The Cycle of Oregon’s Working Forests

The Harvest Cycle

In Oregon, most private forestland is managed on what’s called a rotation. Trees are planted, grown to maturity, harvested and then replanted again - just like rows of crops, only on a much longer cycle. On private industrial lands, the typical rotation is around 40 - 60 years, depending on species and growing conditions. Douglas-fir, Oregon’s most common commercial tree, is often harvested closer to 45 - 50 years, while species like red alder or western hemlock may be harvested a bit earlier.

Replanting is Required

Just as a farmer replants after harvest, foresters do the same - and in Oregon, it’s not optional. Under the Oregon Forest Practices Act, landowners must reforest within two years of harvest. That usually means planting 100 - 200 seedlings per acre (minimum) to ensure enough survive. By law, those young trees have to be “free-to-grow” (healthy and competing well) within six years.

From Seedling to Stand

A newly planted forest looks a lot like a farmer’s field of sprouts - small, uniform, and vulnerable. Seedlings face challenges like brush competition, deer and elk browsing and drought. Foresters step in with thinning, vegetation management, or pruning to give the young trees their best chance. Over decades, those seedlings grow into dense young stands and eventually into mature forests ready for harvest.

Reharvesting and the Next Cycle

Once the stand reaches its rotation age, it’s harvested

and the cycle begins again. By staggering different stands - much like a farmer planting fields at different times - companies like Blaine Timber keep a steady supply of wood products while ensuring continuous forest growth across the landscape.

Why It Matters

This long-term cycle is what makes Oregon forests both productive and renewable. A clearcut might look bare today, but it’s really just the first step in the next generation of forest. Thanks to strong reforestation laws and sustainable management, Oregon actually has more trees today than it did 100 years ago - proof that forests, like crops, keep on giving when they’re responsibly managed.

Sources:

• Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI)

• Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) – Oregon Forest Practices Act