Vegetation Management Effects on Soil Water, Seedling Performance and Early Seral Vegetation Abundance and Diversity

Thursday, September 19, 2024

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM MST

Location: Embassy Suites, River Birch C

Speaker(s)

CG

Carlos Gonzalez-Benecke, PhD

Associate Professor of Forest Regeneration / Director of Vegetation Management Research Cooperative
Oregon State University, United States
Emily Von Blon, MS

Associate Director of Vegetation Management Research Cooperative
Oregon State University, United States

Vegetation management (VM) is critical for seedling establishment in the Pacific Northwest. This study investigates how VM affects Douglas-fir and western hemlock seedling performance and early-seral vegetation characteristics across diverse sites. A model was developed estimating seedling mortality as a function of species-specific drought resistance, vegetation abundance, and climate conditions.

Learning Objectives:

Evaluate how to balance enhancing forest stand establishment and productivity with the ecosystem services provided by early-seral vegetation when including vegetation management in a silvicultural plan.
Examine how silvicultural practices, particularly vegetation management, can mitigate seedling mortality through the lenses of ecophysiology.