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Future of Hardwoods in Oregon (and the Pacific Northwest). Glenn Ahrens Oregon State University Extension Forestry Clatsop and Tillamook County. Future of the Hardwood Industry = Hardwood Resource. Available timber inventory Harvesting volume trends Long-term sustainable supply?
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Future of Hardwoods in Oregon (and the Pacific Northwest) Glenn Ahrens Oregon State University Extension Forestry Clatsop and Tillamook County
Future of the Hardwood Industry = Hardwood Resource • Available timber inventory • Harvesting volume trends • Long-term sustainable supply? • Incidental hardwoods in the forest • Managed hardwood forests
Source: USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis, BC Ministry of Forests
Source: USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis, BC Ministry of Forests ~1995-2000
Abundant hardwoods are a legacy of past practices. • Modern forest practices generally reduce the hardwood component in the PNW.
Availability of alder timber is reduced by policy and regulation • Public timber policy – federal and state • Riparian management areas • Unstable slopes • Wildlife habitat
Negative factors Continued management favoring conifers Reduction in forest land base due to policy, regulation, and non-forest land use Positive factors Continued regeneration of incidental hardwoods. Increasing management for alder. Uncertain balance - determines the future of the Hardwood Resource
Increasing Hardwood Management in the Future Depends on: • high market values = log prices • successful management techniques • competitive timber yields and economic returns.
Source: Oregon Department of Forestry quarterly log price reports 1977-2004
Source: Oregon Department of Forestry quarterly log price reports 1977-2004
For a brighter future……Improve the capability of landowners to profitably produce and sell hardwoods. • Improve market options - veneer logs, sawlogs, pulp logs. • Demonstrate yield and economic returns from managed alder. • Continue research and education on how to manage for higher value hardwood stands . • Increase availability of seedlings.