Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest Draft ... - Cal Fire

Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest Draft Management Plan, June 2008
Chapter 4. Research and Demonstration
The primary purpose of State Forests is to research and demonstrate economical silvicultural
practices and timber harvesting procedures that protect environmental values. Long-term studies
are crucial to understanding the effects of forest management actions as well as the effects of
broader changes in forest influences, such as global climate change. As a publicly-owned forest
dedicated to research and demonstration, BMDSF provides an ideal venue for long-term
research. Some research projects on BMDSF have been periodically monitored for decades.
Ecologists used to focus on seral stages: pioneer through climax conditions. Once reaching a
climax condition it was thought that stands of trees would always proceed in a steady-state small
scale disturbance regime. This concept is now considered the exception for most ecosystems,
with disturbance being the rule rather than the exception (Botkin 2006). The challenge now is to
understand the disturbance regimes of the past and future to provide a productive outdoor
laboratory for researchers. BMDSF’s management plan, with its mix of older and young forest
structure goals, and utilization of a variety of unevenaged and evenaged silviculture techniques,
is well suited for such studies.
Forest stands at Boggs Mountain, if left unmanaged, are capable of growing to very dense, highly
overstocked conditions. The primary risk of maintaining such dense stands is a greatly increased
risk of wildfire. The growth and health of such overstocked stands is also greatly inhibited.
Because access into, and travel through very dense stands becomes difficult, recreation is
negatively affected. The important research questions facing Boggs Mountain can be posed as
follows: how does forest management influence
• Forest health and productivity
• Growth and yield
• Fire hazard such as fuel loads
• Forest resiliency to wildfire
• Wildlife habitat dynamics
• The wildland-urban interface
• Climate change and carbon sequestration potential of the Forest
Research Program Objectives
1. All ongoing studies should be carried out to completion. Final reports will be written on
these studies. Reports should be in the form of a California Forestry Note whenever
possible. Technical reports should be published in other journals when significant results
are found. Follow up with researchers to ensure publication of results.
2. Encourage the permanent staff to be alert for potential studies and initiate studies
whenever possible. Seek advice from research institutions and forest managers on
potential studies that could be conducted.
3. Continue to utilize research funds and leverage professional contacts, Forest data,
infrastructure (housing) and assistance with labor to encourage researchers to conduct
their research on BMDSF.
4. Give tours to groups or individuals to show projects being conducted.
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