Alder Supply +Red Alder Plantation

Growth and Yield RAP ORGANON

Glenn AhrensOregon State University

Extension Forester

Agenda

Hardwood Resource Supply

• Review Hardwood Resource Situation in the Pacific Northwest - Key determinants of supply.

• Lack of Current Data – Need for Updated Hardwood Resource Assessment?

Hardwood Resource Data Sources

• USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA)– 1997 - PNW-RB-237 Azuma et. al 2002– 2001 - PNW-RB-246 Gray et. al 2005– 2006 - PNW-GTR-765 Donnegan et. al 2008– 2006 - PNW-GTR-800 Campbell et. al 2010– 2011 - ????????????????

• Washington DNR, Oregon Dept. of Forestry – Timber Harvest Reports

• Washington Hardwoods Commission – processor reports

Key Aspects of Hardwood Supply

• Alder component has declined on the landscape and as % of harvest .

• Alder “comes along” with softwood harvest –ups and downs of regional harvest trends.

• Retention and management for alder in younger stands has increased.

• Planting of alder has not “caught on”.

Harvest – All species

Alder Logs

Knowledge of and management for alder is increasing.

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

Industrial hardwood component is still declining.

Hardwoods supply from non-industrial private woodlands increasing in importance.

Alig et al. 2000 PNW-RP-522. Forest Cover Dynamics in the Pacific Northwest West Side.

Is the worst over ? Loss of red alder forest type slowing down?

Non - industrial

Industrial

Timber Trends on Private Lands in Western Oregon and Washington: A New Look

Darius Adams & Greg Latta. 2007. West. J. Appl. For. 22(1)

Legacy of abundant alder is diminishing10% >> 7% >> ?

The future depends on hardwood management

Need for Updated Hardwood Resource Assessment?

• Hardwood resource assessment would require funding and extra attention to the hardwood component - government analysts are not going to do it for us.

– New analysis of public data?

– Survey of industrial private forest management practices?

– Another GIS study?

Hardwood Timber Resources

• Non-industrial forests have about half the hardwood , continue to regenerate hardwood, and provide growing share of supply.

• Foresters are increasing alder management.• State Forests aim to provide consistent timber

supply including red alder. • Social & Political Climate - Movement towards

balance between economic and environmental?

Summary - Hardwood Supply Situation

• Recent harvest volume of alder is about half what it was 15 years ago.

• Alder component declining on the landscape and as % of harvest.

• Alder comes along with softwood harvest -regional harvest trend drives alder supply.

• Available landbase and market factors drive forest harvest .

• Alder retention and management – increasing.

Outlook for Hardwood Timber Priorities for action

• Increase public understanding and acceptance of forest management - maintain “license to practice forestry”.

• Keep forest lands in forest – prevent conversion to non-forest.

• Demonstrate success and increase professional knowledge and skills in Hardwood Management .

Agenda

Red Alder Plantation Growth and Yield – RAP ORGANON

• Projecting yields from Plantations – thinned or not

• Comparing alder with conifers• Growth and yield estimation tools for the

future– User Interface for RAP – ORGANON– Yield from managing “incidental” alder?

•Collect stand data – dbh, height, crown ratio, plus stand age and dominant height.

•Make projections of growth and yield

Site specific comparison of alder vs conifers - projected yields and returns?

NPV Interest Rate = 5%

In search of a better user-interface for

ORGANON.

Excel Spreadsheet ORGANON interface – Doug Mainwaring OSU

Draft, under development

Red Alder Plantation Growth and Yield – RAP ORGANON

• Projecting yields from Plantations & comparing alternative species – site quality assessment is key.

• Growth and yield estimation tools for the future– Start with Excel User Interface for RAP –

ORGANON– More needed to project yield from managing

“incidental” alder.

Thank You Thank You