Uses have been found for the dead wood including composting and in construction, and potentially to make biochar.
The infestation has been moving north and east from the Granby and Winter Park area towards Larimer County.
It is estimated that beetle kill will leave behind a deforested area the size of Rhode Island.
For instance, Summit County has begun composting by combining wood chips from beetle kill trees with other organic materials.
Some forestry experts predict this fuel can be used to power plants where beetle kill wood is processed.
[citation needed] Werner Kurz has pointed out that hundreds of millions of tons of carbon will be released into the atmosphere as the dead timber decays or burns, contributing to climate change that may further devastate Western forests.