ENHANCE FOREST HEALTH & PRODUCTIVITY AFTER TIMBER HARVEST

How can landowners improve biodiversity, habitat, and productivity in their forests after harvest? NNRG recently released a newly revised resource outlining best practices for forest owners who are preparing to log or have just finished a timber harvest. “Practices to Steward a Beautiful Forest after Timber Harvest” is an accessible guide inspired on years of experience working with families, small businesses, and conservation groups across western Oregon and Washington.

What you do before and after a timber harvest depends on the condition of your land and your goals. After harvest, some forests may need minimal care because they have vigorous natural seedling establishment, minimal exposure to invasive species, and sufficient large woody debris for wildlife habitat and nutrient cycling. However, many forests don’t enjoy such ideal circumstances and greatly benefit from active stewardship. 

Additional resources on stewarding your forest after harvest are available below.

Erosion

• Oregon’s Forest Protection Laws – An Illustrated Manual, Chapter 5: Steep Slopes – Oregon Forest Resources Institute
• Forest Practices Illustrated – WA DNR
• The Effects of Forest Management on Erosion and Soil Productivity – USFS

Invasive Species

• Pacific Northwest Weed Management Handbook
• Oregon Invasive Species Council
• Washington Invasive Species Council

Planting

• The Care and Planting of Tree Seedlings on Your Woodland – OSU
• Forest Steward Field Guide – Planting and Installation, p. 24 – WA DNR

Monitoring

• Monitoring and Inventory Tools – NNRG
• Inventory and Mapping: A Beginner’s Guide to Basic Inventory and Digital Mapping – Institute for Culture and Ecology

Roads

• Forest Roads – WA DNR

Slash

• Forest Biomass Retention and Harvesting Guidelines for the Pacific Northwest – Forest Guild
• Wildlife-Friendly Fuels Reduction in Dry Forests of the Pacific Northwest – OSU & WA DNR

Wildfire

• Resources on Preparing Your Home and Forest for Wildfire – NNRG
• Wildfire Resources – Washington DNR
• Fire-Resistant Plants for Home Landscapes – Pacific Northwest Extension

Wildlife

• Keeping Dead Wood and Creating Wildlife Habitat Piles – NNRG
• Snags – The Wildlife Tree – WDFW
• Family Forests and Wildlife: What You Need to Know – Western Forestry and Conservation Association
• Living with Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest – WDFW

Additional resources related to harvests and other topics are available in the NNRG Resource Library.