Fire can be a particularly destructive threat to Oregon’s forests, but active forest management can help lessen the impacts.

Oregon is a great place to grow trees, especially the sturdy conifers we use to build our homes and office buildings. But our forests are vulnerable to multiple threats. Join Mike Cloughesy, director of forestry at the Oregon Forest Resources Institute, to explore some of the threats facing Oregon’s forests, and see how active forest management is helping combat these threats.

Controlling the spread of invasive plants that pose a threat to native species growing in Oregon’s forests is a constant battle.

Storms and severe weather can have lasting impacts on forest health, but active forest management often minimizes the damage.

Tree diseases such as Swiss needle cast and laminated root rot threaten the health of Oregon’s forests, but active forest management helps prevent or slow the spread of these diseases. 

Architect Michael Green talks about issues related to green building, wood products and forest management in this video series adapted for OFRI.

Architect Michael Green talks about issues related to green building, wood products and forest management in this video series adapted for OFRI.

What does it take to stop a raging wildfire? Brian Burnside of Miller Timber Services in Philomath, Ore., explains what it takes to be on a firefighting crew. You need to be a strong individual, but you also need to be backed up by a strong team and a strong organization. It’s tough and dangerous work. But it’s exciting work as well.

Architect Michael Green talks about issues related to green building, wood products and forest management in this video series adapted for OFRI.

Architect Michael Green talks about issues related to green building, wood products and forest management in this video series adapted for OFRI.

Architect Michael Green talks about issues related to green building, wood products and forest management in this video series adapted for OFRI.

Architect Michael Green talks about issues related to green building, wood products and forest management in this video series adapted for OFRI.

Architect Michael Green talks about issues related to green building, wood products and forest management in this video series adapted for OFRI.

Architect Michael Green talks about issues related to green building, wood products and forest management in this video series adapted for OFRI.

Join Mike Cloughesy and Nicole Strong as they discuss why foresters use herbicides in a newly planted forest. By giving young trees an early advantage, herbicides can speed the time it takes to develop a mature forest. After a few early applications, foresters rarely use herbicides again until harvest.

Join Mike Cloughesy and Nicole Strong as they talk about clearcutting in Oregon’s forests. People are surprised to learn that there is not only an economic advantage to clearcutting, but an ecological one as well – at least for Oregon’s state tree, the Douglas-fir.

Join Mike Cloughesy and Nicole Strong as they describe how forest operators are protecting the quality of Oregon’s drinking water. Modern logging techniques, well-engineered roads and protective vegetative buffers around streams keep our forest streams cool and clear.

Join Mike Cloughesy and Nicole Strong as they look at how loggers and forest landowners are protecting fish habitat. In Oregon, there are programs in place that foster the improvement of fish habitat in working forests to help support populations of fish such as wild coho.

Join Mike Cloughesy and Nicole Strong as they explain the importance of quality forest roads. The roads in a working forest not only have to stand up to the punishment of heavy equipment, but also need to be designed in a way that prevents muddy water from entering forest streams. It’s a big deal.

Join Mike Cloughesy and Nicole Strong as they explain why replanting is not only Oregon law, it’s the basis of all managed forests. Getting a new forest up and running as quickly as possible is the most important aspect of long-term forest sustainability.