Progress report for WRGR22-009
Project Information
Forest owners in the Pacific Northwest face new threats from a warming, drying climate, on top of pre-existing challenges to forest health stemming from past management practices. Forest plantations established after industrial clearcutting lack the species diversity and spatial heterogeneity that help forests to provide a broad spectrum of ecosystem services. They also tend to be too dense for the expected moisture and heat conditions of coming decades, and are therefore at risk of decline in the face of climate change. Recent research points to steps that forest producers can take to make their forests more resilient in the face of these threats.
This project will build on two previous SARE-funded projects to increase forest producers’ understanding of climate threats and forest health, and train forest producers in management techniques to address those challenges. Through a geographically distributed series of 6 master-class workshops and 80 site visits to individual producers, the project will acquaint 175 forest owners and managers with four key tools to increase their forest’s resilience: stand release, young-stand thinning, commercial thinning, and fire hazard reduction. These educational efforts will address two misconceptions: that previously clearcut forests thrive best when left alone to recover; and that intensive monoculture timber production is the only economically viable choice for forest owners seeking income from their forest. These techniques will help forest owners maintain commercial production of timber even in the face of climatic disruption, and will increase the provision of ecosystem services such as watershed protection, salmon and wildlife habitat, and carbon storage even while increasing the likelihood of robust timber yields.
- 140 forest producers increase their knowledge of the ways they can steward their forest to increase seedling survival and improve young-stand growth rates.
- 140 forest producers learn to anticipate the likely impacts on their forest from climate change, and gain greater knowledge of actions they can take to make their forest more resilient in the face of the changing climate.
- 140 forest producers become convinced that active forest stewardship can be preferable to “letting nature take its course” in their forest, as a pathway to greater forest health and resilience.
- 140 forest producers are persuaded that partial harvest techniques such as thinning and individual tree selection can increase the health and resilience of the forest compared with the business-as-usual practice of regenerating it around age 40.
Objectives 1 through 4 are evaluated based on surveys administered before and after the workshops, as described below in Question 9 on Evaluation.
- 105 forest producers commission a new or updated forest management plan in light of the knowledge they gained through this project.
- 90 forest producers embark on a new management activity in the realm of thinning, fire hazard reduction, or seedling release after taking part in the project.
Objectives 5 and 6 are evaluated based on online surveys sent in the last 3 months of the project.
Non-industrial private forest lands in western Washington are in a state of suboptimal health. Immediately after harvest, vigorous shrub species can outcompete recently planted tree seedlings. Alternatively, where replanting succeeds, it often results in a “dog-hair” young stand that is too dense for all the trees to thrive. In either situation, the site falls short of its full potential for timber production. A recent state assessment finds the dense, young, homogeneous stands that are prevalent throughout western Washington to be historically unprecedented on the landscape (Washington State Department of Natural Resources 2020).
These issues are exacerbated by the impacts of climate change, which are already being felt in the region. Fewer trees per acre can persist in the hotter, drier summers of a warming world. Pressure from brush species is even harder on young seedlings when both moisture and light are in short supply, from below-ground and above-ground competition respectively (Lipton et al. 2018 and Vose et al. 2018).
In this time of increasing threats, small forest landowners are asking for help more frequently, and have been judged by state officials to need increased technical support and resources (Washington State Department of Natural Resources 2020).
This project will connect forest producers with the results of research on seedling release and young-stand thinning that our organization is about to complete (OW19-350), in which we tracked the costs and benefits of different approaches to those two techniques for the re-establishment and restoration of young forests. It will also disseminate to the grassroots the technical expertise we brought together in our 2016-2019 project, “Climate Adaptation Training for Foresters” (EW16-021), and draw on those findings to help wood producers make their slightly older (20- to 60-year-old) forests more resilient to climate change.
Education & Outreach Initiatives
Introduce forest owners and managers to ecologically-based commercial timber thinning techniques.
During this afternoon field tour, participants toured a recent commercial timber thinning project that utilized ecologically-based harvest strategies. Participants learned about: tree selection, appropriate logging equipment, fire risk reduction, climate adaptation, carbon sequestration, managing a timber sale, soil conservation, wildlife habitat enhancement, and more. The workshop was held in Gold Bar, WA, and had five attendees.
This educational event provided forest owners and managers with the information they need to make better decisions about harvesting timber from their forests. With the knowledge gained during this tour, forest owners and managers have a better understanding of harvesting alternatives to clearcutting, as well as how to manage their forests for resilience to climate change and to improve timber production, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, and other ecosystem services.
During this afternoon field tour participants will be introduced to various strategies for managing young stands to improve growth, timber quality, and climate resilience.
This afternoon field tour took participants through a young forest that has been managed for multiple benefits, including: long-term sustainable timber production, improved wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, water quality, aesthetics, biodiversity, and more. The tour also introduced a variety of concepts related to young stand management, which included seedling release, control of invasive species, pre-commercial thinning, and commercial thinning. The workshop was held in Bucoda, WA, and had 24 attendees.
This field tour equipped participants with the information and knowledge they need to manage young forests for climate resilience, timber production, and a wide range of ecosystem services. With the information they received, participants will be enabled to change their management practices to better protect their resources for both economic production and conservation. In post event surveys, attendees expressed their appreciation for the hands-on experience, noting the “great location with a good variety of trees and examples.”
During this afternoon field tour participants will be introduced to various strategies for managing young stands to improve growth, timber quality, and climate resilience.
This afternoon field tour brought participants through a young forest that has been managed for multiple benefits, including: long-term sustainable timber production, improved wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, water quality, aesthetics, biodiversity, and more. The tour introduced a variety of concepts related to young stand management, which included: seedling release, control of invasive species, pre-commercial thinning, and commercial thinning. The workshop was held in Bucoda, WA, and had 25 attendees.
This field tour equipped participants with the information and knowledge they need to manage young forests for climate resilience, timber production, and a wide range of ecosystem services. With the information they received, participants will be enabled to change their management practices to better protect their resources for both economic production and conservation.
Introduce forest owners and managers to tools and techniques for managing forest health through thinning practices, climate-adapted strategies, and timber sale planning, while fostering ecological forestry practices.
The workshop offered an in-depth, hands-on learning experience for landowners to explore ecological forest management techniques. Participants learned about: harvest feasibility, permitting timber sales, selecting climate-adapted species, and the economic and logistical considerations of commercial thinning operations. Participants also engaged in interactive exercises like tree marking. The workshop was held in Gig Harbor, WA, and had 15 attendees.
This educational event provided forest owners and managers with actionable insights into forest health management and climate adaptation. Participants developed skills to assess their forest’s health, plan for thinning operations, and understand the economic and regulatory aspects of timber sales. Additionally, attendees learned about cost-share programs like FREP, EQIP, and CSP. In post event surveys, attendees noted that the information about these programs was particularly helpful, and provided “great exposure to making forest management economically possible.”
During this virtual workshop, participants will be introduced to the principles of ecological forestry, and practices for managing stands to improve habitat, timber quality, and climate resilience.
This virtual workshop showcased management techniques aligned with the principles of ecological forestry. Participants explored practices to minimize soil disturbance, enhance wildlife habitat, and improve forest stand structure. The workshop also covered long-term stewardship planning, the importance of seasonal alignment in management practices, an overview of suitable equipment, and more. This workshop was held over Zoom and had 38 attendees.
The workshop equipped participants with strategies to implement ecological forestry principles, fostering healthier, more resilient forests by enhancing biodiversity and optimizing forest structure. Participants learned about a variety of methods to improve ecosystem health and achieve their stewardship goals. Additionally, the workshop promoted peer learning and strengthened the South Puget Sound ecological forestry network by connecting landowners.
Participants will be introduced to ecological forestry practices to enhance climate resilience, wildlife habitat, and timber productivity in young forests.
This twilight field tour took participants through a young forest where they learned about techniques for managing young stands, including pre-commercial thinning, invasive species control, tree planting, wildlife habitat enhancement, and climate adaptation strategies. The tour included stops at key management areas to demonstrate these ecological forestry techniques. The workshop was held in Bucoda, WA, and had 12 attendees.
This field tour equipped participants with practical strategies for managing young forest stands to improve ecological and economic outcomes. Attendees gained the knowledge to adapt their forest practices to improve forest health, address climate challenges, and access financial assistance for restoration projects. Additionally, the tour fostered peer learning and strengthened the network of ecological forestry practitioners in the South Puget Sound region by building connections between landowners.
Participants will be introduced to various forest management techniques that improve forest resilience to climate change, enhance soil moisture availability, and promote adaptive tree growth.
The participants learned about the management practices of the Nisqually Community Forest, which aim to balance ecological benefits with sustainable forest management practices that provide long-term environmental and economic value. The tour explored adaptive forest management practices that prepare forests for the anticipated impacts of climate change in the Pacific Northwest. These management practices aim to increase snow accumulation, extend the snowmelt season, and reduce tree densities, for the purpose of increasing soil moisture available to each remaining tree during the growing season. The workshop was held at the Nisqually Community Forest in Ashford, WA, and had 16 attendees.
Participants gained knowledge of innovative forest management techniques, including thinning methods, snow gap creation, and adaptive planting. Attendees also learned about a variety of tools to enhance forest resilience to climate change, with a focus on maintaining soil moisture, promoting biodiversity, and fostering climate-adapted growth. By fostering collaboration and sharing lessons learned, this event strengthened the capacity of forest managers to implement sustainable practices across the region.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Workshops
NNRG completed seven landowner workshops, providing hands-on demonstrations of stewardship practices for 135 participants across six field tours, and a virtual demonstration to 38 participants. These workshops focused on the skills landowners need to address forest health and climate concerns, including pre-commercial and commercial thinning, tree planting, monitoring, wildlife habitat enhancement, and invasive species control. Participants also explored topics like carbon sequestration, forest management logistics, and available financial assistance resources.
The first workshop’s aim was to increase forest producers' understanding of climate threats and forest health and provide training in the management techniques to address those challenges. Forestry Director Kirk Hanson provided Snohomish County forest producers with a four-hour workshop covering forest ecology, climate change, and adaptation strategies, red alder management 101, and financial and technical assistance. In the following two workshops, Kirk took forest producers to his own family’s forest for two six-hour workshops on Managing Young Forests: Using Ecological Forest Management Principles to Improve Climate Resilience and Timber Productivity. The workshops toured participants through different management sites covering topics such as pre-commercial thinning, managing Douglas-fir and red alder stands, tree planting and seedling maintenance, wildlife habitat enhancement, commercial thinning, carbon sequestration, invasive plant species, forest mapping and monitoring, climate adaptation strategies, non-timber forest products, labor and financial costs of forest restoration, and financial assistance programs. During the fourth workshop, Kirk and four NNRG foresters led a tour where participants engaged in interactive exercises like tree marking. Workshop attendees learned about harvest feasibility, timber sale permitting, selecting climate-adapted species, and the economic and logistical aspects of commercial thinning operations. The fifth workshop was virtual, led by Kirk and NNRG’s Lead Forester Jaal Mann. They introduced the principles of ecological forestry and discussed management practices that minimize soil disturbance, enhance wildlife habitat, and improve forest stand structure. For the sixth workshop, Kirk hosted another tour on his property focused on Managing Young Stands for Climate Resilience. Finally, our most recent workshop took place at the Nisqually Community Forest, where NNRG and other Nisqually watershed partners are testing techniques to prepare forests for the changing climate. The tour took participants through different management sites and demonstrated a variety of innovative forest management techniques, including thinning methods, snow gap creation, and adaptive planting. Following the workshops, we shared resources with all participants.
Outreach
Approximately 2,700 producers receive our monthly newsletter, which includes topical blog posts, educational events, news, and resources that support them with the continuing management of their forests. Several newsletter resources were supported by SARE funding, including guidance on using maps in forestry, and insights into the importance of soil in forest management. Additionally, NNRG offers free monthly fireside chats, during which forestland owners can discuss their specific management goals and challenges with professionals and peers. NNRG also collected video footage during one of the SARE-funded workshops and is currently finalizing it to provide access for producers who were unable to attend our in-person workshops.
Using additional funds leveraged by the SARE grant, NNRG has produced additional resources on ecological forestry practices. In April of 2024, NNRG released a book, A Forest of Your Own: The Pacific Northwest Handbook of Ecological Forestry, which serves as a comprehensive guide to the science and practice of ecological forestry. Additionally, NNRG partnered with Oregon State University (OSU) on a research project to explore the range of outcomes local forest owners have achieved through timber harvests, with the goal of helping landowners learn from the experiences of peers with similar forests and management objectives. The study was published in Small-Scale Forestry in November 2024.
Site Visits
NNRG completed 45 site visits, providing one-on-one support to help forest producers apply what they have learned through workshops, newsletters, and other outreach.
Learning Outcomes
Project Outcomes
Workshops reached 135 forest producers and provided in-person opportunities to see management practices. Additionally, a virtual workshop reached 38 participants, expanding access to practical forestry knowledge and techniques across a wider geography. Pre/Post tests show that landowners increased their knowledge of ecological forestry management during the workshop. Participants on average rated their knowledge as a 2.6 on a 5 point scale before the workshop, and at 4 after. Participants also indicated an increase in the likelihood of implementing practices, particularly improving wildlife habitat, managing the risk of fire, and developing a forest management plan. These responses show an increased interest and confidence in stewarding their forests to increase seedling survival and improve young-stand growth rates and climate resilience.
Outreach efforts continue to engage forest producers and provide additional resources. Monthly fireside chats have been well-attended, and we have seen familiar faces from the workshops. We continue to share resources through our monthly newsletter, which reaches 2,700 people.
Some outcomes following specific site visits include:
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Whatcom Land Trust: The Land Trust contracted NNRG for general forestry consulting services on their Stewart Mountain property. As a part of this project, NNRG will conduct forest carbon assessments, forest management planning, timber harvest evaluations, and evaluations of new forestland acquisitions.
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Smith Family Forest: The Smiths worked with NNRG to develop a forest management plan on just over 20 acres of their property. They applied for EQIP funding for forest stand improvement and woody residue management on 16.6 acres, with the goal of reducing the current stand density to improve the growth of residual trees and the regeneration of conifer seedlings.
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Owen Family Forest: The Owens enrolled approximately 88 acres in NNRG’s forestry program. They also applied for the EQIP and CSP funding programs, and lent 10 acres of their forest to the study of thinning and woody slash abatement strategies following pre-commercial thinning.
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Willamette Meridian Tree Farm: NNRG is working with the Tree Farm to conduct a selective commercial timber harvest on approximately 22.4 acres with the goal of reducing fire hazards, encouraging future timber growth, and promoting healthy growing conditions.