Research Forester USFS PNW Research Station, United States
Precommerical thinning in southeast Alaskan Sitka spruce – western hemlock forests is effective for provisioning ecosystem services including timber production and understory plant diversity, production, and deer forage. Benefits are greatest when treatments are applied early in stand development to minimize the effects of early canopy closure and slash production.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion, the participant will be able to describe forest succession stand dynamics in Sitka spruce - western hemlock forests of southeast Alaska.
Upon completion, the participant will be able to describe how ecosystem services such as plant biodiversity, plant production, deer forage, stand windfirmness, and timber production vary with forest succession stand dynamics in Sitka spruce - western hemlock forests of southeast Alaska.
Upon completion, the participant will be able to describe the benefits and challenges of precommercial thinning and other stand improvement treatments applied across southeast Alaska.
