Take ‘em or leave ‘em? 

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The Role of Leave Trees in Actively Managed Private Timberlands  

We take pride in growing, harvesting, and manufacturing lumber responsibly throughout Western Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. As forest managers, we consider and plan for the trees we leave behind as well as those we harvest.

In “wet-side” forests (those found west of the Cascade mountains), clearcut harvesting is the most commonly used method for removing timber on private lands.  This harvest method is also referred to as even-aged management or regeneration harvest as large blocks of trees are typically removed to create a clearing, mimicking natural disturbances associated with windstorms and landslides.  This method works best to regenerate native trees like Douglas fir, which as seedlings, require more light to thrive.   

Clearcutting, however, does not mean that all the trees are necessarily removed from the harvest area.  For example, state laws require landowners leave significant tree buffers around fish and some non-fish streams. The width of the buffer depends on the type of stream and its location. Each buffer is designed to keep water cold and clean and provide shade and habitat for aquatic species. Trees are also left along steep slopes to help reduce landslide risks.  

In addition to these stream and slope buffers, both Oregon and Washington state laws require foresters to protect a certain number of “leave trees” from harvest. It’s not uncommon to see these individual trees spread throughout a clearcut harvest area.   These trees are meant to serve multiple purposes, such as:

  1. Wildlife Habitat: Providing spaces for birds, insects, and mammals to nest and roost.  
  • Forest Recovery: Assisting natural regeneration and stabilizing soil.  
  • Biodiversity: Encouraging a mix of species and tree ages in managed forests.  
  • Ecosystem Function: Offering shade, nutrient cycling, and microclimate regulation.  

In Oregon and Washington, a minimum of two snags or live trees and two downed logs must be left per acre in the harvest unit.  They must also be of a certain height and diameter/volume.  In Washington, foresters are required to leave an additional two “wildlife” trees per acre. 

Landowners can decide which trees to leave and where, within certain parameters. Leave trees can be left individually, in clumps, or as part of a riparian buffer. This flexibility allows landowners of all sizes to meet these requirements while balancing the operational realities of timber harvesting.   

There are challenges and limitations associated with leave trees, however. While, natural regeneration does occur from leave trees, it occurs very slowly and leave trees don’t often accelerate the reforestation process in meaningful ways (harvested forests are replanted by hand within two to three years of a harvest on private forests in Oregon and Washington).  In addition, scattered leave trees can interfere with harvesting equipment and make operations less efficient and more dangerous.  Trees left exposed in open harvest units are also more likely to fall in storms.   

At Hampton, we’ve found that leave trees usually provide the most benefit when grouped into riparian buffers near streams or wetlands where they can help stabilize banks, protect water quality, and provide shade to aquatic habitats.  

The leave tree requirement is one of many that are built into the forest practice laws that guide private forestland management in the Pacific Northwest. Our foresters must stay up to date on all laws and regulations that affect forest operations and when it comes to implementation, do their best to maximize conservation impacts of these rules.   

  

The post Take ‘em or leave ‘em?  appeared first on HAMPTON LUMBER.

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