PACIFIC NORTHWEST FOREST RESTORATION LEARNING NETWORK

Documents associated with the Pacific Northwest Forest Restoration Learning Network (Note: this organization was initially named the PNW Forest Restoration Co-operative):

Learning Network Meetings:

Improving Forest Road Systems in the Context of Watershed Restoration. April 23-24, 2009. Cannery Pier Hotel, Astoria, Oregon. [see presentations here]

Restoration Silviculture for Older Second-growth Forests: 3^rd Meeting of Pacific Northwest Forest Restoration Learning Network. June 3-4, 2009. Olympic Natural Resources Center, Forks, Washington. [see presentations here]

Coarse Woody Debris Management for Forest Restoration: 4^th Meeting of the Pacific Northwest Forest Restoration Learning Network. June 15-16, 2010. Camp Waskowitz Outdoor School, North Bend, Washington [see presentations here]

Learning Network Background 

Over the last century, low elevation temperate coniferous forests along the Pacific Northwest Coast, from Southeast Alaska to Northern California, have largely been managed for commercial timber production. Timber management on private and public lands has typically included extensive road building, regeneration harvests (clearcutting) on a 40-80 year rotation, dense replanting with commercially valuable conifer species, and physical or chemical control of competing vegetation. These intensive management regimes have left a legacy of degraded habitats throughout the region, transforming biological communities and altering ecological processes.

To abate ongoing threats to freshwater, estuarine, and terrestrial habitats, new large-scale conservation projects are focusing on forest and watershed restoration. For example, conservation projects at the Headwaters Forest Reserve (7,400 acres, CA), Mill Creek (25,500 acres, CA), Cedar River (85,500 acres, WA), and South Willapa Bay (15,000 acres, WA) sites have all been initiated over the last five years with each project identifying restoration of young-managed forests as a primary management objective. Additionally, the Northwest Forest Plan identified over 2,840,500 acres within designated late-successional reserves, and The Nature Conservancy and others have recently identified over 400,000 acres on the Tongass National Forest (AK) which could be targeted for active forest restoration. A fundamental question facing each of these projects, however, is which particular restoration methods hold the greatest promise for accelerating ecosystem recovery in degraded forest and freshwater habitats.

The science and implementation of restoration treatments in young-managed forest landscapes is in its infancy. While retrospective studies and models suggest active restoration is warranted, there are few long-term studies which help managers clearly identify "best management practices." In fact, a common debate is whether forests should be actively restored (e.g., thinned) and how management of road systems interact with thinning to affect ecosystem recovery at watershed and landscape scales. Moreover, as managers begin to implement active restoration in degraded forest landscapes, specific prescriptions for treatments have been extremely diverse. With limited practical experience, managers often are struggling to interpret the scientific literature and develop treatments that are both operationally feasible and consistent with long-term ecological objectives.  

Learning Network  Goals

In an effort to facilitate communication between managers and scientists, and catalyze growth in practical restoration knowledge the Pacific Northwest Coastal Forest Restoration Learning Network was formed (initially named PNW Coastal Forest Restoration Co-opeartive). The learning network includes members from restoration projects within young-managed forest landscapes throughout the Pacific Northwest Coast (SE Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, northern California) and parts of the West Cascades, North Cascades, and Pacific Ranges. Specific goals of the learning network are to:

1. Promote in depth discussion and debate concerning specific management practices relevant to restoration within young-managed forest landscapes
2. Bring restoration practitioners and academic scientists together to enhance each others understanding of the state of scientific knowledge and key management questions relevant to restoration within young-managed forest landscapes
3. Develop and promote the distribution of state-of-the-art knowledge concerning best management practices relevant to restoration within young-managed forest landscapes
4. Develop personal relationships between land managers to enhance ongoing communication and collaboration