Early Seral Forest: Early Seral Forest: we know we need it, we know we need it, how do we get it? how do we get it?

April 28, 2010April 28, 2010

The world view of forestry…The world view of forestry…

A shift in focus…A shift in focus…

The “Emperor The “Emperor Has No Clothes Has No Clothes Award” …Award” …presented to you presented to you and me for our and me for our lack of lack of recognition of a recognition of a biodiversity rich biodiversity rich natural habitat natural habitat type…type…

Early seral forest = Early seral forest = truly a rich community!truly a rich community!

Just listen!Just listen!

ChallengesChallenges: :

Marketing…Marketing…

……a condition created from a condition created from ““catastrophecatastrophe”…”…

Early seral born from forests Early seral born from forests being: being:

Burned downBurned down

Early seral born from forests Early seral born from forests being: being:

Cut DownCut Down

Early seral born from forests Early seral born from forests being: being:

Blown DownBlown Down

Early seral born from forests Early seral born from forests being: being:

Really “Blown” downReally “Blown” down

Early seral born from forests Early seral born from forests being: being:

Pushed Down by FloodsPushed Down by Floods

How do you convince a skeptical How do you convince a skeptical public of the value of an area public of the value of an area created from “disturbance?”created from “disturbance?”

SSometimes ometimes HHigh igh IIntensity ntensity TTraumarauma

HappensHappensL.M. ReidL.M. Reid

Need to highlight the Need to highlight the consequences…consequences…

That’s why we’re here.That’s why we’re here.CConsiderations for todayonsiderations for today::

What natural What natural processes processes historically resulted historically resulted in early seral in early seral forest?forest?

Who lives there Who lives there and why? and why?

How much do we How much do we need and where?need and where?

Is it in trouble?Is it in trouble?

Can it be Can it be silviculturally silviculturally derived?derived?

Is it okay in riparian Is it okay in riparian areas?areas?

Is this just a pacific Is this just a pacific northwest issue?northwest issue?

What do we say to What do we say to skeptics?skeptics?

Where to from here?Where to from here?

Perhaps early seral forest has Perhaps early seral forest has a “face” that only mother a “face” that only mother nature could love…nature could love…

““We are beginning to We are beginning to understand the natural world understand the natural world and are gaining a reverence and are gaining a reverence

for life - all life. “for life - all life. “Roger Tory PetersonRoger Tory Peterson