Development of the 2025 McDonald-Dunn Forest Plan
After three years of collaborative work — under the direction of new college leadership and with broad engagement from faculty, Tribal partners, neighbors and other community members — the Oregon State University College of Forestry has developed a draft of the 2025 McDonald-Dunn Forest Plan (see bottom of page). This is the first full update to the forest’s management plan since 2005 and reflects a major step forward in how the College of Forestry stewards its research forests in a time of climate change, shifting wood product needs and the growing importance of healthy, resilient and sustainable landscapes.
OSU is designated by the Oregon Legislature as home to the state’s Forest Research Laboratory. That role is reflected in how the McDonald-Dunn Forest is stewarded — as an actively managed forest that supports research, education and practical solutions for public agencies, private landowners and the forest industry. While many people enjoy recreating in McDonald-Dunn and the college continues to provide public access, the forest is not a park. It is a teaching and demonstration forest — a place where students and scientists can test ideas, study long-term change and explore how forest management choices affect ecosystems, communities and economies — and to prepare the next generation of forestry and natural resources leaders for the variety of management scenarios they may experience in the field.
Once a largely cut-over expanse, the forest as it exists today reflects nearly a century of science-informed management and demonstration of sustainable alternatives. The new plan builds on that foundation with a forward-looking, flexible approach centered on climate resilience, biodiversity, long-term learning and sustainable timber production. It outlines five distinct management strategies and affirms the forest’s role as a living laboratory and demonstration site. Sustainable timber harvests will continue, in line with donor intent and the need to support self-sustaining operations. At the same time, the plan recognizes that forest productivity and ecological objectives can — and must — coexist.
By serving as a model of a range of approaches, as outlined in the new plan, the McDonald-Dunn Forest will continue to help inform forestry practices across Oregon and beyond, and provide the landscape where researchers from the College of Forestry, OSU and multiple other institutions can conduct research on a variety of topics.
What's Happening Now
Thank you to the more than 130 individuals and organizations — including community members, students, faculty, alumni, industry professionals, nonprofits and professional associations — who took time to review the draft McDonald-Dunn Forest Management Plan and share their thoughts.
The feedback we received reflects a wide range of perspectives and values. At the heart of the mission of the OSU Research Forests is the understanding that these lands must support multiple goals. The McDonald-Dunn Forest serves as a model of sustainable, active forest management — functioning as a research site, outdoor classroom, demonstration forest and more — while supporting wood product innovation and supply, outdoor recreation, and advancing knowledge around ecological resilience and climate adaptation. It also plays a vital role in K-12 education, community partnerships, workforce development and access to nature.
Importantly, the forest is a hands-on demonstration site for a wide range of forest management techniques. These demonstrations help prepare the next generation of forestry and natural resources professionals for the full range of management scenarios they may encounter, while also supporting OSU Extension’s work to educate forest landowners across Oregon in effective, science-based stewardship.
Managing these lands requires navigating trade-offs and embracing complexity — and public input is an essential part of that process. As we move toward finalizing the plan later this year, we are carefully reviewing all feedback received and determining appropriate adjustments to the draft that enable us to balance the diversity of values the forest supports.
In the meantime, you can view the full set of public comments received on the draft plan below.
What's in the Plan?
There are a few key differences between the 2005 and the 2025 McDonald-Dunn Forest plans.
What's changing:
- The acreage of late-successional (older) forest stands will increase. The 2005 plan designated ~350 acres. The 2025 Plan adds another 790 acres for a total of 1,140 acres that will be stewarded toward older forest conditions.
- The acreage devoted to experimental restoration will increase. In partnership with Tribal nations, we will explore a variety of approaches to restore specific ecosystems of concern, namely oak, prairie, and riparian habitats.
- The acreage of forest managed as structurally and compositionally complex will increase. This will enable opportunities to better understand aspects of managing multiple species of trees and trees of multiple ages.
- The acreage of forest managed according to even-aged short rotations will decrease. Maintaining some of this on the forest will allow experimentation with new species or new genetic sources for existing species on a short time scale, in response to changing climatic conditions.
- Forest management decisions will be made with the intention of promoting resilience over the long-term. Recognizing that climatic conditions are changing, the plan is written with flexibility to enable adoption of new approaches as environmental conditions demand.
- The average volume of timber harvested will decrease. The 2005 plan recommended an annual harvest of 6.0 MMBF. Actual average annual harvest 2013-2024 has been 5.2MMBF. Calculations associated with achieving the objectives of this new plan indicate the sustainable harvest level will average 4.3 MMBF annually.
What remains the same:
- The research forests will serve as a living laboratory for the university and community. Consistent with the vision for all 10 research forests, the intent will remain to advance forestry through scientific inquiry, education, and application of new knowledge.
- The research forests will be actively managed. In alignment with the mission for all 10 research forests, there will be active management to continuously create and maintain conditions that foster possibilities for learning about all aspects of sustainable forestry, forest products, natural resource management, and social sciences associated with forests.
- The research forests will be self-sustaining. Sustainable timber harvests simultaneously create an environment for research and learning, while also serving as the primary source of revenue to support all aspects of forest operations.
- Accessibility for recreation. Following approval of the 2025 Forest Plan, the process of developing a new Visitor Use Management Plan will begin. There will be ample opportunities for public input.