Treesearch

We studied populations of the endangered Akepa (Loxops coccineus coccineus) and Hawaii Creeper (Oreomystis mana) at four sites on the island of Hawaii. Mean monthly density (± SE) of Akepa was 5.74 ± 0.87, 1.35 ± 0.41, 0.96 ± 0.13, and 0.76 ± 0.12 Akepa/ha at Kau Forest, Hamakua, Keauhou Ranch, and Kilauea Forest study areas, respectively. Hawaii Creepers were found at densities of 1.68 ± 0.53, 1.79 ± 0.42, 0.48 ± 0.06, and 0.54 ± 0.08 birds/ha, respectively, at the four study areas. Highest capture rates and numbers of birds counted from stations occurred from August through November and...

Douglas-fir seedlings on the Arcata District, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior, in central coastal California, were planted in an effort to restore the natural forest to what was then pastureland. Douglas-fir seedlings were released from a complex forb-grass-fern plant community by applying very large (10-ft square) and very small (2-foot square) durable mulches one month after planting. The large mulches were installed directly over the existing plant community, and the small mulches were applied over a similar-sized scalp. Two-foot-square scalps and an untreated...

Despite the fact that some semiochemicals are being used in various bark beetle management scenarios in western North America there is considerable need for additional research. Various semiochemical-based bark beetle management tactics such as spot baiting, trap-out, concentration and containment, anti aggregation, and use of competing species are all under rigorous field testing. The successful development of these tactics, integrated with other forest management strategies will provide land managers with effective alternatives for reducing the impacts of western bark beetles.

In an earlier publication on California’s forest-zone hardwoods, 22 reasons were offered for the failure of a sustained hardwood industry to develop. This report presents knowledge developed over the past 18 years on each of these reasons. Progress is reflected in society’s shift from a negative to a positive attitude towards the hardwood industry, better estimates of the inventory base and resource values, the advent of small portable sawmills, better lumber drying schedules and equipment, and recognizing the need to furnish promotional material to architects, wholesalers, retailers, and...

Scientific data entry can be an exacting process. The specific information needs change from investigation to investigation. A computer program to design custom data screens is described. The program, DESIGN, generates the necessary C programming language source code to create a basic data entry program. Data entry screens can contain multiple nested screens. Users can reuse common screens by creating templates.

Monitoring will ensure that the Northwest Forest Plan is implemented as intended, determine whether the plan is achieving its intended objectives, and provide information needed to improve the plan. The credibility of the Forest Plan rests on the credibility of its monitoring program. If the monitoring program is to succeed, it must focus on well-defined objectives and use monitoring strategies that are appropriate for the specific questions being asked. Monitoring must be planned using a fundamental understanding of the system to be monitored, and the specific applications for the...

Although methods for evaluating landslide rates and distributions are well developed, much less attention has been paid to evaluating the biological and physical role of landsliding. New directions in land management on Federal lands of the Pacific Northwest now require such evaluations for designing Riparian Reserves. Traditional analysis methods are no longer sufficient, because: 1) the significance of instability is now partially defined on the basis of its ecological role; 2) Riparian Reserves are intended to serve terrestrial ecosystem needs as well as aquatic ones; 3) the level of...

Basin assessment is an important component of the President's Forest Plan, yet it has received little attention. Basin assessments are intended both to guide watershed analyses by specifying types of issues and interactions that need to be understood, and, eventually, to integrate the results of watershed analyses occurring within a river basin. Problems facing basin assessment efforts include the lack of agency interest in the process, achieving interdisciplinary analysis, assembling a functioning team, reconciling the needs of different agencies, the perceived complexity of the problem,...

Intermittent channels comprise a large proportion of the drainage network in many parts of the Pacific Northwest, and recent policy changes now afford them an unprecedented level of protection. If, during watershed analysis, these sites are found to be relatively unimportant in maintaining the overall ecosystem, then their level of protection is likely to be decreased. An important function of watershed analysis on Federal lands of the Pacific Northwest is thus to evaluate the roles these landscape features play in maintaining ecosystems on adjacent slopes, in riparian areas, and in...

Roads facilitate forest management activities, recreational access, and fire suppression. At the same time, they damage wildlife habitat, destroy the remoteness many seek in wildland recreation, produce sediment, alter aquatic ecosystems, and abet the dispersal of noxious weeds. Design of appropriate road networks is thus a controversial task for land managers, and no such design is free of value-laden decisions between conflicting needs. Because of changing silvicultural practices, fewer roads will be needed in the future in many forest lands, and decisions must be made about which roads...