Managing redwood ecosystems using Sudden Oak Death as a silvicultural tool

Abstract

In response to the wave of sudden oak death (SOD), caused by Phytophthora ramorum, sweeping the redwood forest ecosystems of California's North Coast, the role of foresters and other ecosystem managers is being tested. On Bear Flat Tree Farm, near Healdsburg, California, Forest, Soil & Water, Inc. (FSW) has conducted a multi-year, multi-treatment approach to take advantage of SOD. Because the seral stage of tanoak is a component of hardwood dominance intermediary between brush and conifers, FSW has used the oncoming wave of SOD to accelerate the ecosystem towards redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). The combination of pathogen and cultural treatments of harvest, planting, pruning and thinning has quickly created a redwood-dominated, vigorously growing stand. The key to this rapid change was planting redwoods near tanoaks prior to mortality and timely thinning. These actions have nearly doubled diameter growth of redwood saplings in a statistically significant test. In addition, the timely management of large woody debris from dead tanoaks creates greater stocking in the forest and addresses damaged crop trees.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the seventh California oak symposium: managing oak woodlands in a dynamic world

Citation

Euphrat, Frederick D. 2015. Managing redwood ecosystems using Sudden Oak Death as a silvicultural tool. In: Standiford, Richard B.; Purcell, Kathryn L., tech. cords. Proceedings of the seventh California oak symposium: managing oak woodlands in a dynamic world. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-251. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: 553-561.