restoration of forest resiliency on nfs lands: what role for renewable energy? by corbin newman,...
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Restoration of Forest Restoration of Forest Resiliency on NFS lands: what Resiliency on NFS lands: what
role for renewable energy?role for renewable energy?
by by
Corbin Newman, Director of Forest Corbin Newman, Director of Forest Management, National Forest SystemManagement, National Forest System
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A Little Context and BackgroundA Little Context and Background
Prior to the 1990s, a primary focus of National Forest Prior to the 1990s, a primary focus of National Forest management was commodity productionmanagement was commodity production
While production of goods is still important, the restoration of ecosystem function and resiliency has gained primacy
This is evidenced by a decline of more than 80% in NFS timber production since the mid-1980s
This mission shift and the current focus on ecological restoration reflect both changing public values, and the ecological conditions that currently exist on NFS lands
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The shift from commodity production to restoration of ecosystem function and
resiliency has occurred at the same time that there has been:
A decade long drought in the WestA decade long drought in the West
A multi-decade increase in the forest density A multi-decade increase in the forest density and increased incidents of fire, insects and and increased incidents of fire, insects and diseasedisease
An expansion of residential developments into An expansion of residential developments into forestsforests
Growing concern over the effects of climate Growing concern over the effects of climate change on forests change on forests
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The Size and Intensity of Wildfire Has Increased In Recent Years
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
2005200019951990198519801975197019651960
Fire Year
Ac
res
bu
rne
d in
mill
ion
s
National Fire Plan
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Putting towns at risk and damaging watersheds
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Buffalo Creek Fire - 1996
In 1996, the Buffalo In 1996, the Buffalo Creek Fire in Creek Fire in Colorado did major Colorado did major damage to damage to Denver’s water Denver’s water supply, with one supply, with one storm dumping storm dumping more than 300,000 more than 300,000 cubic yards of soil cubic yards of soil into the Strontia into the Strontia Springs Reservoir, Springs Reservoir, causing millions of causing millions of dollars of damage.dollars of damage.(And killing two (And killing two people)people)
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Changes in Fire Regime -- Historic vs. Current
Interior Columbia Basin
Source: ICBEMP (1996)
High Fire Severity Low Fire Severity0
10
20
30
40
50
60Percent of Area
Historic Current
There has been a major shift in fire regime from low to high severity
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The increase in forest density in many parts of the country has been in progress since the late
19th Century
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South Fork Teton RiverSouth Fork Teton RiverLewis & Clark NF, MTLewis & Clark NF, MT
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Montana, 1895
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And in 1980
This area has since been burned in a wildfire
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Forest Growth and Removals National Forests of the Interior West - 1920-1997
Source: Forest Resources of the United States, 1997; GTR-NC-219. USDA-Forest Service, 2001.
1952 1962 1977 1987 1997 20010
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600Millions of Cubic Feet
Net Growth Removals
Forest growth greatly exceeds removalson NFS lands in the Interior West
When net forest growth exceeds removals, live biomass is increasing
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Western Pine Bark Beetle Damage -- Prescott National Forest, ArizonaWestern Pine Bark Beetle Damage -- Prescott National Forest, Arizona
When dense forests combine with extended When dense forests combine with extended drought, the ecological stress sets the stage for drought, the ecological stress sets the stage for
increased insect epidemics and wildfireincreased insect epidemics and wildfire
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Other forces are affecting forest Other forces are affecting forest management policiesmanagement policies
There has been an increasing concern over the effects of climate change on forests
There has been a growing interest in identifying and seeking markets for the environmental services of forests, particularly carbon sequestration
The energy crunch has placed increased focus on the uses of woody biomass for energy
This has been encouraged by establishment of green portfolio standard by many states
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At the same time, people have been moving to forests and shrub lands in record numbers
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All of these factors constituted a All of these factors constituted a call to action to actively address call to action to actively address reduction of hazardous fuels and reduction of hazardous fuels and restoration of forest ecosystem restoration of forest ecosystem
resiliencyresiliency
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A major strategy of National Forest management has been to focus on
ecosystem restoration and fuels treatment
BeforeBeforeTreatmentTreatment
AfterAfterTreatmentTreatment
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Restoration of Ecosystem Restoration of Ecosystem resiliency can achieve a variety resiliency can achieve a variety
of objectivesof objectives
Restore and protect important ecosystem services Restore and protect important ecosystem services
Help recover T&E speciesHelp recover T&E species
Reduce the risk of uncharacteristically severe wildfireReduce the risk of uncharacteristically severe wildfire
Support local communities economicallySupport local communities economically
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But ecological restoration does not But ecological restoration does not necessarily mean going back to past necessarily mean going back to past
conditionsconditions
In many cases it will be impossible or In many cases it will be impossible or even undesirable to restore conditions as even undesirable to restore conditions as they were before Europeans arrivedthey were before Europeans arrived Climate change, introduced invasives, Climate change, introduced invasives, land use changes and land management land use changes and land management objectives have intervenedobjectives have intervened But is often desirable to restore historic But is often desirable to restore historic functions and ecological processes to functions and ecological processes to landscapes landscapes
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HistoricalHistorical
SettlementSettlement
CurrentCurrent
RestoredRestored
OldGrowthOldGrowth
PonderosaPinePonderosaPine
OpeningsOpeningsMixture ofPonderosa
PineandDouglas-fir
Mixture ofPonderosa
PineandDouglas-fir
Source: M. KaufmanSource: M. Kaufman
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Pearson Natural AreaPearson Natural AreaRestoration Study – Near Flagstaff, ArizonaRestoration Study – Near Flagstaff, Arizona
The last natural fire occurred in 1876The last natural fire occurred in 1876• Prior to 1876, low intensity surface fires burned Prior to 1876, low intensity surface fires burned
through the area on a 2-4 yr intervalthrough the area on a 2-4 yr interval• In 1876 there were an average of 23 trees per acreIn 1876 there were an average of 23 trees per acre• Prior to thinning the area averaged 1170 trees per Prior to thinning the area averaged 1170 trees per
acreacre
Slide from W. CovingtonSlide from W. Covington
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Restoration thinning in 1993-94 left 60 trees per Restoration thinning in 1993-94 left 60 trees per acre, (latillas for adobe home construction and 5 acre, (latillas for adobe home construction and 5 tons per acre of slash or ten 18-wheel dump tons per acre of slash or ten 18-wheel dump trucks/acre)trucks/acre)
After RestorationAfter Restoration
Slide from W. CovingtonSlide from W. Covington
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Shaded Fuel Break on Tyee Creek Fire (E. Washington) – 1974
A variety of evidence suggests that restoration activities can change fire behavior
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CC
UnthinnedUnthinned ThinnedThinned
Wind
Cone FireBlacks Mountain Exp Forest
September 2002
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A. No treatmentB. Thinned – No RxBurnC. Thinned with RxBurn
After Cone Fire
AA
B: B: Thinned – No RxBurn C: C: Thinned with RxBurn
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Thinning and prescribed fire will be essentialto protect and restore old growth forests
comprised of fire dependent species(60 percent or more of all western forests)
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There are significant barriersThere are significant barriersto ecosystem restorationto ecosystem restoration
Prescribed fire is risky and puts smoke in the airPrescribed fire is risky and puts smoke in the air
Mechanical treatment that removes merchantable Mechanical treatment that removes merchantable trees can be controversial (opening up the forests trees can be controversial (opening up the forests to timber barons) to timber barons)
Fuels treatment and forest restoration are also very Fuels treatment and forest restoration are also very expensive (costs are high and product values are expensive (costs are high and product values are low)low)
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How do we overcome these How do we overcome these barriers?barriers?
Sustainable Sustainable
Utilization of BiomassUtilization of Biomass
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Potential benefits from the use of biomass Potential benefits from the use of biomass as a by-product of restoration activitiesas a by-product of restoration activities
Reduced per acre cost of restoration and Reduced per acre cost of restoration and increased area on which restoration can be increased area on which restoration can be appliedapplied
Improved ecosystem condition (T&E, health and Improved ecosystem condition (T&E, health and resiliency, watershed protection, etc)resiliency, watershed protection, etc)
Improved community economic healthImproved community economic health
Reduced risk of damaging wildfire Reduced risk of damaging wildfire
Reduced reliance on fossil fuels Reduced reliance on fossil fuels
Improved air quality as compared with Improved air quality as compared with conventional fossil fuels conventional fossil fuels
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FS Woody Biomass Utilization StrategyFS Woody Biomass Utilization Strategy for Restoring and Maintaining Ecosystem Healthfor Restoring and Maintaining Ecosystem Health
Link biomass utilization to restoring and maintaining ecosystem healthLink biomass utilization to restoring and maintaining ecosystem health
1.1. Provide a reliable and predictable supply from federal Provide a reliable and predictable supply from federal landslands
2.2. Foster partnerships to facilitate woody biomass Foster partnerships to facilitate woody biomass utilization- respond to community and regional interestsutilization- respond to community and regional interests
3.3. Produce science and deliver technology to enable Produce science and deliver technology to enable sustainable woody biomass utilizationsustainable woody biomass utilization
4.4. Increase markets for woody biomass through our work Increase markets for woody biomass through our work with partnerswith partners
Draft Information from National Strategy currently under development
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Potential Biomass available from
simulated thinnings by uneven aged
treatment
(oven dry tons)
Used in Western Governor’s Biomass Task Force 2006
Source: Forest Products Laboratory TechLine: Fuel Treatment Evaluator 3.0 Issued 06/06http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/techline/fuel-treatment-evaluator.pdf
(160,000 acre hexagon)
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9.4
1.12.8
35.2
2.2 2.0 0.4
6.3
0
10
20
30
40
50
National forest Other federal State & local Private
Forest ownership
Mill
ion
dry
to
ns
Timberland Other forestland
Potential biomass from fuels treatment operations on all U.S. forest lands ~ 60 million
dry tons/year
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Potential Electricity from NFS Biomass
8,500 Bone Dry Tons = One Megawatt/Hour for an entire Year of Electricity (1 MWY)11.6 Million BDT = 1,365 MW YearsOne Megawatt = 1000 Households1,365 MWY = 1.4 Million Households
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Don’t Expect this Issue to be Don’t Expect this Issue to be Resolved Anytime SoonResolved Anytime Soon
It is complex and multi-faceted problem.It is complex and multi-faceted problem.
It has taken many decades for forests to It has taken many decades for forests to evolve into the conditions that exist today, evolve into the conditions that exist today, and it will take years to successfully address and it will take years to successfully address the fire risk and fuels reduction situation.the fire risk and fuels reduction situation.
But there is reason for hopeBut there is reason for hope
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Key Socio-Political Forces are ShiftingKey Socio-Political Forces are Shifting
There is a broader recognition of climate change There is a broader recognition of climate change and the need for action to address itand the need for action to address it
There is a renewed drive to find mechanisms for There is a renewed drive to find mechanisms for energy independence with bio-energy being a big energy independence with bio-energy being a big part of itpart of it
The value of the ecosystem services provided by The value of the ecosystem services provided by forests has increased, with carbon sequestration forests has increased, with carbon sequestration leading the wayleading the wayThere is growing recognition of the need to There is growing recognition of the need to actively manage NFS lands to restore and protect actively manage NFS lands to restore and protect important ecosystem servicesimportant ecosystem services
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Bio-energy has an important role in Bio-energy has an important role in helping achieve multiple objectives on helping achieve multiple objectives on
public lands, especially improving public lands, especially improving ecosystem resiliency and meeting energy ecosystem resiliency and meeting energy
needs needs
Non-action is not a viable optionNon-action is not a viable option
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If we do nothing, we will have: If we do nothing, we will have:
1905
2000
Loss of old-growth forestsLoss of old-growth forestsLoss of biological diversityLoss of biological diversityMore insect epidemicsMore insect epidemicsPoor watershed conditionsPoor watershed conditionsLarger, more destructive wildfiresLarger, more destructive wildfires
Source: M. KaufmanSource: M. Kaufman
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All we need now are the will, resources, and understanding to
make a difference!