Restoring and Managing Mixed Conifer Forests in the PNW

Many collaborative groups working across the eastside of Oregon and Washington have developed good working agreements on treatments appropriate for ponderosa pine forest types. These groups are actively supporting and helping to develop projects that will meet ecological objectives for dry forests while generating jobs and economic activity in local communities. Currently, there is less agreement on how to approach restoration and management of mixed-conifer forests, in large part because there does not appear to be a comparable scientific consensus as that which exists for ponderosa pine forest types. On April 15 & 16, 2013, The Northwest Fire Science Consortium in partnership with Sustainable Northwest held a PNW Mixed Conifer Forum in Hood River, OR. The forum brought together collaborative group members, agency staff, researchers and scientists to: 1) Provide an opportunity for dialogue and interaction between practitioners and scientists; 2) Learn from and share experiences from the ground; 3) Review and discuss the available science on mixed conifer and implication for forest management; 4) Discuss strategies and tools to move forward (both existing and needed), and; 5) Identify challenges and information gaps that still remain.