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Abstract
Fuels management is an active term. It is an intentional, planned activity defined by consideration of fire behavior, silvicultural principles, ecological constraints, and the economic and technical limitations of the tools selected to implement the treatment. A forest operation is a tool used to manipulate vegetation or site condition in order to achieve some desired management objectives. Given the wide range of forest operations that can be employed to treat forest fuel, it is imperative to employ a tool that is well-matched to both operational needs and treatment constraints. Selecting a poorly suited tool increases costs and reduces the effectiveness of the operation in achieving the desired outcomes. The selection of a forest operation also plays a critical role in determining the amount and type of cumulative effects associated with the treatment. A tool that is not matched to the terrain or job requirements will likely produce more undesirable impacts.
Parent Publication
Citation
Rummer, Bob. 2010. Tools for fuel management. In: Elliot, William J.; Miller, Ina Sue; Audin, Lisa, eds. Cumulative watershed effects of fuel management in the western United States. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-231. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 69-78.
