Long-term interdisciplinary research on the Goosenest Adaptive Management Area, Klamath National Forest, California

Abstract

The Goosenest Adaptive Management Area (AMA) was established on the Klamath National Forest in northern California in 1994. The AMA was created to encourage development and testing of management strategies so as to improve the planning and implementation of management activities on the National Forest. A primary objective for the Goosenest AMA is to evaluate the extent to which different silvicultural treatments (specifically tree harvesting and prescribed fire) can accelerate development of late-successional forest attributes in mixed stands of ponderosa pine and white fir. A long-term research project was initiated to evaluate changes in response to a suite of treatments. Treatments include two different thinning regimes, prescribed fire, and a control. Treatments are applied to 40 ha units and are each replicated five times. Interdisciplinary research is facilitated by a permanently monumented data reference system. Within each treatment unit, permanent reference points are established on a 100-meter grid with accuracy to 15 cm. In addition to monitoring vegetative changes over time, researchers are also monitoring response of passerine birds and small mammals to the treatments.