Recipient Organization
NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
FLAGSTAFF,AZ 86011
Performing Department
SCHOOL OF FORESTRY
Non Technical Summary
As the American public becomes more conscience of climate change and increasing energy cost, developing diverse sources for biobased fuels and products are attracting great interests. However, scientists warn that many traits ideal for the bioenergy crops are also found among invasive species (Raghu, et al. 2006), and our quest for renewable energy may pose a threat to native ecosystem health. There are already numerous alien plant species introduced by human activities that have spread extensively and rapidly in the U.S., which have caused tens of billions of dollars of economic losses in agriculture and forestry as well as negatively impacted ecological integrity (Pimentel et al. 2001). These plant materials have potentials to be heat sources for small-scale biomass plants or even to be developed into biobased fuels and biobased products. Tamarisk species were introduced in the U.S. around early 1800s as ornamentals and for use in erosion control, but several species have quickly spread into hundreds of thousands of acres natural wetlands in the west and southwest United States (Cleverly et al. 1997; Carpenter 1998). Although some of the claims for undesirable attributes of tamarisk may not have been fully justified, there is little doubt that tamarisk poses significant threat to native riparian and wetland vegetation and precious water resources in the American Southwest (Brock 1994). In the Hopi tribal lands, tamarisk heavily infects about 5000 acres of riparian areas (Sharon Masek Lopez, personal communication). The displacement of native vegetation has caused a decline in abundance of culturally significant plants and bird species as well as reduced water yield (Micah Loma?omvaya, personal communication). Currently millions of federal dollars each year have been spent on many tamarisk control and restoration efforts, which started in the 1960s (Barrows 1998; Shafroth et al. 2005). With the passage of HR 2720 (Salt Cedar and Russian Olive Control Demonstration Act) last year, more federal dollars will be available for tamarisk removal in near future. Therefore it is imperative to explore comprehensive strategies to systematically utilize removed tamarisk now. One of the most significant challenges facing tamarisk management is the cost. Value-added utilization of removed biomass materials provides an opportunity: 1) to offset the high costs of management operations to improve ecosystem health; 2) to provide environmentally friendly alternative to open-burning which contributes to green house gas emission or mulching with chipped tamarisk which make it difficult for other species to germinate and reduce productivity ; 3) to provide alternative sources to address local energy needs; 4) to provide stable employment opportunities and income sources to economically depressed rural areas by utilizing waste materials. In this study we will develop strategies to comprehensively utilize removed tamarisk plant materials in the Hopi tribal land. The strategies and methodologies developed in this study will be expanded to tamarisk and other invasive species (e.g. Russian Olive) utilization throughout the West in future projects.
Animal Health Component
70%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
70%
Developmental
20%
Goals / Objectives
In this study we will develop strategies to comprehensively utilize removed tamarisk plant materials in the Hopi tribal land. The goal of this study is to determine strategic locations and options for tamarisk utilization and the financial thresholds of those options, in order to promote ecosystem health while enhancing the viability of human community in the landscape. This study will primarily focus on small-scale biomass plant designed to use removed invasive plant materials (tamarisk, saltcedar, Tamarix ramosissima) for heat sources. However, we will explore a wide range of other utilization options from furniture and craft making to small-scale biobased fuel and products facilities. The strategies and methodologies developed in this study will be applicable to tamarisk and other invasive species (e.g. Russian Olive) utilization throughout the West. With the knowledge and experiences gained with this project, we will be able to develop larger scale projects to comprehensively evaluate market/utilization opportunities for removed invasive plant and other biomass materials and ideal locations of different utilization options throughout the West. To achieve this goal, the following objectives will be addressed: 1) Estimate biomass and structural characteristics of tamarisk planned for removal on the Hopi tribal land; 2) Identify utilization options; 3) Evaluate other available biomass materials (such as small diameter timber and other invasive plants) in the area that may substitute tamarisk over time; 4) Determine regional fixed and variable costs of utilization, considering hauling distance and processing (stacking/drying/chipping) needs; 5) Identify critical factors, strengths, and resource gaps that exist to establish utilization facilities locally; 6) Develop a comprehensive plan to utilize the removed materials while promoting economic and social stability of the community. Successful ecosystem management must incorporate regional economic and social factors as well as ecological factors and national/global factors at work. So the goal is to find ways to promote ecosystem health while enhancing the viability of community in the landscape. This study will generate time-sensitive information that communities and land managers can use to plan and implement tamarisk control in the Hopi tribal land. The long term goal is to eventually build a research program that focuses on co-evolution of social/ economic system and ecosystem, and identifying/cultivating regional economic and social factors that promote such co-evolution.
Project Methods
Task 1: Tamarisk Biomass Volume and Physical Characteristics Estimation We will incorporate currently available ecological and geographical data, as well as expert knowledge into a Geographical Information System (GIS) system. Using the GIS maps and aerial photos from the Hopi DNR, we will be able to estimate average heights and canopy area of tamarisk on each wash. Then Evangelista et al. (in press)'s model will be applied to calculate available biomass. Task 2: Utilization Option Evaluation We will find the necessary information on various sizes of biomass plants that are currently at work. and also contact some of the U.S. biomass plant manufacturers to find necessary information regarding reliability, equipment functionality, required combustible volume, as well as fixed costs of building a biomass plant and variable costs for maintaining the plant. Task 3: Other Types of Available Biomass Assessment We will interview land managers of the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation in the area to find out other potential sources of biomass, and their projection of accessible volume of biomass. We will also contact forestry industries in the area to examine the quantity and quality of residues from their facilities Task 4: Economic Feasibility Estimation Although there has been no model that estimates harvest, transportation and hauling cost of tamarisk, we can use past management data from various National Forests and the Grand Canyon National Park and modify the existing forestry models to estimate the treatment costs for various tamarisk control options (e.g. the Cost estimator model in the HCR Estimator (Harvest Cost-Revenue Estimator, Lowell et al. 2006)). Task 5: Community Assessment After constructing a resource map, we will overlap GIS layers of road grid and social, economic and demographic information available through the Hopi DNR, the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis to identify the potential biomass plant sites, according to: 1) population center and energy needs; 2) economic development potential, workforce characteristics, land use and economic development plans; 3) existing regional infrastructure; 4) costs of capital investment. Task 6: Comprehensive Plan Development We will identify critical factors, strengths, and resource gaps that exist to establish biomass utilization businesses locally. We will incorporate social and economic information of the communities with information collected from local community development specialists, regional planners, community groups, and local entrepreneurs. This local knowledge is necessary to engage local leaders in finding locally-relevant solutions to improve ecological sustainability and community development opportunities. The location, size and types of potential biomass plants will be matched to local community interests and acceptance and capacities. Federal, state, and other assistance available to communities will be evaluated in conjunction with community capacity and acceptance of biomass plants.