BLM OR-WA Medford District Conservation Stewardship
1. The principal purpose of this project is to conserve and restore pine-oak habitat, and other habitats in need of restoration, in the Rogue Basin through collaboration with local groups. Specific objectives of this project are to: a. Identify habitats at risk of decline and collaborate on a restoration strategy b. Curtail the decline of pine-oak habitats to climate change c. Protect and promote the development of habitat for pine-oak associated wildlife d. Utilize a science-based, multi-disciplinary approach for project planning, goals, priority setting and effectiveness monitoring e. Develop workforce and contractor knowledge and skill sets for restoration and maintenance of ecosystems f. Contribute to the development of community business infrastructure through job creation and by-product utilization 2. To achieve these objectives, thinning, prescribed fire, and restoration byproduct removal (saw logs, woody biomass, poles, and firewood) will be used to reduce encroaching vegetation, stem densities, and fuel hazards. These activities along with weed control and native grass seeding will promote the development of habitat and watershed health by restoring pine-oak stands and other habitats to a range of variation better adapted to the natural fire regime and anticipated future climate. 3. Each year an Annual Operating Plan (AOP) will be developed with details about projects, partners, funds, project requirements, and the project management plan and authorized contacts. 4. The principal benefit from BLMĂ‚Âżs involvement in this project will be public education about science-based ecosystem restoration, workforce and contractor training and development of community small business infrastructure through job creation and byproduct utilization, and productive positive collaboration with local conservation groups. Additional benefits from these projects include habitat restoration, fire risk reduction, resiliency to fire in woodlands and providing wood product utilization.
Office: Bureau of Land Management
j1clark@blm.gov
