Improved Smallwood Utilization

Mechanical fuel reduction is an essential component of a comprehensive wildfire risk reduction strategy, but cost is a major impediment.  One of the challenges is that the harvested material -- small trees, shrubs, and branches – has little or no market value.  Further, it is low in density and difficult to transport.  As a result, most efforts at fuel reduction leave the harvested material in place, focusing on chipping or piling and burning.  One way to open a door to greatly increased use of mechanical fuel reduction is to develop technologies and markets for the harvested material.  One potential use is as a source of bioenergy.  Another is as inputs for construction materials.  At this point, both possibilities have some features that make them interesting but others that make them impractical.  Progress in the technologies, supply chain management, and markets could all make a difference.