Technology and Trees: Increasing trust and efficiencies in forest restoration

Abstract

With over two million acres of Arizona’s forests vulnerable to catastrophic wildfire, we must change how we manage forests to reduce this risk. Accelerating the pace and scale of forest restoration treatments to meet this challenge requires new ways of doing business. Today’s forest management requires a collaborative approach between the Forest Service, wood product industries, and organizations like The Nature Conservancy to modernize rules and regulations; test, develop, and use new technology to work smarter and faster at less cost; and forge innovative partnerships that provide the support needed for this transformation. The Nature Conservancy is developing new technology that help harvesters, the Forest Service, and stakeholders meet today’s forest restoration goals. Using satellite and 3D imagery, geographic information systems, and electronic tablets, our efforts show promise in creating efficient, less-costly methods to digitally “mark” trees, prepare sites for treatments, harvest trees, and monitor effects of treatments.

Citation

Sitko, S., Woolley, T. and Chapman, N., 2016. TECHNOLOGY AND TREES: Increasing Trust and Efficiencies in Forest Restoration. Ariz. St. LJ, 48, p.125.