Trends in stand improvement needs and treatments on National Forest System lands

Abstract

Acres needing stand improvement, except for 2009, have consistently remained above 2.0 million acres per year from 2010 through 2019 (fig. 1a). Most of the acres consist of precommercial thinning (70%) followed by release (26%) with only a small portion of acres needing pruning and/or fertilization (4%). However, the proportion (an average of 11.7%) of acres treated are much smaller when compared to the acres that need treatment (fig. 1a, dark line). This is causing a critical imbalance concerning stand tending that is inconsistent with statutory direction contained in the National Forest Management Act.

Parent Publication

• Foundational concepts in silviculture with emphasis on reforestation and early stand improvement - 2022 National Silviculture Workshop

Citation

Gwaze, David; Jain, Theresa. 2022. Trends in stand improvement needs and treatments on National Forest System lands. In: Jain, Theresa B.; Schuler, Thomas M. [comp.]. Foundational concepts in silviculture with emphasis on reforestation and early stand improvement - 2022 National Silviculture Workshop. Proc. RMRS-P-80. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 5 p.