U.S. Investing To Remove Dead Forest Wood To Reuse And Deter Wildfires

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $23 million to remove hazardous wood from national forests and grasslands to deter wildfires and repurpose the gatherings into wood products and services.

A major goal of this U.S. Forest Service program is to encourage businesses, nonprofits, and state, local and tribal governments to repurpose dead trees, fallen branches and dense biomass undergrowth instead of allowing the material to become fuel in catastrophic wildfires.

Although the use of this type of woody material is categorized low-value wood, it can be retrieved from national lands to make forests healthier and made into products for consumer use.

“Unlike high-value wood, which is typically used in construction and furniture manufacturing, low-value wood has more limited applications, with fewer facilities able to process it into useful products like soil-enriching materials, renewable energy sources like electricity and heat, and sustainable construction solutions such as cross-laminated timber,” the USDA says.

The revenue will be distributed in 2025 Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Grants. Project proposals, due last month, are being reviewed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Grants will be given to projects that remove or reduce hazardous wood materials national forest system lands. Funding recipients must demonstrate the transportation of the hazardous fuels and the delivery to places for woody material processing/use, such as mills.

The maximum grant award is $5 million. A matching investment of at least 50% in non-federal dollars is required for each project.

“Investments like these are delivering on our commitment to protect communities, make forests healthier and more resilient,” noted U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins in May when she announced the funding availability. “Removing hazardous fuels not only reduces wildfire risk but also creates opportunities for businesses and workers in the wood products industry. These grants also reflect the Forest Service’s dedication to active forest management, and we will continue working to keep our forests productive, sustainable, and safe for future generations.”

The federal dollars are meant to provide a financial incentivize when transportation costs create a barrier to retrieving the woody materials. Also the grants also help the public by encouraging the faster removal of hazardous fuels sources on national forest lands thought to face “Very High” and “High” wildfire hazard risks.

Each year, an average of 7,500 wildfires burn about 1.5 million acres on national forests and grasslands. During the last decade, people caused 54% of these wildfires while lightning ignited the others, accorded to USFS.

The federal investment in removing dead branches, biomass, wood chips, sawlog material and other forest materials serves to deter the spread of dangerous wildfires, improve forest resilience and provide economic opportunities to turn waste into useful products.