Tools for Fuel Management

Fuels management is an active term. It is an intentional, planned activity defined by consideration of fire behavior, silvicultural principles, ecological constraints, and the economic and technical limitations of the tools selected to implement the treatment. A forest operation is a tool used to manipulate vegetation or site condition in order to achieve some desired management objectives. Given the wide range of forest operations that can be employed to treat forest fuel, it is imperative to employ a tool that is well-matched to both operational needs and treatment constraints. Selecting a poorly suited tool increases costs and reduces the effectiveness of the operation in achieving the desired outcomes. The selection of a forest operation also plays a critical role in determining the amount and type of cumulative effects associated with the treatment. A tool that is not matched to the terrain or job requirements will likely produce more undesirable impacts. The purpose of this chapter is to give a basic overview of forest operations for fuel treatments along with information to guide selection of appropriate technologies. Terminology is also important in this discussion. In the biological sciences we have learned that it is important to use scientific names of organisms, rather than common names, to avoid confusion. Unfortunately, many forest operations acquire common names that are contradictory, regionally limited, or non-specific. When someone speaks of a “hydro-ax” treatment, for example, they could mean a vertical-shaft brushcutter, horizontal-shaft masticator, shear feller-buncher, or sawhead feller-buncher. These possible meanings represent very different costs, capabilities, and fuel treatment outcomes. The reference listing at the end of this chapter provides some standard definitions.