Stakeholders use science to find common ground on wood supply from forests

Northern Arizona University released a report today that identifies the potential
volume of wood resources available from more than 2 million acres of the state’s forests,
representing the first major agreement among groups typically at odds over the issue of
forest thinning.

The “Wood Supply Analysis” report identifies a potential supply of up to 850
million cubic feet of wood and 8 million tons of biomass from branches and timber
residue for such commercial uses as pallets, firewood, poles, lumber, mulch and stove
pellets.

A group of 20 stakeholders representing forest wood-product businesses, local
government, environmental groups and public land and resource management agencies
worked with scientists from NAU to build agreement about the amount and type of wood
supply that could be available from the thinning of Arizona’s ponderosa pine forests to
promote ecosystem health and reduce the risk of unnaturally severe wildfire.
“Even the best science and the best of intentions are of limited value if they
cannot inform decisions and appropriate action,” said NAU professor Tom Sisk, founder
of NAU’s Forest Ecosystem Restoration Analysis Project, which led the effort. “I think
we have turned a corner, where everybody wants to see on-the-ground progress in forest
stewardship.”

The stakeholder group included representatives from the USDA Forest Service,
Center for Biological Diversity, Grand Canyon Trust, NAU’s Ecological Restoration
Institute, Forest Energy/Future Forests, the Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership and
others.

The group evaluated 2.4 million acres of ponderosa pine forest stretching from the
South Rim of the Grand Canyon, across the Mogollon Plateau, to the New Mexico state
line. The area primarily encompasses the Coconino, Kaibab and Apache-Sitgreaves
national forests, a small portion of the Tonto National Forest and some private and state
lands.

The group agreed that the identified wood and biomass resources were available
from 41 percent of the area studied. They also agreed that 26 percent of the area was not
appropriate for thinning for commercial wood byproducts. Some participants felt that an
additional 33 percent of the landscape might be an appropriate source of additional wood
byproducts. But because of differing views about thinning versus controlled-burning
restoration treatments, and uncertainty about other factors such as road access and
archaeological sites, Sisk said, the group remained divided about thinning these lands,
which would have increased estimated wood supply by only 16 percent.

“This project is unique at the national level, and the fact that consensus was
reached on almost 70 percent of the landscape is remarkable,” said Todd Schulke, forest
programs director of the Center for Biological Diversity.

Steve Gatewood, representing the Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership, said
appropriately scaled wood products businesses will play a key role in restoring forests.
“However, stakeholders want assurance that ‘appropriate’ is defined by restoration needs,
not industry profit motives, and businesses want guarantees of future wood supplies to
invest in equipment designed to harvest and process small-diameter wood—a much
harder business to make viable than when harvesting larger diameter trees was the norm,”
said Gatewood.

Rob Davis, president of Forest Energy and owner of Future Forests, two
companies using material from thinned forests, noted that although the products derived
from forests have changed in recent years, forests remain a valuable renewable resource
for recreation, wildlife, water and wood products. “This milestone consensus is a
breakthrough in achieving the most prudent use of this resource.”

The ForestERA Project estimates of potential wood supply were derived from
satellite imagery and ground measurements and are based on treatment scenarios
developed by the group. The process included seven full-day workshops in northern
Arizona that were open to the public.

“It’s challenging to lead a contentious debate about important social issues while
remaining true to the underlying science, but this group stepped up to the challenge, and I
think they have articulated a sensible approach that will benefit the forest and those who
care about and depend on it,” said Haydee Hampton, NAU research associate and leader
of the wood supply project.

Hampton said the Southwestern Region of the USDA Forest Service funded the
study to inform local-level discussions of future thinning projects that will include
National Environmental Policy Act analyses and to foster the development of contracts to
wood product businesses to accomplish forest restoration.

The complete Wood Supply Analysis report is available by clicking here.