Restoration Planning on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Restoration Planning on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Author: Keith Reynolds

Publisher:

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 6

ISBN-13:

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Human settlement and land management have radically altered the composition and structure of eastern Washington forests. Restoring high-functioning landscapes and habitat patterns have broad implications for the future sustainability of native species, ecosystem services, and ecosystem processes. Many land managers and scientists have turned their attention to whole landscapes to decipher key changes in the terrestrial and aquatic systems. A goal is to formulate landscapelevel prescriptions for re-establishing broad functionality and resilience to disturbances and changing climate. Recognizing the need to simplify and expedite the process of landscape evaluation, a team of scientists and managers at the Pacific Northwest Research Station and the Okanogan- Wenatchee National Forest piloted the first application of the Ecosystem Management Decision Support (EMDS) software in support of a restoration project in eastern Washington. By interpreting and synthesizing large volumes of information about complex, multifaceted problems, EMDS enabled the team to (1) transparently evaluate departures of key landscape patterns and processes from historical and climate change reference conditions, and (2) formulate and compare landscape restoration prescriptions before implementing them. EMDS is currently being implemented throughout 4 million acres of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. It is also being used in other restoration projects throughout the Northwest and internationally.

Oregon White Oak Restoration Strategy for National Forest System Lands East of the Cascade Range
Oregon White Oak Restoration Strategy for National Forest System Lands East of the Cascade Range

Author: Warren Devine

Publisher:

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 97

ISBN-13:

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Significant work has been undertaken to conserve and restore Pacific Northwest Oregon white oak habitats, but this work has almost entirely focused on lands west of the Cascade Range. Much of the historical eastside Oregon white oak savanna and woodland habitat has been lost, and the combined effects of fire suppression, invasive species, grazing, and development threaten significant portions of the remaining extent. This restoration strategy focuses on conservation and preservation of stands that are still structurally and functionally intact, and restoration of degraded stands, to ensure the longevity of this habitat and the species that rely on it. The target audience is managers at the Mt. Hood, Gifford Pinchot, and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The strategy includes a review of the relevant biological and ecological literature, a discussion of restoration issues, tools for prioritizing restoration sites and choosing management actions, and discusson of management activities. Also included are maps, restoration case studies, recommendations for planning and research, and an annotated bibliography of relevant literature.