ABSTRACT
The two national forests in southwestern Idaho–the Boise and Payette National Forests–have both recently experienced five years of “catastrophic” timber mortality. That is, annual mortality exceeded annual growth on lands suitable for timber production. 318Boise Cascade Corporation lands lie between and, in some cases, are interspersed with these two national forests, and did not experience such high levels of mortality. The major difference in management strategies is that the company practices stand density control on all its lands; the national forests have not historically placed the same emphasis on stocking control. The Payette and Boise National Forests developed different strategies for approaching their tree mortality problems. The Payette placed a priority on developing a comprehensive treatment plan for the affected acres in the roaded portions of the suitable base. The Boise opted for a three phase approach, which stressed rapid salvage efforts, followed by cultural treatments designed to improve the vigor of remaining stands, and a comprehensive public education program. In each case, the U.S. Forest Service was confronted with appeals or litigation due to the public mistrust of such efforts.
