Fighting Fire with Low-Carbon Buildings

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry. Core Insights - The report emphasizes the potential of using mass timber from Colorado wildfire thinnings to create low-carbon buildings, which can benefit local forests, communities, and the global climate [9][10][30]. Summary by Sections Executive Summary - Colorado's forests face challenges due to climate change, overstocking from fire suppression, and increased population in wildland-urban interfaces, leading to severe wildfire risks [9][11]. - Forest thinning can enhance resilience against wildfires and protect water supplies, but it is costly, potentially costing taxpayers billions [9][10]. Colorado Forests' Challenging Future - Historical fire suppression has led to overstocked forests, increasing the likelihood of high-intensity wildfires [11][12]. - Nearly 1 million properties in Colorado are at risk of wildfire damage over the next 30 years, with the wildland-urban interface expected to double by 2040 [12][13]. Managing Forests, Managing Fire - Prescribed burns and mechanical thinning are effective strategies to reduce wildfire risks by lowering fuel loads [20][21]. - Thinning operations can yield marketable timber, but most harvested trees are small and have low market value, making it difficult to offset treatment costs [27][28]. "Eating the Problem" with Wood Products - A lack of robust markets for wood from forest management leads to insufficient management, while strong markets could support ecological sustainability and wildfire mitigation [28][29]. - Mass timber, a high-performance engineered wood product, can utilize small-diameter trees and has a lower embodied carbon footprint compared to traditional materials [29][30]. Jump-Starting Colorado's Resilient Local Forest Economies - Developing local forest economies can provide funding for wildfire mitigation treatments and create sustainable building practices [37][38]. - Public support for forest thinning is mixed, with some opposition that can delay management efforts [40][41]. Call to Action - Various stakeholders, including state officials and the general public, are encouraged to support forest management and local wood products [48][49]. Additional Information - The Colorado Mass Timber Coalition aims to enhance the forest and construction value chain to promote resilient local economies [50].