Changes in priorities for forest managementon federal and state lands in the Pacific

Northwest have raised many questions aboutthe best ways to manage young-forest stands,

riparian areas, and forest landscapes. TheCooperative Forest Ecosystem Research

(CFER) Program draws together scientists andmanagers from the U.S. Geological Survey,

Bureau of Land Management, OregonDepartment of Forestry, and Oregon StateUniversity to find science-based answers to thesequestions. Managers, researchers, and decision-makers, working within the CFER program, arehelping develop and disseminate the knowledgeneeded to carry out ecosystem-based managementsuccessfully in the Pacific Northwest.

The Cooperative ForestEcosystem Research

Program

CFER was developed to conduct research thatfacilitates sound management of forest

ecosystems, with emphasis on meeting priorityinformation needs of the Bureau of Land

Management and the Oregon Department ofForestry in western Oregon.

GoalsProvide forest managers with new information to evaluatecurrent and proposed strategies and practicesFacilitate development of sustainable forest practices throughteam-oriented, integrated research

ObjectivesFurther the understanding of ecological relationships in forestecosystems, with special emphasis on biodiversity and itsmanagement in young-forest stands and riparian areasDeliver information to cooperators, forest managers, and thegeneral public in a timely and responsive manner

  Photosfrontbottom left: studying

clustered lady’s slipper insouthwestern Oregon

below: conductingmeasurements ofstreamsidevegetation

backtop: radiotracking bats

middle: trouthabitat surveys

bottom: largewoody debrisstudies

Mission

USGS FS 133-02October 2002

U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

ResearchCFER research is guided by an ecosystem perspective of forest management. It isdesigned to produce a body of knowledge that will address complex questionsspanning multiple disciplines, spatial scales, and geographic areas in western Oregon.Currently, four projects are underway:

InformationExchangeEffective presentation and sharing of informationwith cooperators and the general public is a priorityof the CFER program.

The goals of the Information Exchange program are to:•  Identify and prioritize research topics by assessing

information needs of managers and researchers•  Develop multiple avenues and mechanisms to convey information•  Ensure effective and timely transfer of research information•  Facilitate continued two-way communication between managers and researchers

Influences ofVegetativeCommunityComposition onRiparian AnimalCommunitiesCharacterize roles ofhardwood- and conifer-dominated riparianvegetation communitiesin terrestrial andaquatic riparian foodchains

Species Effects ofLandscape Pattern andCompositionDetermine relationshipsamong aquatic andterrestrial organisms,instream habitat, andriparian upslopeconditions across broadgeographic areas

Production andFunction of LargeWood in theRiparian ZoneDetermine processesand conditions thatinfluence input,movement, andremoval of large wood

CFER301D Richardson Hall, OSUCorvallis, OR 97331-5752541-737-7612cfer@fsl.orst.eduhttp://www.fsl.orst.edu/cfer

Biotic Responses toChanges in StandStructureDetermine relationshipsbetween stand structureand plant and animalspecies that are ofconcern to forestmanagers

New findings are made available through CFER’s web site and newsletter,distribution of reports, scientific publications, and fact sheets, and theparticipation of CFER scientists in workshops and conferences.

CFER is a consortium of federal and statepartners. The U.S. Geological Survey(USGS) is a primary source of financialsupport for CFER.