Project Overview
Forest producers in Washington’s San Juan County face challenging conditions because their timber stands are over-stocked and therefore at heightened risk of loss from wildfire, insect infestation, and drought. To mitigate these risks, producers must reduce stand density by removing low-value suppressed trees, thus releasing moisture and soil nutrients to the remaining stems. These risk reduction methods are especially important when climate is variable: recent record-breaking dry spells and heat waves have stressed over-stocked stands, increasing the risk of wildfire and threatening timber production.
This project, “Reducing Wildfire and Drought Risk for Forest Producers in the San Juan Islands: Overcoming Barriers and Catalyzing Action,” built on previous partnerships funded by USDA Risk Management Agency and Extension Risk Management Education. Through hands-on trainings, site visits, and contact with service providers, it helped over 86 forest producers further develop and implement their risk reduction plans. Producers who attended our five workshops gained the skills and relationships they need to implement forest thinning practices that reduce the risk of wildfire and make their forests more resilient to stress from heat and drought. As a result, forests in San Juan and Jefferson Counties will experience reduced risk and diminished timber crop losses from drought and wildfire over the coming decades.
Number of Participants: 86
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
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EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
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REPORTS & EVALUATIONS
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