Snag Dynamics in Western Oregon and Washington
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Abstract
To achieve desired amounts and characteristics of snags and down wood, managers require analytical tools for projecting changes in dead wood over time, and for comparing those changes to management objectives such as providing dead wood for wildlife and ecosystem processes. The following information on rates of snag recruitment, decay, and fall across forests of western Oregon and Washington may be useful in planning for future levels of dead wood. Eventually the information will be incorporated directly into dead wood dynamics models. In the meantime, existing dead wood dynamics models still can be used to predict changes in dead wood levels and comparing to target levels.