Using wood-based structural products as forest management tools to improve forest health, sustainability and reduce forest fuels : a research program of the USDA Forest Service under the National Fire Plan

Abstract

Currently, after logging or thinning operations much of the low value timber is either left standing or is felled and left on the ground, chipped, or burned because most North American mills are not equipped to handle this material. In many areas of Western U.S., this forest residue does not decompose if felled and it soon becomes susceptible to forest insect or disease if partially damaged or injured during logging. Two research projects are currently in their second year of a three-year project funded under the USDA Forest Service “National Fire Plan” (Hunt 2000). The goal of these two research projects is to maintain a healthy and sustainable forests through development of economically viable process es) and product(s) that can utilize small-diameter timber, forest undergrowth, and whole tree trimmings from logging operations. In this way, “whole-site” forest management can be implemented to use all available living biomass material for optimum utilization leaving minimal impact in the forest for future insect, disease, or forest fire. By providing economical options for all these materials this can then encourage rural development and reduce costs to the federal government for improved forest health, eco-system and for minimized fire mitigation.

Citation

Hunt, John F.; Winandy, Jerrold E. 2002. Using wood-based structural products as forest management tools to improve forest health, sustainability and reduce forest fuels : a research program of the USDA Forest Service under the National Fire Plan. Proceedings of the 6th Pacific Rim Bio-Based Composites Symposium & Workshop on the Chemical Modification of Cellulosics, Portland, Oregon, USA, 2002. Corvallis, OR : Wood Science and Engineering Dept., Oregon State University, 2002: vol. 1, pages 319-323.