Managed Forests

Much of the, area surrounding Mt. St. Helens is owned by Weyerhaeuser and is part of their managed forests. After the May 18, 1980 eruption, 68,000 acres of trees were blown down. Weyerhaeuser began to salvage these trees as soon as the mountain had calmed its self. The massive salvaging effort saved 850 million board feet of timber, enough wood to build 85,000 new homes.

Weyerhaeuser has since replanted its forests, and restored its lands devastated by the eruption, these managed forests are growing at an exceptional rate of speed as compared to the natural blast zone. Weyerhaeuser practices intensive forest management on all of its forestlands. This comprehensive system began in 1966 after the completion of many years of research, testing and economic evaluation, these practices have enabled Weyerhaeuser, in the same amount of time to grow twice as much wood pre acre than nature can unaided.

Intensive forest management relies on managing forests on a sustainable basis, which means they only harvest a limited numbers of acres each year and after harvest the forest is promptly replanted. In addition to the replanting of forests Weyerhaeuser takes care to preserve water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and other forest resources. During the cutting and reforestation of its lands. During reforestation Weyerhaeuser prepares the soil to ensure seedling survival, when appropriate Weyerhaeuser thins its trees, supplying the remaining trees with increased light and nutrients and supplies wood and paper mills with the thinning. To produce a higher quality wood Weyerhaeuser pruned selected trees and fertilizes to supplement natural nutrients. The trees of the Weyerhaeuser farms are protected form natural an manmade fires. The combined effect of these management practices, is what enables Weyerhaeuser to harvest twice as much wood pre acre of land.

In order to effectively harvest a forest, Weyerhaeuser often clear-cuts forests on their private land. The reason for clear cutting may not be clear at first but it does have its advantages.

1. Sustainability- By managing lands best suited to intensive forestry, tree farmers are able to provide a constant supply of forest products. This constant, adequate supply of forest products, supplies world demand and removed the need to harvest trees in more ecologically sensitive areas, or those of high aesthetic value.
2. Biology- Although Weyerhaeuser does plant a variety of trees on its tree farms, the most predominate species in the northwest is the Douglas fir, requires full sun to grow rapidly. Clear-cutting provides this essential element to the Douglas fir crop, giving it a good healthy start.
3. Economics- most of the time is much more cost effective to clear-cut a forest than to selectively harvest trees.

Weyerhaeuser is addressing concerns regarding clear-cutting such as wildlife habitat, water quality, and biological diversity.

To preserve animal habitat, Weyerhaeuser identifies important habitat, streamside and wooded meadows, in these areas they avoid clear-cutting. In addition to preserving habitats the clear-cuts also provide a variety of new diverse habitats for different animals, many birds including bald eagles and bluebirds. Weyerhaeuser also leaves stumps and other organic material form the clear-cut in the forest to provide shelter and a new home for a variety of small organisms, while adding rich organic matter back into the soil (see carbon cycle).

To preserve water quality, Weyerhaeuser leaves buffer strips of trees away from the edges of lakes and rivers as well as limiting forest cuts and replanting the forest as soon as possible.

Many critics claim that tree farming limits the biodiversity of the forest, Weyerhaeuser plants tree species which are best suited to a particular climate, since many species of trees and smaller plants are able to re-grow in the forest naturally and strips of forest are left untouched along stream sides managed forests can contain a variety of plant and animal life and should not be considered monocultures.

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