The lack of markets for low-value woody biomass is one of the biggest barriers to accelerating the pace and scale of restoration treatments. A pilot project in Flagstaff tested the possibilities of shipping wood chips long distances to foreign markets. In August 2019, researchers at the Ecological Restoration Institute procured and chipped 1,400 tons of small-diameter wood from an area thinning project, loaded the chips onto intermodal railroad containers, and sent to them to South Korea where the chips sold for $80 per ton.
Researchers collected data on log procurement, chipping, loading, and railroad operations and investigated the railroad infrastructure and business requirements needed to implement full-scale shipping operations using railroad transportation. The research team published a report detailing the results and lessons learned. Access the report and a summary fact sheet below.
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