Can California Forestry Become More Fire Resilient?

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Today’s Lookout Livestream looks at economic, institutional, and physical constraints to California’s timber industry becoming more wildfire resilient. Topics include: The role of private timberland owners, the impact of climate change, long-term supply challenges for logs and woodchips, need for fire in dry forest ecosystems, and the challenges of prescribed fire implementation.

 

The conversation highlighted the need for comprehensive forest management strategies that are focused on what the fuels look like after the logging is complete. Zeke Lunder discusses the complexities of forestry and biomass energy, highlighting the economic challenges of financing new power plants, and the need for long-term sources of fuels to keep the plants running over the life of the investment in the plant. He notes that biomass power plants don’t pencil out without subsidies being paid to the operators. Lunder emphasizes the need for sustainable logging practices to manage fuel loads and reduce fire hazards. He mentions the historical role of logging in creating today’s overstocked forests, and how the removal of the largest trees has created more fire-prone forest structures. Lunder also highlights the need for community involvement in forest management and advocates for better education on sustainable practices. He promotes his website for more in-depth discussions on forest management and ecology.

 

This broadcast was part of a longer livestream about the Garnet Fire, in Fresno County, and the ongoing fires in the Klamath River country. We clipped it out to be its own video as it is a broader topic that we cover here on the channel.

Lookout Livestream

AI Summary, edited by Zeke.

Private Industry and Fire Management

  • Zeke discusses the role of private industry in managing forests and the challenges they face.
  • The timber industry has been doing significant work in salvage logging and replanting after large fires in the past 15 years.
  • The industry is facing challenges in managing forests due to the impact of climate change and their inability to use fire as a management tool.
  • The industry is receiving more grant money to do fuel breaks and replanting in recently burned areas.

Historical Context and Legal Challenges

  • The Moonlight Fire in 2007 led to significant legal wrangling between Sierra Pacific Industries and Federal government.
  • The fire started on private land and burned federal land, leading to a $100 million fine for Sierra Pacific Industries.
  • The legal precedent has made private timber companies hesitant to burn on their land.
  • The industry has been largely-focused on cutting dead trees killed by the fires of the past decade, leaving limited capacity to actively manage unburned lands, especially on smaller landholdings.

Prioritizing Suppression over Land Management

Zeke argues that firefighting receives far more resources, flexibility, and funding compared to hazard mitigation. Specifically, he points out:

  1. Suppression Budget
  • Firefighting never has to justify its budget during an active incident
  • Agencies spend massive amounts (like $5 million in retardant in a single day on a large fire)
  • No environmental documentation required for emergency actions – bulldozers can do whatever they want.
  1. Regulatory Constraints on Mitigation
  • Prescribed fire and forest thinning require:- Years of studies and environmental surveys – Extensive rare plant reviews – Strict regulatory hurdles
  1. Resource Allocation
  • During wildfires, agencies get:- Unlimited resources – Flexible regulations – Catering – Full contractor support
  1. Mitigation Challenges
  • Prescribed fire and thinning face significant bureaucratic obstacles
  • Limited funding and regulatory support
  • Difficult to implement large-scale projects

His key argument is: “Until we give prescribed fire and fuels management the same leeway, environmentally, budget-wise, and resources as suppression, we’re just talking.” Zeke suggests agencies should “take off the gloves” and apply the same aggressive, well-resourced approach to forest management that they use during firefighting.

Future of Fire Management and Prescribed Fire

  • Zeke discusses the need for prescribed fire and thinning to manage forests, he posits that one of the only good reasons to do large fuel breaks in remote areas is to be able to burn the lands adjacent to them.

On ‘Environmentalism’

Zeke strongly criticizes national environmental groups like Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) for their simplistic approach to forest policy. He argues they:

  1. Pander to donors with oversimplified messaging like “logging is bad”
  2. Lack understanding of regional forest management nuances
  3. Want sound-bite management strategies
  4. Aim to stop commercial timber sales without considering local complexities
  5. Equate logging with tropical deforestation, and little else
  6. Are not interested in nuanced forest management solutions

He specifically advises people to stop donating to these national groups and instead support local organizations like prescribed burn associations that understand local forest management needs.

Biomass Power Plants and Carbon Emissions

According to Zeke, national environmental groups like NRDC oppose biomass thinning primarily because they argue it’s not carbon neutral, and contributes to global warming. Zeke disagrees with this stance, suggesting that biomass harvesting can actually help preserve healthy forests by creating economic incentives for thinning and removing sub-merchantable wood that could fuel wildfires.
He criticizes these groups for taking a blanket position against biomass without considering the potential forest management benefits, especially in areas which are exposed to extreme fire hazards that still have green forests.

  • Zeke Lunder discusses the survival of certain plants post-Dixie and the need for a comprehensive plan.
  • He mentions the environmental impact of biomass power plants, which emit carbon dioxide.
  • Zeke highlights the economic challenges of building and maintaining biomass power plants.
  • The discussion includes the reliance on sub-merchantable wood and the impact of natural disasters like the Dixie fire on biomass plant operations.

Economic Feasibility of Biomass Plants

  • Zeke explains that large biomass-energy plants in California were initially subsidized by utilities to make them economically viable.
  • He emphasizes the high costs of moving and processing wood for biomass plants.
  • The conversation touches on the need for subsidies to support biomass energy production.
  • Zeke mentions the role of local plants in creating local power and reducing the need for high-voltage transmission lines.

Zeke highlights several key economic constraints for building biomass power plants:

  1. High Initial Cost
  • Costs $50-200 million to build a biomass plant
  • Requires long-term investment (40-50 years)
  1. Fuel Supply Challenges
  • Requires consistent supply of sub-merchantable wood
  • Fires or forest destruction can disrupt local wood supply
  • May require expensive wood transportation from distant areas
  1. Lack of Economic Viability
  • Without government subsidies, plants are not financially sustainable
  • Cost of moving, chipping, and hauling wood is prohibitively expensive
  • Utilities need financial incentives to purchase biomass-generated energy
  1. Market Uncertainty
  • Climate change and mega fires create unpredictability in wood supply
  • Investors are hesitant to commit to long-term infrastructure with uncertain future forest conditions
  1. Operational Risks
  • A major fire destroying local forests can quickly make a biomass plant’s wood supply unsustainable
  • High operational costs compared to traditional energy generation

Zeke suggests that without consistent government subsidies and a stable wood supply, biomass power plants are economically challenging to develop and maintain.

Logging and Fire Management

  • Zeke Lunder discusses the historical role of logging in reducing fire hazards.
  • He explains the impact of climate change and fire suppression on modern fire risks on lands which were heavily logged in the 20th century.
  • The conversation includes the need for sustainable logging practices to manage fuel loads.
  • Zeke highlights the high costs of cleaning up slash and the reluctance of timber companies to invest in this process.

Community Involvement in Forest Management

  • Zeke suggests encouraging public participation in forest management through activities like cutting small trees around campgrounds.
  • He discusses the potential for community members to manage small-scale forest thinning.
  • The conversation includes the need for basic knowledge and guidelines for public forest management.
  • Zeke emphasizes the importance of active forest management to prevent fire hazards.
  • Zeke suggests bringing back the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) or similar programs for forest management.

Promoting Forest Management Knowledge

  • Zeke encourages people to visit the Lookout website for more information on forest management.
  • He highlights the various topics covered on the website, including forest ecology and management history.
  • The conversation includes a call for subscribers to support the Lookout’s work.
  • Zeke mentions upcoming interviews and projects focused on forest management and ecology.