Hills
Biomass Burial: A Dual-Purpose Post-Wildfire Strategy for Los Angeles
Natural phenomena and anthropogenic activities continue to drive unprecedented changes in our climate, with one of the many being increasing upward pressure on global fire activity and risk. As a Southern Californian, I experienced firsthand the devastation caused by the Pacific Palisades and Eaton fires of January 2025, two of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history sparked by record-breaking conditions. Addressing the root cause of climate change and escalating wildfire risk – anthropogenic carbon emissions – requires proactive reduction of atmospheric carbon dioxide. One promising solution is wood carbon vaults, a hybrid nature-engineering approach that involves the long-term storage of sustainably harvested woody biomass in controlled underground environments to prevent CO2 release. In my research, I use interdisciplinary approaches to investigate the environmental effectiveness and economic feasibility of carbon vaults as a wildfire mitigation and carbon sequestration strategy for Los Angeles. These findings could inform California’s future wildfire mitigation policies and forest management practices, safeguarding Southern Californians from escalating fire risk.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you so much for your financial support! I am honored to be chosen as a Rose Hills Foundation Summer Scholar. At a time when climate and environmental research is more crucial than ever, I am truly grateful for the opportunity to pursue this work and help build a more resilient future for Southern California and its most vulnerable communities.