Innovative Approaches to Forest Fuels Management

Southern Oregon forests face growing threats from wildfires driven by increased tree density, tree mortality, disease, insect infestations, and a warming climate. As a result, forest fuel levels are increasing to a volatile level.

Forest fuel reduction is traditionally performed by hand labor. Forestry hand crews use chainsaws to cut and pile small-diameter trees and brush. Teams return later to burn the piles when conditions are favorable.

This study evaluates the potential for implementing innovative mechanical methods to harvest and collect both commercial and non-commercial trees with options for processing on-site and/or transport to local markets. Those methods include: mastication, harvester-forwarder systems (aka “cut-to-length”), burn boxes, and biochar production. This report also describes some of the potential biomass markets in Southwest Oregon that could process vast amounts of biomass into renewable energy and other wood products. Finally, the report includes some recommendations for the types of agreements and partnerships that would be needed to make large-scale forest fuel reduction financially feasible and stable in the long term. The goal of all fire fuels reduction methods presented in this report is to reduce existing forest fuel levels to a point where prescribed fire can be performed to safely and effectively manage forest fuel in the long term.

The full report is available to view and download (above). You can also watch a presentation of the report on our YouTube channel.