Regeneration and Fuel Loading with Varying Overstory Retention in Redwood Stands 10 Years after Transformation to Multiaged Management

Abstract

This is an analysis of the 10-year re-measure of the Redwood multi-age experiment which is maintained by Dr. Pascal Berrill, professor of silviculture at Cal-Poly Humboldt, in conjunction with the Jackson Demonstration State Forest in Mendocino County, California. The multi-aged experiment explores the regeneration response of several species following different harvesting techniques including group selection, aggregated retention, and high/low dispersed retention. The 10-year re-measure data includes surface fuel characterization and regeneration density.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my advisor Pascal Berrill for his long standing support and unwavering flexibility in accommodating my not-always-most-direct path and unfailing confidence in my abilities. I’m indebted to his long-time investment in me through the sharing of his knowledge and experience and enriched by his friendship. My other committee members, Jeffrey Kane, and Rosanna Overholser have also offered their long-suffering support, and friendship and have been invaluable resources and trusted sounding blocks as I have navigated this process. Their direction, advice, and encouragement were instrumental in my continued commitment to completing my thesis. This thesis would not have been possible without the administrative support of Nona Minerva, Erin Kelly, and Eric Riggs. My field data would have been measly at best were it not for the dedicated efforts of our field crew: Allen Cooper, JD Wilder, Destiny Rivera, Keith Shuttle, Aidan Jack Murphy, Ian Blundell, Hanna Upton, and Ally Medina.

I acknowledge that this research was conducted on the unceded territory of the Northern Pomo tribes, the original stewards of these lands. I recognize and deeply regret our failure to engage with the tribe during our fieldwork. This omission carries significant implications for the responsible management of these forest ecosystems, particularly regarding the health and development of tanoak, a keystone species and a principal food source sustaining the Pomo people since time immemorial. I understand the importance of incorporating Indigenous knowledge into ecological research and management, and I sincerely hope that future projects on these lands will be conducted in genuine and collaborative partnership with Pomo tribal members. I believe their expertise is essential to ensuring the respectful and sustainable stewardship of their ancestral territory.

I would like to thank my children: Fox and Hazel, and my loving partner Megan for their support and patience in allowing me the time and space to continue working on this thesis even when it went on much longer than I had originally anticipated and meant the sacrifice of some of our precious shared weekend time. I’m deeply grateful for their willingness to prioritize my personal development and their confidence in my eventual success.