Mechanical Fuel Load Reduction Trials

⁠⁠⁠This project will consider a number of key aspects related to the assessment of the effectiveness of the use of mechanical biomass removal from forests as a tool to manage fuel loads in forests situated in close proximity to population centres or other important assets.

The trials will include a number of core activities that are common to all selected regions, and desirable or non-essential activities suggested that would strengthen the value of the work done. In addition to those, there are a number of activities related to the trials that will be carried out by consultants, in close consultation with the State-based partner agencies.
* Consultant-based activities (not part of this EOI)

These will involve the following key activities:
* The likely impact of the trials on potential future fire activity, using appropriate fire behaviour models
* Engagement of local communities before the implementation of the trials (stakeholder engagement) and analysis of the social attitudes towards mechanical fuel reduction compared to prescribed burning.
* Consultancy on machinery time and motion study and other operational aspects A cost-benefit analysis of mechanical fuel load reduction that utilises results from the operational trials.

These activities will be carried out by consultants commissioned by NSW DPI.
* EOI Partner agencies: core activities

The partner agencies are required to carry out a number of activities as part of the trials, to ensure methodologies are consistent across different sites, that the results are comparable not only between sites but with similar international studies, and that the work is scientifically robust.

The activities that are deemed as “core activities” and that are compulsory for inclusion in the EOIs by prospective partner agencies are:
* Experimental design
* Pre-treatment biomass assessment
* Information to be gathered during trials

Post-treatment biomass assessment.