Black Forest Together Forest Recovery Symposium

Black Forest Together Forest Recovery Symposium

Black Forest Area

Overview •Opening Remarks, Chris Bailey•Hat Trick Project and Hayman Fire Before-and-After, Chuck Dennis •Update on MVEA Hazard Tree Removal Project – Dr. Judy von Ahlefeldt•Report Forest Recovery Plan: Tree Removal/Mitigation Components Chris Bailey•Potential Forest Recovery Grants – Mark Platten, CSU Extension•Break 10 Min•Panel Discussion plus Q&A : How We Will Reduce Replanting Costs for Landowners: Tom Gustin and Panelists - 45 min

Black Forest Recovery Challenges

Black Forest Area

1. Revitalize 15,000-acre area burn area—remove dead trees when/where appropriate and replant trees, shrubs, grasses

2. Mitigate/fire adapt the 45,000-acre Black Forest area to prevent future destructive fires and recreate healthy forest

Challenge Create a recovery process that will be a model in the west; drive recovery and revitalization of the forest by reducing costs and efforts associated with forest mitigation, dead tree removal, and replanting

Inform landowners of best management practices—they decide how to recover their property

Specific Erosion Control—Later

Forest Recovery Governing Principles

Black Forest Area

• Serve the needs of the Black Forest community • Operate transparently• Uphold community values and respect private property rights• Consider, respect, and incorporate all viewpoints into decision

making processes• Provide opportunities and information; let landowners, operators,

and the market do the rest

Stakeholders—we need you!

Black Forest Area

• Citizen: Private Landowners, Land Managers, Homeowner Association Representatives• Commercial Contractors: Arborists/Tree & Debris Removal, Forest Products, Builders, other...• Insurance Companies: State Insurance Agency, United Policyholders• Government/Legislators: County, State, Federal Agencies. State Congressional Members

Symposium Participation Rules

• THE SYMPOSIUM SERIES WILL BE:• An organization of working groups that will develop solutions to forest recovery challenges • A TEAM of community and regional problem solvers• A forum for providing productive, respectful inputs that inform recovery solutions

• THE SYMPOSIUM SERIES WILL NOT BE:• A forum for people with agendas that do not match symposium agenda • A forum characterized by negativity or close-minded viewpoints• A Black Forest business stimulus program

Presentations

Update on Mitigation and Tree Removal Cost

Reduction Efforts

Considerations for Reducing Forest Recovery Costs Mitigation & Tree Removal Replanting

Potential Ponderosa Pine Markets

* Black Forest Slash/Mulch operates a volunteer slash processing program in conjunction with El Paso County and a contractor who operates a tub grinder at a county-owned site.

Timber Processing *Slash Processing

Dimensional Lumber Landscape Mulch

OSB/Plywood, etc. Erosion Control

Peeled Poles/Logs Stove Pellets

Shavings/Stove Pellets

• Find/develop vendors to market products and alleviate timber and slash loads

Considerations for Reducing Forest Recovery Costs

Methods we’ve to reduce costs to landowners:

1.Decrease labor costs at tree removal site:• Mechanization• Volunteers • Economies of Scale:

2.Decrease transportation costs:• Locate processing equipment in vicinity of BF • Find other ways to reduce transportation costs

3.Increase market revenue sources to offset labor and transportation costs:• See Potential Ponderosa Pine Markets Slide (next)

4.Obtain government/corporate grants/equipment to directly offset costs

Preliminary Forest Recovery Plan

BFT Administers Landowner-Contractor Program

1.Organize BF Council of Forestry Operators, Agencies

• More Strategic Plan for Forest• Common Operating Principles• More Standardized Levels of Service • Cost reductions through Operator Partnering

2. Aggressively Market Menu of Tree Removal Options to Landowners

• Provide landowners with Best ManagementPractice information, cost-based menu of options• Landowners sign up through BFT

• Encourage organization and consolidation of properties

• 40 acres achieves economies of scale for operators

1 Mile

Preliminary Forest Recovery Plan, Cont.

3. Decrease Operating Costs

• Locate processing equipment in BF• Establish sorting yard to reduce transportation costs• Achieve economies of scale

4. Obtain government/corporate grants, equipment to directly offset costs

• Potential for large block grants/pilot projects

5. Channel direct volunteer efforts

• Military, Community, Religious Orgs

6. Organize landowner forestry workshops

Panel Discussion