Use of Financial and Economic Analyses by Federal Forest Managers for Woody Biomass Removal

This study was sponsored by the Joint Fire Science Program to understand and enhance the ahihty of federal land managers to address financial and economic (F&E) aspects of woody biomass removal os a component of fire hazard reduction. Focus groups were conducted with nearly 100 federal land managers throughout the western United States. Several issues and information disconnects were identified in two major areas: the F&E analysis process and the tools and information used for F&F analyses. The most prevalent disconnects appeared to he between managers ' knowledge versus acceptance and use of F&E tools developed by research entities. Most monagers also tended to focus on financial rather than economic analysis. Findings suggest needs for continually updoted local timber and biomass market information; training with F&E tools and methods currently used; ongoing technical support for tools currently used; and closer communication among forest management, research, and administrative personnel as new F&E tools or administrative processes are developed and implemented.; K e y w o r d s: biomass utilization, budgets, forest economics, fuel reduction, national forests, timber harvest, transaction evidence appraisal Wildfire threats to communities and ecosystems; relianceon fossil fuels versus renewable, domestic energy sources;and loss of local employment and capacity to conduct forest management in historically timber-dependent communities have led to increased interest in woody biomass utilization from fire hazard reduction treatments. In response to this growing interest, the Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) conducted a Biomass Round-table in 2007 with a group of 24 managers and scientists fro