A case study of the Gotchen Reserve in Washington suggests that the potential for compatibility between fire and habitat objectives could be increased through landscape silviculture. Taking their cue from historical disturbance dynamics, researchers developed prescriptions for individual units but evaluated them collectively according to management objectives for the entire reserve. The places where treatments contributed most to accomplishing both objectives were identified by using simulation modeling. Solutions included sets of treatments that, when evaluated in aggregate for the entire reserve, could reduce the threat of high-severity fire, maintain older forest structure, and break even in costs and proceeds from timber harvest over the next 30 years. In this scenario, trees removed were mainly in the 7- to-16-inch size classes of grand fir, a shade-tolerant conifer.

• We recommend that you also print this page and attach it to the printout of the article, to retain the full citation information.
• This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and is therefore in the public domain.