Part 2. Managing Stands Before, During, and After SOD

2.1. Developing a SOD Management Plan

2.1.1. Why is Management Needed?

Most SOD-affected forests are not managed for production of forest products. Typical land uses in affected areas include rural residential development, park lands, natural reserves, and watershed lands. The forests in these areas are prized for providing wildlife habitat, ecological benefits, recreational uses, or simply a desirable living environment (table 2-1).

Before the introduction of P. ramorum, mortality rates of SOD-susceptible oaks and tanoaks were low (see 1.5 Stand-level SOD impacts). Little or no active management was necessary to maintain forests dominated by these species. However, SOD has greatly changed the stability and sustainability of these forests. Landowners can no longer assume that the forest will remain stable under the largely passive management that worked in the past. SOD-impacted stands can undergo dramatic changes in canopy cover and vegetation composition in less than 10 years. Active management is needed in many SOD-affected forests to direct forest succession towards desired vegetation types and to restore lost ecosystem services.

Table 2-1—Some ecosystem services provided by forests¹

General ecological services	Carbon fixation and storage
	Air quality protection
	Erosion protection
	Water quality protection
	Moderation of stormwater flows / flood protection
	Local climate modification
	Nutrient cycling
Plants and animals	Special status species habitat
	Locally rare or uncommon species habitat
	Native biodiversity protection
	Wildlife migration corridors and refuges
	Special habitat features
	Suppression of invasive species
Human interactions	Recreational activities
	Health benefits – exercise, sunlight exposure, stress reduction
	Historic significance
	Cultural,/aesthetic, spiritual values
	Property value enhancement
	Wood products
	Energy conservation
	Other forest products - edible fungi, spices
	Buffering between incompatible land uses
	Visual impact – views, screening
	Noise reduction

¹While most of the general services can be provided by various forest types, the quality of habitat-related services can differ greatly between forest types.