Evento

Managing Red Alder: A Two-Day Workshop for Landowners

Red alder (Alnus rubra) is one of the most common native hardwood trees in western Washington. This moisture-loving tree is most common in riparian areas near streams and wetlands, where it contributes to high-quality habitat and clean water. Alder is short-lived, though, and older stands can quickly lose their value and stability, often degenerating into brush patches dominated by invasive species.

For larger properties, harvesting alder for timber production may be a viable option. Historically considered a weed tree, red alder is now a commercially-valuable tree with recent log prices as high as $875/Mbf for high-quality logs.

This workshop will take a comprehensive look at both the challenges and opportunities that red alder presents to landowners. We will discuss management options for different property sizes and different property uses (e.g. small-scale timber production vs. backyard forests and natural areas) and how to provide for long-term health, habitat, and water quality in the process.