What are the characteristics of late-successional forests in the different ecological zones within the AMA?
We do not have a good idea of the composition and structure of old-growth forests in the AMA because of their rarity and a lack of studies. Current ecological descriptions of old growth were primarily developed from Douglas-fir forests in the Cascade Range. Even those descriptions focus on a small part of the ecosystem; we are still ignorant about the role of most insects, fungi, plants, and soil organisms in old-growth forests. Studies of existing late-successional stands, stand reconstruction from stump measurements in clearcuts, and examination of historical records would help clarify what the “desired future condition” of late-successional forests in the AMA should be. Can desired late-successional forest characteristics be promoted, and what prescriptions would be most effective in the different ecological zones? Although general responses of coastal forests to silvicultural manipulation are known, the specific responses in terms of habitats and ecosystem function are not. For exa
