A comprehensive guide to fuel management practices for dry mixed conifer forests in the northwestern United States: Inventory and model-based economic analysis of mechanical fuel treatments

Terrie B. Jain; Michael A. Battaglia; Han-Sup Han; Russell T. Graham; Christopher R. Keyes; Jeremy S. Fried; Jonathan Sandquist

doi:10.2737/RMRS-RN-64

Treesearch

A comprehensive guide to fuel management practices for dry mixed conifer forests in the northwestern United States: Inventory and model-based economic analysis of mechanical fuel treatments

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Terrie B. Jain, Michael A. Battaglia, Han-Sup Han, Russell T. Graham, Christopher R. Keyes, Jeremy S. Fried, Jonathan Sandquist

Year:

2014

Type:

Research Note

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/RMRS-RN-64

Source:

RMRS-RN-64. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p.

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Download (PDF 336 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/45661.pdf

Abstract

Implementing fuel treatments in every place where it could be beneficial to do so is impractical and not cost effective under any plausible specification of objectives. Only some of the many possible kinds of treatments will be effective in any particular stand and there are some stands that seem to defy effective treatment. In many more, effective treatment costs far more than the value of treatment benefits. Understanding the scope of the fuel management challenges in these forests is the first step towards identifying fuel treatment approaches that are likely to be both effective and economically feasible (e.g., self-supporting) in reducing fire hazard.

Keywords

fuel management practices, dry mixed conifer forests, inventory, economic analysis, mechanical fuel treatments

Citation

Jain, Theresa B.; Battaglia, Mike A.; Han, Han-Sup; Graham, Russell T.; Keyes, Christopher R.; Fried, Jeremy S.; Sandquist, Jonathan E. 2014. A comprehensive guide to fuel management practices for dry mixed conifer forests in the northwestern United States: Inventory and model-based economic analysis of mechanical fuel treatments. Res. Note RMRS-RN-64. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p.