Multiple-Use Management of California's Hardwood Resources

Limited information and observations indicate that there are some significant amounts of hardwood residue resources now available in the Central Coast area. Experience gained from man­ aging and marketing eastern hardwoods is considered as our basis for dealing with western hardwood problems. Inventory of the oak resource is discussed as a preliminary requirement for management. In ad­ dition, hardwood marketing, research and extension needs are also considered. Evidence indicates that western hardwood use will be improved by better funded programs of re­ search and extension in residue utilization and marketing. Improved hardwood utilization will yield both direct and indirect benefits. Direct benefits include additional, better quality wood at lower consumer cost and increased tax receipts. Other, indirect benefits include improved hardwood forest management, better fire management, and im­ proved multiple resource management for watershed, range and recreation values. forest and rangeland owners and industries better market existing and new products?" Several strat­ egies have been identified including: 1.) research and develop new products (e.g., furniture, panels, pre-fab products) to meet identified demand; 2.) im­ prove utilization of California timber species; 3.) develop active marketing associations for ex­ port of forest and range products; 4.) set up pro­ duction teams to brainstorm, Identify innovative programs, and analyze current and potential markets; 5.) improve marketing techniques to increase demand through advertising and other techniques. Other strategies have been identified, but the above directly apply to the issue of extending utilizaiton [sic] the California hardwood resource. It is our con­ tention that better land management will occur on California's hardwood lands through better utili­ zation. Ranchers, for example, would approach hard­ wood land as areas to be managed rather than con­ verted to grasslands given a better economic picture through integrated multiple use management (e.g., wildlife, range, hardwood utilization). The purpose of this paper is to explore non-tra­ ditional approaches to multiple use management of the hardwood lands in Central California. Tradi­ tionally, the full value of California's oak and hardwood resources has not been widely recognized. Until the late 1950's, oak was a major material that supported the sizable Central Coast charcoal busi­ ness. More recently, since the Arab Oil Embargo in the early 1970's, the California oak resource has again been recognized as an important fuelwood re­ source. However, aside from this wood energy use, only a very limited use has been made of the Cal­ ifornia oak resource. A few sawmills now manufac­ ture a limited amount of oak lumber, and oaks have