Southern Research Station

Title: Assessing the cost of fuel reduction treatments: a critical review

Author: Rummer, Bob

Date: 2008

Source: Forect Policy and Ecnomics, 10: 355-362

Description: The basic costs of the operations for implementing fuel reduction treatments are used to evaluate treatment effectiveness, select among alternatives, estimate total project costs, and build national program strategies. However, a review of the literature indicates that there is questionable basis for many of the general estimates used to date. Different approaches to estimating cost have been used. Four methods are reviewed with discussion of the appropriate applications to fuel reduction cost analysis. Critical gaps identified in the understanding of operations costs include business overhead, repair and maintenance reserves, and estimates of the cost of risk. Future analyses of fuel treatments should be cautious in extrapolating cost numbers from the existing literature.

Keywords: Costs, forest operations, mechanical treatment, thinning

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Citation

Rummer, Bob  2008.  Assessing the cost of fuel reduction treatments: a critical review.   Forect Policy and Ecnomics, 10: 355-362