I am working with a Colorado Fire Protection District to help landowners reduce wildland fire risk. This involves cutting out some (mostly) conifer trees and reducing gambel oak shrub/tree undergrowth. We are working in a large area ranging in altitude from 6,000 feet to 13,000 feet with precipitation from 12-15 inches annually in the lower elevations to 30+ inches in the higher elevations. I'm wondering if it makes sense to consider hugelkultur as a way to deal with the trees and brush created during mitigation thinning. The conventional way to deal with this is to haul the thinnings (trees and smaller stuff) to a lumber yard, firewood seller or to chip it. We are hoping to offer other ideas for more direct use of the trimmings. It seems that conifers (ponderosa pine, douglas fir, blue spruce) are not usually recommended for hugelkultur. Anyone have any experience here?