Modeling the Economic Viability of Restorative Thinning
Arizona’s ponderosa pine forests continue to be threatened by hotter temperatures, increased drought and invasive species. To improve the health of the state’s Northeastern forests, The Nature Conservancy of Arizona requested an economic viability study of potential local economic clusters based on restorative thinning of small diameter wood. The “Modeling the Economic Viability of Restorative Thinning” report provides future scenarios and outcomes for business clusters composed of wood providers and processors like sawmills, lumber, retail and biomass energy. These business clusters would in turn eliminate the need for costly and hard-to-obtain government subsidies.