Learn About Climate Adaptation Strategies for Forest Owners

29801 WA-706,Ashford WA 98304

01 November, 2022

Description

On this guided driving and walking tour through Nisqually Community Forest, you'll learn about silvicultural strategies that are being implemented to restore the forest while also making it more resilient to the predicted future climate in the area. DATE: Tuesday, November 1, 2022 TIME: 12:30pm - 4:30pm LOCATION: Ashford, Washington Maintaining a reliable source of water in a changing climate is critical for the health of both people and ecosystems. At the Nisqually Community Forest near Mount Rainier, Northwest Natural Resource Group (NNRG) has been testing methods of ecological forestry that will increase the resilience of future watershed forests. During the tour, we will discuss the rationale behind each of the following climate adaptation strategies, which have been implemented at the community forest: Thinning the forest to spread available soil moisture among fewer treesInstalling snow gaps so that more snow accumulates and extends snowmelt seasonPlanting seedlings from warmer zones to provide a local source for adapted genetic traitsDuring winter 2021/2022, NNRG staff monitored the snow depths along transects in the snow gaps and the thinned and unthinned areas. Our snow monitoring results showed that significantly more snow accumulated in the gap, and that there was more snow in the thinned forest than the control. We will discuss the implications of these results during the tour. Topics to be discussed will include: The climate adaptation rationale behind pre-commercial (small-diameter) thinning and gap cutsThe climate adaptation rationale behind gap cuts, and gap cut designOur snow monitoring results and implications for watershed hydrology in a warming climatePlanting seedlings from warmer zones, sourcing seedlingsHarvest prescriptions and tree selection criteria for thinningThe economics of thinning, working with contractorsQuestions? Contact [email protected]. This tour is funded in part by the Wildlife Conservation Society Climate Adaptation Fund.