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

A Little Context and BackgroundA Little Context and BackgroundPrior 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

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

The Size and Intensity of Wildfire Has Increased In Recent Years

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

2005200019951990198519801975197019651960

Fire Year

Acr

es b

urne

d in

mill

ions

National Fire Plan

Putting towns at risk and damaging watersheds

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)

Changes in Fire Regime -- Historic vs. CurrentInterior 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

The increase in forest density in many parts of the country has been in progress since the late

19th Century

South Fork Teton RiverSouth Fork Teton RiverLewis & Clark NF, MTLewis & Clark NF, MT

Montana, 1895

And in 1980

This area has since been burned in a wildfire

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

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

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

At the same time, people have been moving to forests and shrub lands in record numbers

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

A major strategy of National Forest management has been to focus on

ecosystem restoration and fuels treatment

BeforeBeforeTreatmentTreatment

AfterAfterTreatmentTreatment

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

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

Historical

Settlement

Current

Restored

OldGrowth

PonderosaPine

OpeningsMixture ofPonderosa

PineandDouglas-fir

Source: M. KaufmanSource: M. Kaufman

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

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

Shaded Fuel Break on Tyee Creek Fire (E. Washington) – 1974

A variety of evidence suggests that restoration activities can change fire behavior

CCUnthinnedUnthinned ThinnedThinned

Wind

Cone FireBlacks Mountain Exp Forest

September 2002

A. No treatmentB. Thinned – No RxBurnC. Thinned with RxBurn

After Cone Fire

AA

B: B: Thinned – No RxBurn C: C: Thinned with RxBurn

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)

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)

How do we overcome these How do we overcome these barriers?barriers?

Sustainable Sustainable Utilization of BiomassUtilization of Biomass

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

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

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)

9.4

1.1 2.8

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

tons

Timberland Other forestland

Potential biomass from fuels treatment operations on all U.S. forest lands ~ 60 million

dry tons/year

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

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

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

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

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

All we need now are the will, resources, and understanding to

make a difference!