IRM was recently contracted to develop silvicultural prescriptions and train USFS tree marking crews to implement innovative techniques for restoring old growth ponderosa pine forests near Black Butte Ranch, Oregon. The project area contains dense second growth and 400+ year-old ponderosa pine forests around Glaze Meadows, set against a breathtaking backdrop of the Three Sisters Mountains. The systems developed by IRM incorporate a complex set of prescriptions to restore reference era spatial patterns of structure while accelerating old forest characteristics, and reducing high severity fire behavior. The project seeks to reduce carbon emissions by utilizing branches and small trees, normally too small to process into lumber, to generate electricity. This material is normally burned in piles. A coalition of environmental groups are participating in this process, and such collaboration is helping to break the gridlock of litigation preventing restoration of National Forestlands.
Click the link below to read more about the Glaze Meadow Restoration Project:
http://www.nuggetnews.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=13791&TM=44337.09
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