Bioenergy Watershed Restoration in Regions of the West: What are the Environmental/Community Issues? Page: 3 of 10
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BioEnergy '98: Expanding BioEnergy Partnerships
Table 1. Options for reducing forest flammability.
Option advantages disadvantages
Do nothing proactive No cost if no fire Continued forest stress due to excessive competition;
but respond insect and disease outbreaks as a result of stress;
aggressively to continued loss of landscape structure: continued
wildfires modification of the understory
High risk of fire and subsequent impacts
- undesirable air emissions
- loss of property
- loss of life
- costs.for fighting wildfire ($200-600M/yr in the US)
- costs of forest rehabilitation
- loss of forest habitat at least temporarily
- possible water quality impacts
- impacts on biota both directly (death in fire) and
indirectly - loss of habitat and/or change in habitat at a
stand and a landscape level
- loss of stored carbon to the atmosphere (greenhouse
gas effect)
Prescribed fire Best mimics natural Logistically very difficult to accomplish if the stand has
ecosystem processes a significant fuel load; may require multiple burns to
reduce fuel load to an acceptable level; Difficult to
Low risk of negative schedule
ecological impacts at Risk of fire escaping; especially problematic in built-up
the stand-level unless areas
fire gets away Expensive with no product to offset cost
Produces undesirable air emissions
Loss of stored carbon to the atmosphere (greenhouse
gas effect)
Mechanical removal Treatment may be able Poorly managed treatment could result in
to pay for itself - - soil compaction
partially if not wholly - tree-scarring
- introduction of non-native plants
Potential for excellent - high grading (removal of largest and most valuable
control of stand and trees)
landscape structure - poor landscape structure
Uncertain impacts on understory (could be positive or
Little to no risk to negative)
property or human life Possible construction of new roads and their ensuing
environmental problems
Comparatively easy to Disturbance of wildlife during treatment
schedule Creation of high fire risk if small material is not
removed or treated
In some regions, treatment will in and of itself
encourage regeneration and therefore require
subsequent treatment - most likely a prescribed burn1264
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Graham, R.L.; Huff, D.D.; Kaufmann, M.R.; Shepperd, W.D. & Sheehan, J. Bioenergy Watershed Restoration in Regions of the West: What are the Environmental/Community Issues?, article, July 1, 1999; Tennessee. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc724194/m1/3/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.