Pros and Cons of Salvage and Restoration Operations

Transcription

1 Pros and Cons of Salvage and Restoration Operations February 10, 2010 John Sessions College of Forestry Oregon State University

2 Oregon Society of American Foresters Position Statement (2008) The OSAF supports the well planned, timely and careful use of salvage harvesting after uncontrollable events have killed or damaged large numbers of trees in a forest. Salvage harvesting can mitigate economic losses due to the event, recover useful wood products, reduce fire and safety hazards, and create the desired environmental conditions for successful reforestation.

3 The Timber Salvage Decision Habitat impact, erosion, aesthetics Revenue for govt/counties, restoration Worker and visitor safety Short and long term fuels Defensible fuel profile zone (fuel break) Impact on natural regeneration Habitat creation (increase down wood) Insect risk reduction Future management options Vegetation control - aerial (chemicals,cost effective) - manual (costly,dangerous,creates fuels) Prescribed burning, future suppression Carbon sequestration, bioenergy

4 Post-Wildfire Activity Policy Choices Why do anything? What are the goals? How should priorities be set? Where do resources come from?

5 Common to many Decisions 1. Are there alternative ways to reach goals? 2. Are some alternatives more reliable than others? 3. Are some alternatives more costly than others? 4. Who gains and who loses?

6 Post-fire Considerations Although a big tree can be killed instantly, it cannot be replaced instantly Small snags do not grow into large snags Natural regeneration happens, but timing and outcomes are uncertain

7 545 Year Drought Reconstruction for Central Oregon Eight year running average 1.0 represents average tree growth

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9 $1200/acre $400/acre 1994 Hull Mountain Burn in 2002

10 Why Hasten Forest Regrowth?

11 Snag Dynamics: Study 26 Fires on WA Eastside Conclusions: Existing snags will not likely bridge gap until future large dead wood arrives Recommendations: Plant Vegetation Control Induce Mortality (kill some trees) See Everett et al. (1999) Int. J. of Wildfire Sci.

12 66 years old 290 years old

13 Temporal dynamics Number of snags resulting from fire Recruitment of snags from regenerating stand Habitat for fire-associated species Period of minimal snag resources Time Recruitment of new snag resources with no restoration (Hayes, 2003)

14 Temporal dynamics Number of snags resulting from fire Recruitment of snags from regenerating stand Habitat for fire-associated species Period of minimal snag resources Time Recruitment of new snag resources WITH restoration (Hayes, 2003)

15 Accelerated Restoration is Expensive and gets more expensive with time Cost Per Ac Direct Fire Control $ Re-establishment Fuel Reduction/Site Prep $ Plant Vegetation Control Prune (manual or Rx burn) total to age 21 $

16 Effects of Vegetation Control Coast Range, Oregon Mbf/acre Stand Age No Weed Control 1 yr Weed Control 2 yr Weed Control

17 Fountain Fire. See Zhang et al. Journal of Forestry (2008)

18 What does the Investment Buy? Higher Survival Rate Taller tree Larger diameter (bark thickness) Shorter flame length toast

19 Factors Affecting Timber Value Recovery: Harvest System Distance From Road Volume Per Acre Silvicultural Prescription Time Since Death Species, Size, Age

20 Net Value: 24-inch DBH Douglas Fir ($/tree, 2003) Helicopter Yarding Distance From Road Year 0.25 mi 0.75 mi 1.25 mi 1.75 mi

21 Net Value: 24-inch DBH Douglas Fir ($/tree, 2003) Ground-Based Skidding Distance From Road Year 0.25 mi 0.75 mi 1.25 mi 1.75 mi

22 Timber Salvage: Economic Gainers and Losers Benefit to Consumers (lower product prices) Benefit to Govt/Counties (revenue) Undamaged Producers (lower log prices and lower product prices) See Prestemon et al. (2006) Wildfire, timber salvage, and the economics of expediency. J. of For. Econ.

23 Timber Salvage: Effects on Disturbance and Erosion Potential Example from Klock (1975) Severe Disturbance as % of Logged Area Helicopter 0.7%, Skyline 2.8% Tractor on Snow, 9.9% See Klock (1975) Impact of five postfire salvage logging systems on soils and vegetation. J. of Soil and Water Conservation

24 Timber Salvage: Effects on Wildlife Habitat Reduces Habitat for Cavity Nesters (studies, many) Reduces Habitat for Bark Beetles (no brainer) Can Increase Habitat for Rodents Such as Wood Rats (anecdotal observation) May Accelerate Return of Bats and Birds that prefer lower snag densities (hypothesis)

25 Timber Salvage: Effects on Natural Regeneration Observation: Timber salvage will impact natural regeneration Conclusion: Salvage promptly See D.F. Roy, Salvage logging may destroy Douglas-fir reproduction. USFS California For. and Range Exp. Stn. Research Note 107, 1956.

26 Helicopter Yarding Selective Salvage Not Salvaged Selective Salvage Apple Fire Salvage

27 Davis Fire Late Successional Reserve- After Salvage Skid Trail

28 Biscuit Fire - Grouped Retention in Wide Riparian Zone Aggregated Snag Retention 100 ac Units

29 Harvest Unit Grouped Snag Retention Cost Savings 15-20% Avoiding Partial Cut 15-20% on Shorter Distance (Conway, 1976) Other Benefits Snag Longevity Easier to Control Competing Vegetation Defensible Space Road

30 Concluding Comments: The Salvage decision is linked to GOALS. The Salvage decision is time sensitive. The Salvage decision is not ALL or NOTHING. The Salvage decision is primarily about economics, but other considerations should not be discounted.

31 Thank You B Burning Snag Metolius Basin