Current Trends for Red Alder After 100 Years of Proliferation Glenn Ahrens OSU Extension Forester Clatsop and Tillamook Co.

Background - key references

Alder All species Will Alder Harvest Increase?

Agenda Red alder years of proliferation? Early forest disturbance and resource trends. Recent forest management trends and impacts on alder. Current and future trends for alder – How far will alder fall?

Alder has been more abundant in past climate cycles.

Red alder rises again during the 1900’s

Western Oregon and western Washington, Andrews and Cowlin 1940.

Western Oregon and western Washington, USFS FIA IDB database 2006

Western Oregon and western Washington, Andrews and Cowlin 1940.

Western Oregon and western Washington, USFS FIA IDB database 2006.

Sources: Raettig et. al 1995, Gray et. al 2002, Azuma et al. 2005

Source: USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis, BC Ministry of Forests

Source: USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis, BC Ministry of Forests ~

Source: USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis

Abundant alder is a legacy of past practices. Modern forest practices generally reduce the alder component.

Source: USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis

Land Development has a disproportionate effect on the alder component of the forest.

Refuges for alder? Riparian management areas Unstable slopes Wildlife habitat retention

Riparian area restoration – girdle alder and plant conifers?

Knowledge of and management for alder is increasing.

Foresters often leave alder in young stands when it appears to be the “best tree”.

Non-industrial private owners are not aggressively favoring conifers…

Projections of area of red alder by private ownerships in PNW westside region (Alig et. al 2000)

Source: K. Norm Johnson 2002, CLAMS ~16.4 % Broadleaf

Source: K. Norm Johnson 2002, CLAMS ~4.6 % Broadleaf

Climate change scenarios and potential shifts in the range of red alder (Shafer et. al 2001)

After a rapid increase in abundance during the 1900’s, red alder is now declining. Early logging,land clearing, and burning favored proliferation of alder. Increasing management to meet landowner objectives - most major landowners reduced alder. Encroachment of non-forest development, particularly on lowlands with abundant alder.

Changing patterns of alder occurrence – smaller patches, more restricted to riparian areas, lower slopes.

Alder All species Will Alder Harvest Increase?

Source: Washington Hardwoods Commission

How far will alder fall? - uncertain balance determines the future of the red alder —Management favoring conifers on major private and public lands. —Non-forest development, particularly on lowlands. ┼Increasing value of alder – major industry and employment. ┼Increasing management for alder - both economic and ecological goals. ± Climate change affects on suitability of sites for alder.

Private non-industrial forests are increasingly important for alder. Alder is a major component on private non-industrial (NI) forest lands. With diverse goals and less intensive management - alder is more likely to regenerate/persist. NI forest lands are also most susceptible to development.