Collaborators Make A Trial Run at Efficiently Harvest MO Round Wood

First posted on 11-10-2008

Several partners tested how to efficiently harvest MO round wood off Mark Twain National Forest during the summer 2008. One of several similar studies in southeastern US, it was the first on Midwestern/oak hickory hardwood forests.

The purpose of the study was to develop, test, and if successful, promote small scale, cost-effective harvest and transport of biomass off Midwestern hardwood forests.

The study was a collaborative effort between academia, government and industry including Missouri’s Forest Products Association, Auburn University, University of Missouri, USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station and Mark Twain National Forest.

A field demonstration was conducted July 19, 2008, the last day of the project, on Poplar Bluff Ranger District, Mark Twain National Forest. During the demonstration, small scale logging equipment was used to harvest 3-9 diameter trees, skidding trees to a landing where they were ground into chips and blown into tractor trailers.

There currently is a very limited market for these smaller diameter trees in Missouri or elsewhere in the Midwest.

“We hope that research and demonstrations such as this will promote more utilization of small diameter trees which need to be removed to meet conservation goals for healthy and sustainable forests in Missouri,” said Mark Twain National Forest Deputy Forest Supervisor Paul Strong.

Removal of woody biomass from Mark Twain National Forest, especially in strategic locations, would also reduce hazardous fuels build-up and improve wildlife habitat for species such as the federally-endangered Indiana Bat. In addition, it would contribute to the forest’s long term management goals to restore the structure, composition, and function of distinctive Missouri natural communities.

The biomass demonstration study site was located in one of the highest priority restoration areas on the forest. Cane Ridge Pinery has been identified by the Nature Conservancy and Forest as a unique natural community in need of restoration. In the forest’s 2005 Forest Management Plan, the area is designated for restoration to its historic conditions of shortleaf pine and pre-oak forest types.

“Combined with selective harvest treatments and periodic applications of prescribed burning, Cane Ridge and other ecosystem restoration areas can begin to move toward these desired conditions,” Strong said.Mark Twain and other public and private forest lands require either restoration or stand-tending work. Strong said the high cost of mechanically removing woody biomass off public lands – anywhere from $300 to $1,000 dollars per acre - has been a serious impediment to performing needed forest restoration work.
“These costs, however, can be offset if markets for small diameter trees can be developed within a cost effective hauling distance from an area needing work,” Strong said.

More project information can be found on the Mark Twain’s web-site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/marktwain. For further information regarding Woody Biomass Utilization, visit http://www.fs.fed.us/woodybiomass.