Science Findings, Issue 104, July 2008. Paying Our Way: Thinking Strategically to Offset the Cost of Reducing Fire Hazard in Western Forests

摘要

The fire hazard in many western forests is unacceptably high, posing risks to human health and property, wildlife habitat, and air and water quality. Cost is an inhibiting factor for reducing hazardous fuel, given the amount of acreage needing treatment. Thinning overly dense forests is one way to reduce fuel loads. Much of the product removed during these treatments has traditionally been considered unmerchantable, but this is changing with the growing interest in biofuel and bioelectricity. Wood can be used to produce both. Potential may exist in some areas to sell the biomass removed during thinning as a way to offset the cost of treatment and subsidize treatment in other areas.