Module 2: Reforestation, Vegetation Management, and Silviculture

Learning Outcomes

After completion of this module, participants will be able to…

Reforestation and vegetation management learning objectives

  • Explain the basic steps to reforestation success, including planning, site assessment, matching seedlings to site, stock type, site preparation, storage and handling, planting, follow-up, as well as utilizing natural regeneration
  • Demonstrate how to plant a tree correctly
  • Apply reforestation concepts and principles to woodland properties
  • Assess vegetation control strategies for use in meeting different objectives
  • Define what an invasive species is and identify the common ones found in local forests

Silviculture learning objectives

  • Explain forest management and silviculture terminology to other woodland owners
  • Compare silvicultural treatments and how they affect stand establishment, growth, and development, as well as their appropriateness for a given forest type
  • Utilize standard forest tools to establish plots, measure trees, and analyze plot data
  • Assess stand density and apply intermediate stand treatments (like thinning), if needed, on your property to affect stand competition and development to meet your objectives

Required Learning Materials

The following are required learning materials to do before coming to the field class.

Reforestation and vegetation management learning materials

  1. Watch Reforestation and Vegetation Management webinar recording by Thomas Stokely, former Extension Forester (90 minutes). This presentation covers establishing young trees through planting or natural regeneration, considerations for reducing competition from other plants, and Oregon’s reforestation requirements and rules. This is a recording from the Managing Eastern Oregon Forests webinar series hosted in 2021.
  2. Read Chapter 6 (Reforestation methods and vegetation control) of Ecology and Management of Eastern Oregon Forests: A Comprehensive Manual for Forest Managers (pages 125-140)
  3. Read Enhancing Reforestation Success in the Inland Northwest (20 pages)

Silviculture learning materials

  1. Watch Managing Eastern Oregon Forests: Silviculture webinar recording by John Punches, Extension Forester (90 minutes). This presentation introduces differing approaches to managing forests including even-aged vs. uneven-aged, single vs. mixed species, clearcut, selection, cohort, shelterwood, seed tree, and coppice systems. Note that not all these treatments will be the right fit for your property depending on the tree species, ecology, and productivity of your forest as well as your land management objectives. This is a recording from the Managing Eastern Oregon Forests webinar series hosted in 2021.
  2. Read Chapter 2: Silvicultural systems for eastside forests of Ecology and Management of Eastern Oregon Forests: A Comprehensive Manual for Forest Managers (pages 27-46)
  3. Read Individual Tree Selection (ITS) in a Northeast Oregon Mixed Conifer Forest (8 pages). This publication will introduce a field study we will visit during our field day.
  4. Review and be prepared to discuss the following questions at our field session:
    • What advantages and disadvantages can you consider between even-aged, two-aged, and multi-aged management?
    • What silviculture system(s) would best fit your objectives and the ecology of your property? Please describe your objectives.

Additional Learning Materials (Optional)

This section includes optional resources if you’d like to take a deeper dive into the module topics.

Optional: Field Day location

Optional: Reforestation

Optional: Vegetation management

Optional: Silviculture

Optional: Management planning

In Module 1, you were introduced to the importance and practice of keeping a forest management plan. For those wanting to either create a management plan or update their existing plan, here are some considerations for incorporating reforestation, vegetation management, and silviculture.

  • Retrieve your local copy of the Oregon Forest Management Plan Template (OFMP Template) that you started in the Module 1 or download a new copy of the OFMP Template. As needed, review the Oregon Forest Management Planning Guidelines (OMFP Guidelines).
  • Begin the Current Stand Conditions and Forest Health section of the OFMP Template (pages 13-14; forest health will be covered in the next module). As needed, review the OFMP Guidelines (pages 9-12).
    • Watch Making Stand Maps (watch from 43.52 minutes to 1 hour 4 minutes). This recording from a class on management planning discusses the differences between an aerial photo and a stand map and how to use various tools to make stand maps.
    • Explore Ecotrust’s Forest Planner & LandMapper tools for drawing stand types and generates the basic stand data and creating maps of your property.  
    • Think about what you want for each stand in the next 5-10 years and next 50 years. Is a reforestation or afforestation project in the future for one of them?  If yes, write a short description of your plans in the Desired Future Condition section of that stand. 
  • Add any invasive plants or nuisance wildlife that you have on your property that you will be managing for during your reforestation or afforestation project under Forest Health Conditions (page 14). If you are considering an Integrated Pest Management approach, see page 23 and write a description of how you plan to manage those invasive species. 
  • Add any planting and pest management plan to the schedule of planned management section of the OFMP Template (pages 31-37).

Questions about this module’s learning content?

Jacob Putney (Local MWM Training Host; Extension Forester for Baker and Grant counties): jacob.putney@oregonstate.edu | (541) 523-6418

Sarah Cameron (Statewide MWM Program Coordinator): sarah.cameron@oregonstate.edu | (503) 821-1118