sustainable forest management on the yakama reservation

Sustainable Forest Management on the

Yakama Reservation

Yakama Reservation

WashingtonWashington

1.4 million acresestablished by theTreaty of June 9, 1855

LanduseAGRICULTURERANGEFOREST

Agricultur

e

Total Area 1.4 million acres

RangeForest

Forest and Woodland647,172 acres = 47 %

What is sustainable forestry?

What is forest health?

What are the characteristics of a healthy forest?

A healthy forest is a condition where insects, diseases, fire and weather events do not threaten forest management objectives now and in the future

A healthy forest maintains

a diversity of plants and animals

aesthetic appeal

resource sustainability and

is resilient to disturbances

Cultural ResourcesCultural Resources FishFish Forest HealthForest Health RangeRange Revenue and Revenue and

EmploymentEmployment Water QualityWater Quality WildlifeWildlife

What do we want to sustain?

An unhealthy forest is characterized by

high levels of insects and diseases

increased mortality and

reduced forest productivity

Changes in forest health have occurred as a result of

Fire Exclusion

Livestock Grazing

Selective Timber Harvesting

Increased stand densities

and decreased tree vigor

Conversion in Timber Types

1934 1997

Extensive areas of the Yakama Forest are dominated by Douglas-fir and grand fir

Very good for the budworm

Spruce BudwormActivity

2000

205,584 acres

Western Spruce Budworm Defoliation

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,00019

85

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

Suppression Projects

Ac

res

Short Term Strategy:Recover value of deadand dying trees

Long Term Strategy:Promote the developmentof a more resilient andsustainable forest

1999 - 2003Timber Sales288,159 Acres

Prescribedfire

Low-Intensityburn

Before Silvicultural Treatment

After Silvicultural Treatment

Volume Harvested 1993-2002

050

100150

200250

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

Year

Vo

lum

e (M

MB

F)

AAC

Harvest

Inventory1934 4 Billion BF1996 11 Billion BF

Total Harvest6 Billion BF

VOLUME HARVESTED 1944-2002

0

50

100

150

200

25019

44

1947

1950

1953

1956

1959

1962

1965

1968

1971

1974

1977

1980

1983

1986

1989

1992

1995

1998

2001

Year

Vo

lum

e (M

MB

F)

Thank You