This project supported in part by the National Science Foundation.This project supported in part by the National Science Foundation.Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the

Foundation.Foundation.

Post-Wildfire (Salvage) Post-Wildfire (Salvage) Logging – the Logging – the ControversyControversy

National Park ServiceNational Park Service

NationalNational Park Service: Jim Peaco

What are the What are the management concerns management concerns

after a wildfire?after a wildfire?

Minimize erosion Minimize erosion Retain adequate forest structureRetain adequate forest structure Capture economic value of the woodCapture economic value of the wood Minimize probability of insect outbreaksMinimize probability of insect outbreaks Reduce potential for future fireReduce potential for future fire Ensure tree regenerationEnsure tree regeneration Monitor invasive speciesMonitor invasive species

Ministry of Forests and Range (British Columbia, Canada)

The Economics of The Economics of Salvage LoggingSalvage Logging

•Fire-killed trees retain economic value•Entry of insects, fungi and bacteria accelerate decomposition•Highest value within one year of fire•Most value gone by 3 to 5 years

Eini Lowell, USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station

Arguments in favor of Arguments in favor of salvage loggingsalvage logging

Salvage logging:Salvage logging:

allows economic recovery of a allows economic recovery of a resourceresource

reduces the threat of future firereduces the threat of future fire accelerates re-establishment of treesaccelerates re-establishment of trees followed by planting, assures followed by planting, assures

establishment of desired tree speciesestablishment of desired tree species

Arguments in opposition Arguments in opposition to salvage loggingto salvage logging

Salvage logging:Salvage logging:

Removes ecologically valuable logs Removes ecologically valuable logs and snags and snags

Damages soilsDamages soils Alters hydrologyAlters hydrology Increases sediment in streamsIncreases sediment in streams Increases spread of exotic speciesIncreases spread of exotic species Increases fire riskIncreases fire risk Impedes ecological recoveryImpedes ecological recovery

What scientific data What scientific data

are available are available

to inform the debate?to inform the debate?

Ministry of Forests and Range (British Columbia, Canada)

Biscuit Fire 2002Biscuit Fire 2002

Rogue-Siskiyou Rogue-Siskiyou

National Forest National Forest

in southwest Oregonin southwest Oregon

500,000 acres 500,000 acres

impactedimpacted

Ignited national debate Ignited national debate

on post-fire managementon post-fire management

Keith Lannom, USDA Forest Service

Post-Wildfire Logging Hinders Post-Wildfire Logging Hinders Regeneration and Increases Regeneration and Increases

Fire RiskFire Risk

Donato, D.C., et al. 2006. Science 311:352

NCSRNCSR

What is the relationship What is the relationship between salvage logging between salvage logging

and the risk of future fires?and the risk of future fires?

Thompson, J.R., T.A. Spies and L.M. Ganio. 2007.Thompson, J.R., T.A. Spies and L.M. Ganio. 2007. Analyzed burn severity on areas burned in the Analyzed burn severity on areas burned in the

Biscuit Fire that had Biscuit Fire that had alsoalso burned 15 years earlier burned 15 years earlier during the Silver Fireduring the Silver Fire

After the Silver Fire approximately 2000 acres After the Silver Fire approximately 2000 acres were salvage logged and planted with conifer were salvage logged and planted with conifer seedlingsseedlings

Thompson, J.R., T.A. Spies and L.M. Ganio. 2007. Reburn severity in managed andThompson, J.R., T.A. Spies and L.M. Ganio. 2007. Reburn severity in managed and

unmanaged vegetation in a large wildfire. Proc. Nat. Acad Sci. 104(25):10743-unmanaged vegetation in a large wildfire. Proc. Nat. Acad Sci. 104(25):10743-

10748.10748.

1987 Silver Fire 2002 Biscuit Fire

Thompson, J.R., et al. 2007

Burn severity – Burn severity – Biscuit Fire vs. Silver FireBiscuit Fire vs. Silver Fire

Thompson, J.R., et al. 2007

Fire severity in unmanaged vs. Fire severity in unmanaged vs. salvage-logged/planted stands salvage-logged/planted stands

for four habitat typesfor four habitat types

Thompson, J.R., et al. 2007

Will conifers regenerate Will conifers regenerate on their own after a fire?on their own after a fire?

Klamath-Siskiyou Region of southern Klamath-Siskiyou Region of southern Oregon/northern CaliforniaOregon/northern California

Sites burned at high severity between Sites burned at high severity between 1987 and 19961987 and 1996

Range of forest types representedRange of forest types represented No salvage logging, no plantingNo salvage logging, no planting Evaluated for natural seedling Evaluated for natural seedling

regeneration using aerial photographyregeneration using aerial photographyShatford, J.P.A., D.E. Hibbs and K.J. Puettmann. 2007. Conifer regeneration after Shatford, J.P.A., D.E. Hibbs and K.J. Puettmann. 2007. Conifer regeneration after

forestforestfire in the Klamath-Siskiyous: How much, how soon? J. of Forestry April/Mayfire in the Klamath-Siskiyous: How much, how soon? J. of Forestry April/May2007:139-145.2007:139-145.

ResultsResults

Conifer regeneration was abundant Conifer regeneration was abundant on all siteson all sites

Period of establishment was Period of establishment was protracted and variableprotracted and variable

““The prognosis for achieving The prognosis for achieving reasonable conifer densities are fair reasonable conifer densities are fair to excellent, even on sites with high to excellent, even on sites with high cover of broad-leaved shrubs and cover of broad-leaved shrubs and hardwoods.”hardwoods.”

Shatford, J.P.A., et al., 2007Shatford, J.P.A., et al., 2007

National Park Service: Jim Peaco

““When time is not a factor in achieving the goals, thenWhen time is not a factor in achieving the goals, thennatural regeneration appears to be a very good approachnatural regeneration appears to be a very good approachto reforestation.” to reforestation.”

David Hibbs David Hibbs Professor of Ecology and Silviculture Professor of Ecology and Silviculture Oregon State UniversityOregon State University

““When timber production is the primary goal, plantingWhen timber production is the primary goal, plantingseedlings and controlling competing brush still is aseedlings and controlling competing brush still is agood way to speed forest regeneration.”good way to speed forest regeneration.”

Hal SalwasserHal SalwasserDean, OSU College of ForestryDean, OSU College of Forestry

Dissenting opinionsDissenting opinions

National Park Service: Jim Peaco

““I am hard pressed to find any other I am hard pressed to find any other example in wildlife biology where the example in wildlife biology where the effect of a particular land-use activity is as effect of a particular land-use activity is as close to 100% negative as the typical close to 100% negative as the typical post-fire salvage-logging operation tends post-fire salvage-logging operation tends to be. If input from biologists is ever to to be. If input from biologists is ever to have an impact on policy, this should have an impact on policy, this should certainly be one of those instances.”certainly be one of those instances.”

Hutto 2006Hutto 2006

Where does this leave us?Where does this leave us?

1.1. Impacts of post-fire salvage logging are Impacts of post-fire salvage logging are complex and site-specificcomplex and site-specific

2.2. Science informing the debate is incompleteScience informing the debate is incomplete3.3. Salvage logging does not appear to be a Salvage logging does not appear to be a

requirementrequirement for reforestation for reforestation 4.4. Salvage logging does not contribute to Salvage logging does not contribute to

ecological recoveryecological recovery5.5. Salvage logging delays the return of Salvage logging delays the return of

streams to historical conditionsstreams to historical conditions6.6. The role of salvage logging in reducing The role of salvage logging in reducing

future fire risk is dubious at bestfuture fire risk is dubious at best7.7. The decision to salvage log or not depends The decision to salvage log or not depends

on management goalson management goals

NCSR

Where are we headed?Where are we headed?

Noss, et al., 2006

Some general Some general recommendationsrecommendations1.1. Managed forests should support the Managed forests should support the

historical fire regime.historical fire regime.

2.2. Managed forests should support viable Managed forests should support viable populations of native species that are populations of native species that are able to perform their ecological able to perform their ecological functions.functions.

3.3. When the decision is made to engage in When the decision is made to engage in management activities, the emphasis management activities, the emphasis should be on “what is left”, rather than should be on “what is left”, rather than “what is removed.”“what is removed.”

Recommendations for post-Recommendations for post-fire ecological restorationfire ecological restoration

Protect and restore watersheds before Protect and restore watersheds before disturbance occurs.disturbance occurs.

Allow natural recovery to occur.Allow natural recovery to occur. Retain biological legacy.Retain biological legacy. Protect soils.Protect soils. Protect ecologically sensitive areas.Protect ecologically sensitive areas. Avoid creating new roads.Avoid creating new roads. Limit seeding and replanting.Limit seeding and replanting. Continue research, monitoring and Continue research, monitoring and

assessment.assessment. Educate the public.Educate the public.

National Park Service: Jim Peaco

Photo CreditsPhoto Credits

Ministry of Forests and Range (British Columbia, Ministry of Forests and Range (British Columbia, Canada)Canada)

National Park Service – Jim PeacoNational Park Service – Jim Peaco National Park Service National Park Service www.nps.gov NCSR NCSR www.ncsr.org Noss, et al., 2006 Science, Donato, D.C. et al. Thompson, J.R., et al.2007 USDA Forest Service: Keith LannomUSDA Forest Service: Keith Lannom USDA Forest Service Pacific NW Research Station: USDA Forest Service Pacific NW Research Station:

Eini LowellEini Lowell