HISTORIC SPATIAL PATTERNS OF OLD FORESTS IN WESTERN OREGON

The long-term sustainable management of our forests may be most attain able when we determine their original, natural conditions. ''Ecosystem management'' is guided by information on spatial variability of fores t landscape patterns over time and how human influence has affected th at variability. Such information is critical for developing timber-har vest plans, maintaining biodiversity, and designing future landscapes. Ecosystem management plans can be developed to maintain and/or create forest landscape patterns within the range of those that existed befo re European settlement.