Productivity and Cost of Integrated Harvesting for Fuel Reduction Thinning in Mixed-Conifer Forest

Abstract

Removing submerchantable size trees and forest residues as well as sawlogs is preferred in fuel reduction thinning because it improves treatment effectiveness and avoids slash burning. Fuel reduction thinning was investigated to describe integrated harvesting machine processes and productivity and to characterize stump-to-truck costs for sawlogs and biomass for energy production. This system was studied in mixed-conifer forest on land owned by the US Forest Service in northern California and southern Oregon. Detailed time-study methods were paired with standard machine rate calculation methods to evaluate productivity and costs for the system. Sensitivity analysis and a standardized comparison were performed to evaluate costs and productivity under varying operation parameters. Treatment costs (stump-to-truck; without mobilization, overhead, or profit) were US$0.42/ft3 for sawlogs and US$52.41 per bone dry ton (BDT) for biomass. Standardized unit production costs for sawlog skidding varied little, but the...