Costs for Reducing Fuels in Colorado Forest Restoration Projects

The costs to either mechanically remove or mechanically treat forest fuels are examined for various Colorado sites. In the ponderosa pine and mixed conifer zones, no ideal treatment system exists yet for forest restoration through fuel reduction. Each site requires its own ecological analysis. Costs for forest restoration varies by ecological prescription, forest and terrain conditions, and market availability for potential products. In most cases, it may cost too much to remove material or treat areas. Logging may be the most economical method if markets for products exist and processing facilities are nearby.