(From Forest Log, July-August 1995, a publication of the Oregon Department of Forestry)
To many people, the words "Oregon" and "trees" are synonymous. Much of Oregon’s beauty comes from its forests. The forest products industry is the state’s largest, and Oregon is among the nation’s leading timber producers.
These same forests attract both residents and visitors to hunt, fish, camp and travel through the great variety of forested areas and enjoy the scenic beauty of the state.
Forests are also key contributors to clean air and water, fish and wildlife habitat and stable soils. For all these reasons, since 1941 Oregon law has required reforestation following timber harvesting. About 100 million seedlings are planted in Oregon each year. If these new trees were planted together in one place, they would create a 360 square mile sea of green.
Oregon’s Forest Practices Act requires replanting to begin within 12 months after a timber harvest. Replanting must be completed within another 12 months. A minimum stocking level of 200 trees per acre must be achieved within five years.
To ensure compliance with the state’s forest practice rules, Department of Forestry personnel monitor harvested areas to determine seedling survival and stocking density. Studies through 1993 show that state and private forest lands have achieved high reforestation success over the past decade. In 1993, the statewide level of compliance was 94 percent, with corrective measure taken on the remaining six percent to ensure reforestation. That is, citations are issued, penalties assessed and corrective action ordered for violations.
In other words, for the 98,078 acres of non-federal land examined, all but 5,364 acres were found to be in compliance with the state reforestation rules. The study also showed that most landowners who reforested their lands during this period routinely exceeded the planting standards required by the Oregon Forest Practices Act.
The Department of Forestry helps nonindustrial landowners with reforestation by offering advice through its Service Forestry Program. Service foresters help landowners develop plans for long-term forest land management. Key components of these plans are forest rotation and replanting.
While the state does not require replanting following natural disasters, such as wildfire or windstorms, most landowners follow similar reforestation procedures to those prescribed for post-harvesting. This protects lands from erosion or the intrusion of undesirable brush or tree species.
Forest areas that have been damaged by insects and disease can also be recreated by carefully planned reforestation. For example, in eastern Oregon where many stands of mixed fir have been killed by defoliating insects, ponderosa pine may be planted to grow a forest less susceptible to future insect infestations.
Reforestation is the building block by which tomorrow’s forests are constructed. It helps continue the state’s commitment to producing forest products and to the vision that vigorous forests are a cornerstone of environmental health.
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