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North Slope Criteria for Forest Restoration

NOTE: This is a draft version that is subject to revision.

Methods and Definitions for Criteria 1 - 5:

Methods and Definitions for Criteria 1 (Retention):

This is the single most important factor in meeting the North Slope Criteria for Forest Restoration: At least 50% percent retention of dominant trees of fire–dependent species.

The overall idea is that the restoration thinning imitates fires that occurred naturally in these forests in pre–Settlement times, while acknowledging that, due to permanent human habitation in or near these forests, it is not practical to allow fire to burn as widely as it did then.

“Fire–dependent species” refer to trees native to the Northern Rockies Region that depend on natural fires to help them regenerate. These species vary from area to area, and across a range of elevations. In the middle–elevations and drier areas, inland Douglas fir is the primary fire–dependent species. In moister areas and lower elevations, fire–dependent species include ponderosa pine and Western larch. At higher elevations, lodgepole pine is a fire–dependent species.

“Dominant” refers to those trees that are usually larger than the average and receive full light from above and the sides, often standing above the rest. Traditional targets for logging due to their size and timber value, these trees in particular are also the best genetic stock for regeneration and for retaining a healthy forest.

Thus, to qualify as “restoration forestry” under the North Slope/Treadlight Criteria, a thinning project in a middle–elevation dry forest would typically leave at least 50% of the dominant Douglas fir trees standing. Some projects will leave up to 90% or more. This restoration thinning opens up the forest, as low–intensity fires did naturally in pre–Settlement times, but leaves the largest, healthiest trees standing, as those fires did.

Methods and Definitions for Criteria 2 (Soils): Impact to soils from harvesting should be reduced when possible by working on dry or frozen ground. Impacts should be further reduced when possible through the use of rubber–tired forwarders to remove logs from the forest instead of the traditional methods of dragging logs with skidders. Road–building should be kept to an absolute minimum. The use of forwarders can help minimize roadbuilding. Line machines that lift the leading ends of the logs should be used on steeper slopes, those above 45% sustained grade. Any disturbed areas of soil from road building should be reseeded with native grass species from local stock or non–aggressive species that will allow native plants to occupy the site over time. Standard weed mitigation practices should be employed during harvesting procedures, including cleaning of machinery to prevent carrying weed seeds between sites.

Methods and Definitions for Criteria 3 (Forest Aesthetics): The pattern of thinning should imitate the thinning work of natural fires. Thus:

Avoid creating hard, straight–line edges that define the boundary of thinned area.
Edges should be “feathered” so they blend gradually from thicker forest to thinned forest.
Adequate tree cover should be left along access roads so the roads are screened from sight when viewed from afar.
Clearcuts are usually not acceptable in Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, or mixed ponderosa and Western larch forests, as this was not generally a pattern left in these forests by fire before European settlement.
Small clearcuts are acceptable in lodgepole pine forests, as in pre–Settlement times lodgepole forests burned in “stand replacement” fires (although fires of smaller size and intensity than in modern times). It is encouraged to leave some of the best genetic stock standing in clearcuts for regeneration.
When using a line machine on a steep slope, avoid cutting “corridors” down the slope for the line. Instead, the slope should be thinned first to leave the dominant trees, and then the line's route should be chosen among those openings that have occurred due to the thinning.
Of the trees left standing after thinning, no more than 3 or 4 trees per acre should show scars from machinery or felling impacts from the thinning operation.

Methods and Definitions for Criteria 4 (Wildlife Habitat): Properly undertaken, restoration forestry will maintain existing wildlife habitat. It will help restore former wildlife habitat that has been damaged due to human actions, directly or indirectly.

Methods and Definitions for Criteria 5 (Watercourses): Laws in some states regulate the use of heavy machinery and thinning in riparian zones. Check applicable state laws. It should be noted that fire did occur in riparian zones in pre–Settlement forests, so the North Slope Criteria allow thinning as appropriate in riparian zones.

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