FOREST POLICY SUMMARY
The underlying goal for the management of the Gahr Forest is to continue to protect and restore the forest to a more diverse, natural state while maintaining an ongoing harvest program that supports the owners and the local economy. . A comprehensive set of sustainable forest management policies will guide planning efforts. Field operations will be performed under a strict set of performance standards. These policies and standards are found in their entirety in the appendix, but are summarized below.
1. Community Relations
Management of the Gahr Forest will meet SmartWood standards for sustainable forestry "Green" Certification. Sustainable harvest levels, ecosystem protection, and community and social benefits receive balanced consideration.
2. Management Planning
Planning for sustainable forest management will use an adaptive approach, with information collected on a full array of forest biological resources. Ongoing monitoring to insure management activities both satisfy owner goals, and maintain the biological diversity of the forest.
3. Silviculture
The silvicultural systems used to accomplish economic and ecological objectives must be suited to the forest condition and based on the best forest science available. Selective thinnings that promote uneven-aged stand structures will be emphasized. Natural disturbance regimes will provide the pattern for management, to assure that native biodiversity is maintained and restored. Trees will be harvested at levels below growth, to increase timber capital value, and encourage restoration toward native forest structure.
4. Environmental Protection
The protection of biological resources will be implicit in all phases of planning and management. Soils will be protected from adverse harvest impacts. Water quality and riparian function will be maintained or improved. Biological legacies, coarse woody debris, and wildlife habitat will be inventoried, permanently designated in the field, and protected.
Setting specific performance goals, assessing progress towards them, and adapting the management approach when necessary are essential is management is to be sustainable over the long-term. The success of stand structure and regeneration goals, coarse woody debris and snag recruitment policies, and timber growth projections all rest on careful and ongoing monitoring.