Forests of the Oregon Coast Range-considerations for ecological restoration

Abstract

The Oregon Coast Range supports some of the most dense and productive forests in North America. In the pre-harvesting period these forests arose as a result of large fires-the largest covering 330,000 ha (Teensma and others 1991). These fires occurred mostly at intervals of 150 to 300 years. The natural disturbance regime supported a diverse fauna and large populations of anadromous salmonids (salmon and related fish). In contrast, the present disturbance regime is dominated by patch clearcuts of about 10-30 ha superimposed on most of the forest land with agriculture on the flats near rivers. Ages of most managed forests are less than 60 years. This logging has coincided with significant declines in suitable habitat and populations of some fish and wildlife species. Some of these species have been nearly extirpated.

Parent Publication

• The use of fire in forest restoration

Citation

Means, Joe; Chen, Shu-hei; Kertis, Jane; Teensma, Pete. 1996. Forests of the Oregon Coast Range-considerations for ecological restoration. In: Hardy, Colin C.; Arno, Stephen F., eds. The use of fire in forest restoration. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-341. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. p. 68-71.