The history of DEMO: An experiment in regeneration harvest of northwesternforest ecosystems

As management priorities for federal forest lands have shifted, it has beco me clear that different strategies for harvest and forest regeneration are needed. The DEMO experiment arose in response to this need, with leadership provided by a consortium of university and Forest Service scientists and f ederal forest managers. With specific congressional direction (included in federal appropriations for the Forest Service), the initial planning for an experiment in retention harvest strategies began in 1992. Initial planning efforts were hampered by competing research objectives and disagreements o ver experimental design, shifts in program leadership, difficulties in tran sferring funds to the appropriate entities, and conflicts related to the Fe deral Advisory Committee Act. In 1994, once these challenges were overcome, the experiment began. DEMO is not only an experiment in retention harvesting, but also in collabo ration between research and management, as well as federal and state govern ments and the university community. The scope and intensity of collaboratio n have been demanding, requiring effective communication and coordination a cross institutional lines. The early history of DEMO has taught us that exp eriments of this kind require: (1) a coordinated legislative package and mu lti-year budget commitment, (2) a well-developed management structure, (3) an efficient process for planning, (4) commitment of lead scientists to the coordination and planning of disciplinary and interdisciplinary research a ctivities, (5) effective collaboration between research and management, and (6) a well-developed outreach program. Other large-scale silvicultural/eco logical experiments with characteristics similar to DEMO are underway at se veral locations around the world. These will offer additional learning oppo rtunities for large-scale, interdisciplinary research.