Policies to Encourage Diverse, Early Seral Forest in Oregon: What Might We Do? K. Norman Johnson Debora L. Johnson
Jan 14, 2016
Policies to Encourage Diverse, Early Seral Forest in Oregon:
What Might We Do?
K. Norman JohnsonDebora L. Johnson
“A future wood supply… is not assured. The serous
factor in the forestry problem becomes evident when it is
stated that a timber crop requires from fifty to one
hundred years for maturity. When to this statement is
added the assertions that this nation is using timber four
times as fast as it is being produced; that by far the
greater portion of the original stand of timber has been
removed; and that in spite of substitutes for wood, the
annual rate of timber consumption does not decrease,
the seriousness of the forestry problem becomes
increasingly clear.”
George W. Peavy, 1929
“One thing is certain: there must be a decided change
in our attitude toward our timber resources… The forest
is a renewable resource. In the interest of the nation
and of the state, Oregon’s forests should be renewed:
and, by all means, there should be as little delay as
possible in making a beginning.”
George W. Peavy, 1929
Source: Oregon’s Commercial Forests, 1929, George W. Peavy
Source: Oregon’s Commercial Forests, 1929, George W. Peavy
The purpose of the reforestation rules is to ensure that forest tree cover is maintained or re-established after harvest.
Tree Species Suitable for Reforestation
1. The species must be ecologically suited to the planting site;
2. The species must be capable of producing logs, fiber, or other wood products suitable in size and quality for the
production of lumber, sheeting, pulp or other commercial forest products; and
3. The species must be marketable in the foreseeable future.
Oregon’s Reforestation Rules
ODF, December, 1994
Site Productivity Seedlings <1”dbh
tpa
Saplings and Poles 1-10” dbh
tpa
Trees 11” and larger
ba
Cubic Foot Site Class I, II, and IIIDouglas-fir 100 year site index 124 and higher
200/acre 120/acre 80 sq. ft.
Cubic Foot Site Class IV and VPonderosa pine 100-year site index 64-108
125/acre 75/acre 50 sq. ft.
Cubic Foot Site Class VIPonderosa pine 100-year site index 40-63
100/acre 60/acre 40 sq. ft.
Minimum Tree Stocking StandardsOregon Forest Practices Act
In general, a tree will be considered free to grow if:
1. It is not severely damaged by insects, disease, fire, wildlife, weather, or logging;
2. It exhibits the potential for continued height growth, consistent with the normal growth for the species on similar sites;
3. It has at least one-third of the tree height in full, live crown; and
4. It is taller than, and out-competing, any grass, shrubs, or other trees growing within a 10-foot radius from the tree.
Where are we now?
• Threat of timber famine greatly diminished
• Problems with successful regeneration largely solved
• A forest industry that views wood as a renewable resource
Baker, et al. 2006 Implementation monitoring: Summary of NWPF regional interagency monitoring results
Owner
group
Forest
(M acres)
Annual regen harvest
(M acres) %
Forest Industry 525 12 84
Family Forest 145 1.7 12
State 50 .4 3
Forest Service 380 0 0
BLM
Total
220
1320
.1
14.4
1
100
Possible policy changes---- Private Lands
Goal: create more diverse early seral forest without increasing landowner cost or regulatory burden
Ideas:
• Remove free-to-grow requirement
• Remove regeneration requirement in its entirety
• Allow substitution of an invasives eradication plan, enhanced wildlife tree plan, or logging debris retention plan
Perhaps on small harvest units
Remove “free-to grow” requirement
Remove the entire reforestation requirementPerhaps on small harvest units and/or in
certain zones
Brandis Oak Savanna Restoration Project
Allow substitution of an invasives eradication plan
Scot’s broom
GradeGradePond ValuePond Value
$/MBF$/MBF
2S2S 540540
3S3S 490490
4S4S 465465
3S (12+)3S (12+) 220220
SCSC 185185
UtilityUtility 4545
(ODF 4th Qtr. 2006)
Allow substitution of an enhanced wildlife tree plan
Encourage the retention of logging debris
Carbon stores increased as rotation length increased, but decreased as the fraction of trees harvested and logging debris removed increased.
Source: Forests, Carbon and Climate Change: A Synthesis of Science Findings. 2006. Oregon Forest Resources Institute
Policy Changes on Federal lands
Goal: create more diverse early seral forest consistent with agency mission.
Ideas:
• Allow burned areas to respond without major intervention,
• Implement a long-rotation strategy on BLM O&C lands keyed to their special mission,
• Emulate large-scale disturbance on the national forests through regeneration harvest of plantations
Federal lands
Goal: create more diverse early seral forest consistent with agency mission.
Ideas:
• Allow burned areas to respond without major intervention,
• Implement a long-rotation strategy on BLM O&C lands keyed to their special mission,
• Emulate large-scale disturbance on the national forests through regeneration harvest of plantations
Current Policy – Now
Current Policy – Year 50
Long Rotation BLM– Year 50
Federal lands
Goal: create more diverse early seral forest consistent with agency mission.
Ideas:
• Allow burned areas to respond without major intervention,
• Implement a long-rotation strategy on BLM O&C lands keyed to their special mission,
• Emulate large-scale disturbance on the national forests through regeneration harvest of plantations
Possible changes---- Private Lands
Goal: create more diverse early seral forest without increasing landowner cost or regulatory burden
Ideas:
• Remove free-to-grow requirement
• Remove regeneration requirement in its entirety
• Allow substitution of an invasives eradication plan, enhanced wildlife tree plan, or logging debris retention plan
Federal lands
Goal: create more diverse early seral forest consistent with agency mission.
Ideas:
• Allow burned areas to respond without major intervention,
• Implement a long-rotation strategy on BLM O&C lands keyed to their special mission,
• Emulate large-scale disturbance on the national forests through regeneration harvest of plantations
Policies to Encourage Diverse, Early Seral Forest in Oregon:
What might we do?
K. Norman JohnsonDebora L. Johnson