Rogue Forest Partners: Douglas-fir Decline FAQ
Douglas-fir Decline Across the Rogue Valley
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions developed by Rogue Forest Partners
The trend of hotter summers and drought in southwest Oregon—and much of the West—is affecting our forests. Drive through the Rogue Valley, and you’ll likely see typically green hillsides where large patches of trees have turned red, brown, and gray.
Douglas-fir trees, especially in lower elevations, are experiencing drastic die-off, and the mortality rate is expected to increase significantly in the coming
years. The Rogue Valley is one of the most impacted areas in southwest Oregon, and the sight of Douglas-fir declining across Jackson and Josephine
Counties can be jarring.
This document explores the following questions:
- Why does it look like our forests are dying?
- What is causing Douglas-fir trees to die?
- What are the risks with Douglas-fir decline?
- What can we do about Douglas-fir mortality?
- What do these projects look like?
- How are these projects funded and why are treatments time-sensitive?
The more we can proactively deal with the Douglas-fir die-off, the better off our firefighters, communities, forests, and woodlands will be. By understanding the risks and taking proactive steps now, we can give remaining Douglas-firs a chance to survive, while adapting forest landscapes to be more resilient in the face of ongoing climate change.
Want to learn more?
The OSU Extension guide, Trees on the Edge: Understanding Douglas-fir Decline and Mortality in Southwest Oregon, provides more in-depth information about the causes of the issue.
