Author Description

This operational summary provides information about vegetation management in the bigleaf maple complex. The dominant species in this complex is bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), with a number of shrubs and ferns as major associates including: salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis), trailing blackberry (Rubus ursinus), blackberry (Rubus leucodermis), sword fern (Polystichum munitum) and bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum). Other shrub species that may occur with varying abundance are red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa), devil's club (Oplopanax horridus), redosier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera), salal (Gaultheria shallon) and stink currant (Ribes bracteosum). Red alder (Alnus rubra) is a minor component in some stands. Topics covered in this summary include development of the complex and its interaction with crop trees; non-timber values and pre-harvest considerations; and management strategies for current and backlog sites.