Policies to Encourage Diverse, Early Seral Forest in Oregon: What Might We Do? K. Norman Johnson Debora 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, Oregons 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: Oregons 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. Oregons Reforestation Rules ODF, December, 1994

Site ProductivitySeedlings <1dbh tpa Saplings and Poles 1-10 dbh tpa Trees 11 and larger ba Cubic Foot Site Class I, II, and III Douglas-fir 100 year site index 124 and higher 200/acre120/acre80 sq. ft. Cubic Foot Site Class IV and V Ponderosa pine 100-year site index /acre75/acre50 sq. ft. Cubic Foot Site Class VI Ponderosa pine 100-year site index /acre60/acre40 sq. ft. Minimum Tree Stocking Standards Oregon 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 Implementation monitoring: Summary of NWPF regional interagency monitoring results

Owner group Forest (M acres) Annual regen harvest (M acres) % Forest Industry Family Forest State50.43 Forest Service38000 BLM Total

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 requirement Perhaps on small harvest units and/or in certain zones Brandis Oak Savanna Restoration Project

Allow substitution of an invasives eradication plan Scots broom

Value – residual treesGrade Pond Value $/MBF2S540 3S490 4S465 3S (12+) 220 SC185 Utility45 (ODF 4 th 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 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 Johnson Debora L. Johnson