In Oregon and throughout the dry West, aspen habitat functions as an oasis of biodiversity. It provides key cavity nesting, forage, and cover essential to wildlife species such as birds, deer, elk, pollinators and more. Unfortunately, fire suppression and overgrazing in places has led to aspen decline.
This short film highlights a unique aspen restoration and wildlife monitoring project in Central Oregon. The U.S. Forest Service and its partners joined forces in a unique collaborative project to restore aspen habitat through conifer thinning and prescribed burning while monitoring bird populations through mist-netting and banding. The goal of the project is to return aspen habitat to its historical extent; benefiting birds and other wildlife.
Locally, we’re working with Oregon State University scientists to monitor aspen stands on the Ochoco National Forest. This work has highlighted threats to aspen stand health and opportunities for OFRC to support the Forest Service to protect this very special habitat. These findings have helped to shape a guideline to protect and restore aspen stands across the Ochoco National Forest.
