Restoring Eastern Oregon rangelands - a before and after photo essay

Written By Guest User

The Kahler Dry Forest Restoration Project on the Umatilla National Forest shows the incredible value of projects that offer economic, social, and environmental benefits. Sustainable Northwest was a key partner in this multi-year project to thin juniper from Eastern Oregon rangelands.

Historically, low-intensity fires would have kept juniper from encroaching on rangelands. Some of the fires would have been sparked naturally, and some set by Tribes using cultural burning to steward rangeland health. Juniper are THIRSTY, so keeping them from taking over our rangelands is good for many reasons -- including water conservation in the arid West.

This project also supported local timber and milling jobs, as Sustainable Northwest and Sustainable Northwest Wood Inc. operate the largest juniper lumber market around. It's all about the triple bottom line: people, nature, and jobs. You can learn even more here from the Oregon Department of Forestry.

BEFORE

Before restoration: a valley slope crowded with western juniper at the Kahler Dry Forest Restoration Project, Umatilla National Forest

BEFORE

Before restoration: a rounded hill with dense juniper covering its lower slopes in the Kahler project area

BEFORE

Before restoration: a steep hillside thick with juniper in the Kahler project area

BEFORE

Before restoration: aerial close-up of dense juniper spreading across rangeland in the Kahler project area

BEFORE

Before restoration: a broad slope dotted with encroaching juniper in the Kahler project area

AFTER

After restoration: the same valley slope with most juniper removed, opening up the rangeland

AFTER

After restoration: the same rounded hill with open grassland where juniper once grew

AFTER

After restoration: the same steep hillside cleared of most juniper

AFTER

After restoration: the same rangeland seen from above, now open with scattered cut juniper

AFTER

After restoration: the same broad slope opened up after juniper removal
Guest User
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