Pacific Northwest Research Station

Alaska Wood Utilization Research and Development Center

2008 Science Accomplishments

Young-growth timber can be used for high-value products

Roughly 200,000 acres of trees 25 to 80 years old on the Tongass National Forest are scheduled for treatment in the next 10 years. Species such as red alder, Sitka spruce, and western hemlock have regenerated in areas originally harvested under the 50-year contracts that supported Alaska's pulp mills.

Scientists conducted several studies to evaluate the quality of this young-growth timber and found it can be used for high-value timber products. Grade yields of red alder lumber are comparable to older trees harvested in the Lower 48 States and Canada. Sitka spruce and western hemlock can be used for high-quality house logs, and the shipping weight can be reduced 38 percent by removing the bark and allowing the logs to air dry for a year.

In many of these stands, crown closure inhibits the growth of understory vegetation that would support deer and other wildlife. Thinning and selective removal of these trees may promote the development of the forest understory, and subsequently, food for wildlife.

Partner: Ketchikan Wood Technology Center

To learn more, contact Allen Brackley at abrackley@fs.fed.us.