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  • Research
    • Landscape Monitoring and Research
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      • Flagstaff Fire History Map
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    • Mixed Conifer Ecosystem
    • Pinyon-Juniper Ecosystem
    • Social and Economic Research
    • Best Available Scientific Information (BASI)
  • Forest Operations & Biomass
    • Forest Restoration and Fuel Reduction Operations
      • ThinCost 1.0: A spreadsheet-based model to estimate thinning costs
      • In-woods Mobile Processing
      • Biomass Disposal
    • Workforce Training and Development
    • SWERI Wood Utilization Team Includes:
      • Business Clusters and Markets
      • Chip-and-Ship Project
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Workforce Training and Development2024-09-30T18:17:53+00:00

Forestry Workforce Training and Development

The ERI is working to provide continuing education for forestry professionals, such as state-of-the-art knowledge on new bioeconomy opportunities and business practices, including forest operations and logistics. The training program would provide much-needed forest operations workforce training, offering forest operations short courses to provide up-to-date information for forest practitioners. In collaboration with major equipment manufacturing companies, a training center would also offer a place to test and demonstrate new mechanized tools as well as implement forest operations and ecological research.

Forest Operations Training Program Development Project

With funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the ERI Forest Operations and Biomass Utilization program has been working to develop a Forest Operations Training Program (FOTP) in northern Arizona to provide career development opportunities that will expand Coconino County’s manufacturing base. To learn more about this project, read the project’s final technical report here.

A spreadsheet-based model called FOTP Analysis was developed to aid in the pre-feasibility and financial feasibility analysis of a forest operations training program (FOTP). This report was developed to aid in the use of the model, and the model is available for free.

Google Sheets FOTP model template

For a guide on how to use the model, please click here.

Modeling Financial Feasibility in a
Forest Operations Training Program

More FOTP Related Publications

2024_Incorporating simulators into a training curriculum for forestry equipment operators.pdf

2023_Effectiveness of simulator training in the logging industry.pdf

Recent Publications

Long-term ecological responses to landscape-scale restoration in a western United States dry forest

Tree thinning and prescribed surface fire are common forest restoration strategies in the dry forests of the western United States. These treatments are often assessed at small scales rather than across large areas. This study evaluated forest structure, regeneration, old-tree mortality, and tree growth over 21 years in a large (2114 ha) Ponderosa pine-Gambel oak forest in northern Arizona. By the end of the study, tree density and basal area in the treated area were reduced by 56% and 38%, respectively, compared to the untreated control. Conifer seedling densities generally declined while hardwood sprouting increased post-treatment. Old oak tree mortality was higher in the treated area, likely due to fire injury. The mean annual basal area increment of individual trees was 93% higher in the treated area than in the control. These findings offer valuable insights for large-scale restoration efforts in dry, fire-dependent forests.

READ MORE

Fact Sheet: Indigenous Biomass Use for Forest and Community Well-Being: A Case Study of Wood For Life

Indigenous Nations have long used forest biomass to maintain forest health and provide for heating, cooking, building, and cultural purposes. Globally, forest biomass is becoming vital for reducing fossil fuel reliance and enhancing energy sovereignty. Historical increases in fossil fuel use, fire suppression policies, and Indigenous land dispossession reduced Indigenous biomass use, resulting in overstocked, wildfire-prone forests. Recently, support for forest restoration and energy sovereignty has led to new partnerships between Indigenous Nations and federal land agencies. However, knowledge gaps remain about Indigenous biomass use, including partnership roles, sustainability barriers, and successful organizational structures. This study aims to address these gaps.

READ MORE

Return on investments in restoration and fuel treatments in frequent-fire forests of the American west: A meta-analysis

Arid forests in the American West are overly dense and need fuel reduction and fire regime restoration. Forest restoration efforts, such as thinning and prescribed burning, aim to reduce wildfire risks. Despite their importance, the cost-effectiveness of these programs is not well understood. This study conducted a meta-analysis of 120 observations from 16 studies over the past two decades to evaluate the benefits and costs of forest restoration and fuel treatments. Results showed significant variation in benefits, from enhanced ecosystem services to avoided wildfire costs. In high-value, at-risk watersheds, every dollar invested in restoration yielded up to seven dollars in benefits, achieving a 600% return on investment.

READ MORE

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Northern Arizona University sits at the base of the San Francisco Peaks, on homelands sacred to Native Americans throughout the region.
We honor their past, present, and future generations, who have lived here for millennia and will forever call this place home.

NAU is an equal opportunity provider.
ERI's research is funded by many sources, including the USDA Forest Service and the AZ Board of Regents through the Technology, Research and Innovation Fund (TRIF).



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