Bioenerg. Res. (2016) 9:518–533 DOI 10.1007/s12155-016-9735-1 Forest Operations and Woody Biomass Logistics to Improve Efficiency, Value, and Sustainability Nathaniel Anderson1 & Dana Mitchell2 Published online: 23 April 2016 # Springer Science+Business Media New York (outside the USA) 2016 Abstract This paper reviews the most recent work conducted information and options for field processing biomass to im- by scientists and engineers of the Forest Service of the US prove efficiency and mitigate impacts; and (3) forest biomass Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the areas of forest op- management systems and technologies to offset impacts and erations and woody biomass logistics, with an emphasis on enhance environmental outcomes. However, as needs evolve, feedstock supply for emerging bioenergy, biofuels, and professionals in this field must strive to adapt research, devel- bioproducts applications. This work is presented in the context opment, and dissemination to address relevant future chal- of previous research in this field by the agency and is mea- lenges and strengthen capabilities to solve critical problems sured against the goals and objectives provided by several in the forest sector. important national-level initiatives, including the USDA Regional Biomass Research Centers. Research conducted over the past 5 years in cooperation with a diverse group of Keywords Biomass . Feedstocks . Harvesting . Logistics . research partners is organized in four topic sections: innova- Operations . Processing tive practices, innovative machines, sustainability, and inte- gration. A wide range of studies in operations and logistics address advances in harvest and processing technology, trans- portation systems, scheduling and planning, feedstock quality, biomass conversion processes, and environmental impacts, Abbreviations including greenhouse gas emissions. We also discuss potential ac Acre future research to address persistent knowledge gaps, espe- bf Board feet cially those in fire and fuel management. Overall, the research BMP Best management practices reviewed here aligns well with broad national goals of provid- cf Cubic feet ing the USA with sustainable and efficient forest biomass dbh Diameter at breast height management and production systems, specifically including: ft Feet (1) improved harvest, collection, handling, and transportation FIA Forest Inventory and Analysis Program systems for woody biomass; (2) cost and equipment in. Inches LCA Life cycle assessment MC Moisture content * Nathaniel Anderson mbf 1000 board ft [email protected] mcf 1000 cubic ft USA United States USFS US Forest Service 1 US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 800 East Beckwith Drive, Missoula, MT 59801, USA USFS US Forest Service, Research and Development R&D Unit 2 US Forest Service, Southern Research Station, George W. Andrews Forestry Sciences Laboratory, 521 Devall Drive, Auburn, AL 36849, USDA US Department of Agriculture USA yd3 Cubic yards Bioenerg. Res. (2016) 9:518–533 519 Introduction periodic market fluctuations including the Great Recession (2007–2009), global restructuring in the forest sector has In a forestry context, woody biomass is defined as the stems, reconfigured production capacity at the national level, with limbs, tops, needles, leaves, and sometimes roots of trees and sawlog, fiber and biomass demand declining dramatically in other woody plants grown in a forest, woodland, or rangeland some regions, like the Rocky Mountain West, while increas- environment that are generated as the by-products of forest ing in others, like the US South. Traditional uses for forest management. As such, the use of woody biomass from forests biomass, such as fuel for heat and power, exist alongside new for energy and products is closely linked to the production of and emerging uses, such as feedstocks for biofuels, timber for wood products manufacturing. For much of the bioproducts, and wood pellets for export to Europe. mid-twentieth century, US national forests provided up to These changes have brought exciting opportunities for in- 20 % of the total annual national timber harvest [1], and sci- novation in forest operations and biomass logistics. Improving entists and engineers from the US Forest Service (USFS) of the productivity, costs, and quality of biomass recovered from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) studied forest bio- logging and mill operations remains a major focus, but USFS mass primarily as a byproduct of timber production on both research in this field has grown well beyond conventional public and private land. Much like today, forest biomass was systems to encompass everything from reducing carbon emis- variably a primary product, byproduct, or waste depending on sions to improving multi-product agroforestry practices. More market conditions and site characteristics. USFS research of than ever before, operations and logistics research is integrat- this era covered many topics that remain highly relevant, in- ed with work focused on other segments of the supply chain, cluding the development of empirical models to estimate often as a principal component of large, cross-disciplinary standing biomass [2], slash yields [3–5], production costs efforts that include life cycle assessment, techno-economic [6], and recoverable energy [7]. Government-funded biomass analysis, conversion technology development, social science research in the forest sector was particularly vigorous follow- research, and education. Studies are conducted on both private ing the 1973 oil crisis and subsequent oil price hikes, which and public land, and in collaboration with diverse stakeholders lasted into the mid-1980s. A forest bioenergy bibliography of and research partners in academia, government, non- the time could easily pass for a contemporary one, with arti- government organizations, and industry. The purpose of this cles on the economics of wood energy [8], development of paper is to review the most recent work conducted by USFS new equipment to harvest forest biomass [9, 10], biomass scientists and engineers in the areas of forest operations and utilization decision tools [11], the potential to significantly woody biomass logistics, with an emphasis on feedstock sup- displace imported oil [12], and even thermochemical conver- ply for emerging bioenergy, biofuels, and bioproducts appli- sion technologies for liquid fuel production [13]. cations (Table 1). In many cases, USFS contributions were Despite many topical similarities, the landscape has made as part of larger teams of researchers, including person- changed significantly for USFS biomass research in the nel from other organizations, and are included here if one or twenty-first century. The needs of key stakeholders have more authors has USFS affiliation. evolved. USFS programs deliver new knowledge, technical After a brief presentation of background and context, we assistance, and other resources to national forests, states, review a wide range of studies in four topic sections: innova- tribes, private landowners, businesses, local communities, tive practices, innovative machines, sustainability, and inte- and international partners. National forest managers are now gration. We also discuss potential future research to address charged with providing a broad spectrum of market and non- persistent knowledge gaps, and conclude with a summary of market benefits to diverse stakeholders who value timber, rec- the major accomplishments of the USFS Research and reation, water, soil, carbon sequestration, threatened and en- Development Unit (USFS R&D) in this field over the past dangered species, wilderness, and other ecosystem goods and 5years. services. Frequently, these stakeholders are directly and for- mally involved in collaborative planning to guide manage- USFS Operations and Logistics Research in Context ment activities, which take place under evolving political, reg- ulatory, and legal frameworks, especially with regards to en- This Special Issue of BioEnergy Research spans the bioenergy dangered species and pollution. Forests have also changed. and bioproducts supply chain (Fig. 1), from feedstock produc- Ecological patterns and processes in many forests have been tion (i.e., cultivation and silviculture) to logistics to conver- altered by wildfire, invasive species, climate change, urbani- sion to end use, with additional sections on economics, public zation, disease and insect outbreaks, and other stressors and policy, and sustainability. From a business management per- disturbances. Thinning and other partial treatments are widely spective, a supply chain is a network of organizations that used to reduce fire risk, remove non-native and invasive spe- efficiently manufacture and deliver a product that effectively cies, and restore forests to historic reference conditions, often meets the needs of end users. In the supply chain framework, at high net cost. And markets have changed. In addition to logistics encompasses all of the organizations, technologies, 520 Bioenerg. Res. (2016) 9:518–533 Table 1 Published forest operations and biomass logistics studies conducted by the US Forest Service since 2009. Many of these studies cover multiple segments of the supply chain but have been categorized based on their dominant emphasis Emphasis Description Feedstock(s) Equipment/system(s) Authors [Ref.] Utilization Utilization and yield Mixed species Multiple systems Simmons et al. [14], Grushecky equations et al. [15] On-unit General harvesting Mixed conifers,