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A 13.66/2:

F 76/11/c.2 FIR Program:Reforestation Research inSouthwest Oregon

` ~ United StatesSrX~ -IDepartment ofW Agriculture

PREPARED BYForest ServiceOctober 1984

Pacific NorthwestForest and RangeExperiment Station

In cooperation with0 Oregon StatefleryUniversity

The FIR program is a coop-erative research and technologytransfer program directed at solv-ing reforestation problems thathave accrued in southwest Oregonduring the past several decades.The harsh environmental condi-tions (for example, heat anddrought) and legacy of past prac-tices (burning and wildfires, log-ging without prompt reforestation,and excessive grazing) pose a seri-ous threat to the sustained supplyof timber from this geographicregion. Over 200,000 acres were re-cently removed from the region'stimber base because of previousreforestation failures. Developmentof cost-effective ways to regener-ate and manage forests on the dif-ficult sites in southwest Oregon isurgently needed.

FIR is an acronym for ForestryIntensified Research. Designed todevelop and deliver information,the program consists of a "funda-mental" or basic research phaseand an "adaptive" or technologytransfer phase. The two phases areclosely coupled so that problemsare quickly identified and solutionsare properly implemented. The FIRProgram is jointly administered bythe College of Forestry, OregonState University (OSU), and thePacific Northwest Forest and RangeExperiment Station (PNW), USDAForest Service. Financial and tech-nical support are provided byseveral forest management organi-zations in the region.

The FIR Program was initiatedin 1978 and is scheduled to last10 years. Research results are be-ginning to emerge, and their appli-cation is having a major influenceon forest management practices insouthwest Oregon.

The ProblemForest management in a sub-

stantial part of southwest Oregonis hampered by several factors: Clearing land for mining, grazing,

and timber has often changed thevegetation from mixed conifer for-ests to pure hardwood brushfields.Periodic wildfires have perpetuatedthe problem.

Hot, dry summers make coniferreforestation difficult on manysites, south-facing slopes inparticular.

Rocky, skeletal soils are hard toplant, and the surface mantle ofgravel can slide downhill on thesteep slopes that are typical ofthis region.

Poor quality seedlings and im-proper implementation of silvicul-tural treatments have reduced thesuccess of past reforestationefforts.

The ApproachAfter recognizing the signifi-

cance of reforestation problems insouthwest Oregon, several forestmanagers and researchers joinedforces to launch the FIR Programin October 1978. The specific mis-sion of the"FIR Program is todevelop, within 10 years, the infor-mation and technology requiredto reforest and manage difficulttimberland sites in southwestOregon. Technical advice and fi-nancial support, averaging about$2.5 million per year, come fromthe following sources:

U.S. Department of the Interior,Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Department of Agriculture,Forest Service

Oregon State UniversityLocal county governmentsForest products industryOregon State Department of

ForestryLocal associations

IllinoisRiver California

Southwest Oregon.

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FUNDAMENTALRESEARCH H-

INEW

INFORMATIONDEVELOPED

The FIR Program consistsof two distinct but interrelatedphases. A team of OSU specialistsstationed in Medford, Oregon,works closely with area forestersto identify key problems and toadapt forestry techniques to localconditions. This team provides theapplied research focus for theprogram. A larger group of OSUand PNW scientists, located pri-marily in Corvallis, provides funda-mental research support for theprogram. This group conducts thebasic research needed to under-stand the biology and ecologyof forests in southwest Oregon.Knowledge acquired by the "fun-damental" scientists is put intopractice by the "adaptive" special-ists. User groups and an advisorycouncil provide feedback and sug-gestions for additional researchand information (see flow chart).

NEWINFORMATION

DEVELOPEDADAPTIVERESEARC H

IADAPTATIONSOF PRACTICES

AND INFORMATION TOSOUTHWEST OREGON

INPUT ANDFEEDBACK

EDUCATIONALPROGRAMS

AND MATERIALS

ITECHNOLOGY

TRANSFER

H USER GROUPSAND ADVISORY COUNCIL

The SolutionsAbout 50 scientists from Ore-

gon State University and the PacificNorthwest Forest and Range Exper-iment Station have been workingon the reforestation problems insouthwest Oregon, and the FIRProgram is beginning to producevaluable information. Some ofthe key areas of emphasis are high-lighted below. The examples illus-trate the flow of informationfrom the research phase to actualapplication.

Research: Beneficial mycorrhizalfungi are being developed thatincrease the absorptive capacity ofseedling roots, thereby improvingthe chances of seedling survivaland early growth. The seedling onthe left shows the improved rootand shoot development character-istic of inoculated seedlings.

Application: Nursery managersare implementing improved cul-tural techniques to enhance thevigor of outplanting stock. Under-cutting, shown here-like mycor-rhizal inoculation-is designed topromote the development of rootson seedlings.

Research: Microclimatology studiescharacterize the environmentalstresses conifer seedlings have tocontend with in southwest Ore-gon. The instruments picturedhere are capable of monitoringrainfall, soil moisture, temperature,relative humidity, solar radiation,and windspeed.

Application: Careful planting tech-niques and protective measuressuch as shade cards are being im-plemented to ameliorate stressfulconditions in new conifer planta-tions in southwest Oregon.

Research: Comparisons of clearcut Application: Information is used(foreground) and shelterwood to select appropriate site prepara-(background) systems of harvesting tion and reforestation practices forand reforestation are underway on various sites in southwest Oregon.difficult sites in southwest Oregon. This site near Grants Pass is now

ready for planting.

80-

F

05

EE

0 10 20 30 40 60 70

D.b.h. (in)

Research: Research is underwayto develop biometric models forsouthwest Oregon species that willpermit accurate forecasts of growthand yield. Detailed stem analysisof growth patterns is one of thetechniques being used.

Application: Equations for crownwidth are one tool used to eval-uate the degree of crowdingwithin a given stand of trees. Aknowledge of stand dynamicshelps determine optimum stock-ing levels and thinning regimes.'

'Graph adapted from Paine, D. P., andD. W. Hann. 1982. Maximum crown-widthequations for southwestern Oregon treespecies. Forestry Research Laboratory Res.Pap. 46, 20 p. College of Forestry, OregonState University, Corvallis.

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This stand, established on aharsh site in southwest Oregon,represents the goal of the FIR Pro-gram. Being able to efficiently andconsistently reforest such sites willsignificantly enhance the ability ofthis region to produce valuableforest products and amenities.

For further information contact:

Dr. John D. WalstadFIR Program LeaderForestry Sciences Laboratory3200 Jefferson WayCorvallis, Oregon 97331(503) 757-4617

or

Dr. Stephen D. HobbsAdaptive FIR CoordinatorOregon State University Extension Service1301 Maple Grove DriveMedford, Oregon 97501(503) 776-7116

Current Cooperators

Federal AgenciesU.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land ManagementU.S. Department of Agriculture

Forest Service, Pacific Northwest RegicRogue River National ForestSiskiyou National ForestUmpqua National Forest

Forest Service, Pacific Northwest ForesRange Experiment Station

State AgenciesOregon State Department of ForestryOregon State University

Southwest Oregon CountiesCurry CountyDouglas CountyJackson CountyJosephine County

Forest Products IndustryBoise Cascade Corp.Burrill Lumber Co.C & D Lumber Co.Champion International Corp.Herbert Lumber Co.D. R. Johnson Lumber Co.KOGAP Manufacturing Co.Lone Rock Timber Co.Medford Corp.Roseburg Lumber Co.Rough and Ready Lumber Co.Spalding and Son, Inc.Superior Lumber Co.Timber Products Co.

AssociationsAssociation of 0 & C CountiesSouthern Oregon Timber Industries Association

October 1984

MU S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1984- 593-222