Diversity on the Siskiyou Crest - Pacific Forest Trust
ForestLife

Winter 2026

Diversity on the Siskiyou Crest

PFT’s Mount Ashland Demonstration Forest (MADF) is a remarkably diverse mosaic of forest and meadows, both wet and dry.

Fire historically maintained this complex and biodiverse system, but between fire suppression and historic logging, much of this was lost. As part of our restoration work on MADF, we are preparing for the return of “good fire” by implementing the initial fuels reduction this Fall. We plan to have a prescribed burn in 2026; therefore, reducing the large fuels build up from years of fire exclusion was essential to having a safe burn.

Removing lower limbs keeps fire on the ground and out of the canopy.

Our initial burn will focus on a large natural meadow near the Crest, including the surrounding conifer forest. It will take place on a north-south ridgeline that extends into the Neil Creek basin. The flat, accessible terrain here makes it both the safest and most strategic place to begin returning fire.

Crews pruned the lower limbs of large conifers around the meadow to protect them from fire climbing into their crowns and felled many of the smaller encroaching conifers and dead trees to keep the burn contained within established control lines. Particular care was taken around the forest’s rare large trees and snags. These provide important habitat for species like woodpeckers, owls, and martens — a threatened species. These precautions ensure that the burn restores and strengthens, rather than jeopardizes, the ecological richness of the forest.

The purpose of this burn is threefold: restoring the benefits of good fire (reducing pests, enriching the soils, etc); maintaining fire adapted diverse dry meadows and wet meadows and removing fire-intolerant conifers; and demonstrating how other private forest owners can safely and effectively use fire as a tool for resilience.

Removing small, encroaching conifers.

Equally important is community involvement. Earlier in the year, PFT hosted a neighborhood meeting, inviting nearby residents and agency partners to learn about the burn, ask questions, and share concerns. These conversations build trust and collaboration — an essential foundation for expanding the use of prescribed fire across the region. With experienced leadership, careful preparation, and community partnership, this forthcoming burn will set the stage for healthier, more resilient forests on the Siskiyou Crest.

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