Nature effectively “managed” forests through millennia of major climate changes and episodes of natural disturbances (e.g., wildfires, droughts, bark-beetle outbreaks), so why would nature not now be best able to restore and adapt forests to climate change? We focused on this question while investigating lower-elevation dry forests of the western U.S. dominated by ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) or similar pines and dry mixed-conifer forests, in addition to other trees. Dry forests cover 25.5 million ha (63 million acres) of the western U.S. These forests have altered structure (e.g., tree density) from extensive logging, livestock grazing, and fire suppression. Dry forests are also recently experiencing more natural disturbances. Wildfires have at times become almost unstoppable, overwhelming firefighters and spilling over into the built environment. These trends continue in spite of billions of dollars spent annually to reduce fuels (e.g., thinning) and suppress fires and other disturbances in federal forests.

OREGON — Forests are an essential part of Earth’s operating system. They reduce the buildup of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and land degradation by 30% each year. This slows global temperature increases and the resulting changes to the climate. …As scientists who have spent decades studying forest ecosystems and the effects of climate change, we believe that it is essential to start protecting carbon storage in these forests. In our view, there is ample scientific evidence to justify an immediate moratorium on logging mature and old-growth forests on federal lands. … Conserving forests is one of the most effective and lowest-cost options for managing atmospheric carbon dioxide, and mature and old-growth forests do this job most effectively. Allowing mature and old-growth forests to continue growing will remove from the air and store the largest amount of atmospheric carbon in the critical decades ahead.

Log rolling, uphill: That could sum up the efforts to use a struggling, rebuilt timber industry to protect watersheds, reduce wildfire risks and stimulate rural economies, all at the same time. Case in point: The discussions of expiring state incentives for thinning projects and the long, vital struggle to thin the watershed of the C.C. Cragin Reservoir at the last meeting of the Natural Resources Working Group. The gathering of local officials, loggers and Forest Service timber administrators illustrated the economic and bureaucratic complications as well as the high stakes. Start with the long-suffering effort to thin the 64,000-acre watershed of the C.C. Cragin Reservoir. The 15,000 acre-foot reservoir holds the key to Payson’s long-term water future. …In the meantime, the group of local officials and loggers is focused on convincing the state to extend vital tax credits for forest industries, despite the forthcoming state budget crisis.

When the temperature drops and an extended freeze comes to our Webster Forest Nursery, we actually welcome the ice (by saying “ice to see you“). By irrigating our planted seedlings (also known as forbidden popsicles), we can protect them from the bitter cold. Our nursery staff gently showers the seedlings with a mist of water, and – after multiple applications – several layers of light ice build up to protect the seedlings from a freeze. These little seedlings play a big role in our sustainable forestry practices. During winter and spring, DNR crews replant state trust lands where timber has been harvested… There are 2.1 million acres of state trust forests statewide, so it takes millions of seedlings each year — with 14 species custom-grown for numerous different growing zones across the state. Hey, you winterize your pipes. We winterize our lil precious baby trees.

Maui County Arborist Committee chairman and Treecovery founder Duane Sparkman said Thursday that about 50% of the tree is not expected to survive, which is up from the 40% estimate that was made in Dec. 2023. There is good news; Sparkman said small sections of the tree that are still alive can be transplanted into the areas where dead sections need to be cut out.

Karl Brauneis

Mountain pine beetles are always in the forest ecosystem in an endemic state. The key that triggers an epidemic build up is the age of the surrounding trees. When lodgepole pine reach on or about the year 100 they send out the message to “kill me.” It’s time to regenerate. This is their life cycle. Mountain pine beetle require a “robust” timber industry to control. This is because the pine beetle is on a one year life cycle. As a forester I have had great success in controlling both pine and spruce beetle when we had a “robust” timber industry and multiple use timber management of the National Forests. Both of those attributes are seriously lacking today. …Environmentalists used federal acts, attorneys and judges to shut down forest management on the National Forests and the US Congress simply stood by as an absentee landlord and watched the destruction from afar.