Leading on Climate
Connor Stephens
CNI Fellow — Class of 2016
Undergraduate Student, Forestry and Natural Resource Management
UC Berkeley/ANR
Project
Evaluating the Efficiency of Mechanical Fuel Treatments in Mitigating High Severity Fire in Western Pine Forests
Description
In this study, Connor will compare and analyze resultant soil compaction, fuel loads, and the temporal and economic efficiency of masticating young and mature stands. The goal of this project is to better understand the relationships between stand age, mastication efficiency, forest fuel loads, and resultant fire severity. This will be done by recording and comparing data on pre and post mastication stand fuel loads, masticator operation time/acre, and soil compaction in young and old stands. The analysis produced from this comparison will serve to assist future forestland managers in enhancing the ecological and economic effectiveness of their forest fuels mitigation prescriptions.