Transcript Newman

Restoration of Forest
Resiliency on NFS lands: what
role for renewable energy?
by
Corbin Newman, Director of Forest
Management, National Forest System
A Little Context and Background
Prior to the 1990s, a primary focus of National Forest
management 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 West
A multi-decade increase in the forest density
and increased incidents of fire, insects and
disease
An expansion of residential developments into
forests
Growing concern over the effects of climate
change on forests
The Size and Intensity of Wildfire Has
Increased In Recent Years National
Fire Plan
9
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
Fire Year
1990
1995
2000
2005
Acres burned in millions
8
Putting towns at risk and damaging watersheds
In 1996, the Buffalo
Creek Fire in
Colorado did major
damage to
Denver’s water
supply, with one
storm dumping
more than 300,000
cubic yards of soil
into the Strontia
Springs Reservoir,
causing millions of
dollars of damage.
(And killing two
people)
Buffalo Creek Fire - 1996
There has been a major shift in fire regime
from low to high severity
Changes in Fire Regime -- Historic vs. Current
Interior Columbia Basin
60
Percent of Area
50
40
30
20
10
0
High Fire Severity
Historic
Source: ICBEMP (1996)
Low Fire Severity
Current
The increase in forest density in
many parts of the country has
been in progress since the late
19th Century
South Fork Teton River
Lewis & Clark NF, MT
Montana, 1895
And in 1980
This area has since been burned in a wildfire
Forest growth greatly exceeds removals
on NFS lands in the Interior West
Forest Growth and Removals
National Forests of the Interior West - 1920-1997
1600
Millions of Cubic Feet
1400
1200
1000
When
net forest growth exceeds removals,
800
live biomass is increasing
600
400
200
0
1952
1962
1977
Net Growth
1987
1997
2001
Removals
Source: Forest Resources of the United States, 1997; GTR-NC-219. USDA-Forest Service, 2001.
When dense forests combine with extended
drought, the ecological stress sets the stage for
increased insect epidemics and wildfire
Western Pine Bark Beetle Damage -- Prescott National Forest, Arizona
Other forces are affecting forest
management 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
call to action to actively address
reduction of hazardous fuels and
restoration of forest ecosystem
resiliency
Before
Treatment
After
Treatment
A major strategy
of National Forest
management has
been to focus on
ecosystem
restoration and
fuels treatment
Restoration of Ecosystem
resiliency can achieve a variety
of objectives
Restore and protect important ecosystem services
Help recover T&E species
Reduce the risk of uncharacteristically severe wildfire
Support local communities economically
But ecological restoration does not
necessarily mean going back to past
conditions
In many cases it will be impossible or
even undesirable to restore conditions as
they were before Europeans arrived
Climate change, introduced invasives,
land use changes and land management
objectives have intervened
But is often desirable to restore historic
functions and ecological processes to
landscapes
Historical
Old
Growth
Settlement
Current
Restored
Source: M. Kaufman
Ponderosa
Pine
Mixture of
Ponderosa Opening
Pine
and
Douglas-fir
Pearson Natural Area
Restoration Study – Near Flagstaff, Arizona
The last natural fire occurred in 1876
• Prior to 1876, low intensity surface fires burned
through the area on a 2-4 yr interval
• In 1876 there were an average of 23 trees per acre
• Prior to thinning the area averaged 1170 trees per
acre
Slide from W. Covington
After Restoration
Restoration thinning in 1993-94 left 60 trees per
acre, (latillas for adobe home construction and 5
tons per acre of slash or ten 18-wheel dump
trucks/acre)
Slide from W. Covington
A variety of evidence suggests that restoration
activities can change fire behavior
Shaded Fuel Break on Tyee Creek Fire (E. Washington) – 1974
Cone Fire
Blacks Mountain Exp Forest
September 2002
Unthinned
C
Thinned
After Cone Fire
A. No treatment
B. Thinned – No RxBurn
C. Thinned with RxBurn
A
B: Thinned – No RxBurn
C: Thinned with RxBurn
Thinning and prescribed fire will be essential
to protect and restore old growth forests
comprised of fire dependent species
(60 percent or more of all western forests)
There are significant barriers
to ecosystem restoration
Prescribed fire is risky and puts smoke in the air
Mechanical treatment that removes merchantable
trees can be controversial (opening up the forests
to timber barons)
Fuels treatment and forest restoration are also very
expensive (costs are high and product values are
low)
How do we overcome these
barriers?
Sustainable
Utilization of Biomass
Potential benefits from the use of biomass
as a by-product of restoration activities
Reduced per acre cost of restoration and
increased area on which restoration can be
applied
Improved ecosystem condition (T&E, health and
resiliency, watershed protection, etc)
Improved community economic health
Reduced risk of damaging wildfire
Reduced reliance on fossil fuels
Improved air quality as compared with
conventional fossil fuels
FS Woody Biomass Utilization Strategy
for Restoring and Maintaining Ecosystem Health
Link biomass utilization to restoring and maintaining ecosystem health
1.
2.
3.
4.
Provide a reliable and predictable supply from federal
lands
Foster partnerships to facilitate woody biomass
utilization- respond to community and regional interests
Produce science and deliver technology to enable
sustainable woody biomass utilization
Increase markets for woody biomass through our work
with 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 06/06
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/techlin
e/fuel-treatment-evaluator.pdf
(160,000 acre hexagon)
Potential biomass from fuels treatment
operations on all U.S. forest lands ~ 60 million
dry tons/year
50
Million dry tons
40
35.2
30
20
10
9.4
6.3
2.2
1.1
2.0
2.8
0.4
0
National forest
Other federal
State & local
Forest ownership
Timberland
Other forestland
Private
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 Years
One Megawatt = 1000 Households
1,365 MWY = 1.4 Million Households
Don’t Expect this Issue to be
Resolved Anytime Soon
It is complex and multi-faceted problem.
It has taken many decades for forests to
evolve into the conditions that exist today,
and it will take years to successfully address
the fire risk and fuels reduction situation.
But there is reason for hope
Key Socio-Political Forces are Shifting
There is a broader recognition of climate change
and the need for action to address it
There is a renewed drive to find mechanisms for
energy independence with bio-energy being a big
part of it
The value of the ecosystem services provided by
forests has increased, with carbon sequestration
leading the way
There is growing recognition of the need to
actively manage NFS lands to restore and protect
important ecosystem services
Bio-energy has an important role in
helping achieve multiple objectives on
public lands, especially improving
ecosystem resiliency and meeting energy
needs
Non-action is not a viable option
If we do nothing, we will have:
2000
Loss of old-growth forests
Loss of biological diversity
More insect epidemics
Poor watershed conditions
Larger, more destructive wildfires
Source: M. Kaufman
1905
All we need now are the will,
resources, and understanding to
make a difference!