Western juniper has expanded and infilled many plant communities of�the semi-arid Pacific Northwest the past 130 to 150 years. The increase in juniper reduces herbaceous forage and shrub browse for livestock and big-game. We measured herbaceous production across a range of plant communities following cutting or prescribed fire treatments in Phase 1 (early), Phase 2 (mid-succession) and Phase 3 (late-succession) western juniper woodlands. Results indicate that fire (2 to 3-fold increase) was more effective than cutting (no change to 1.5-fold increase) at increasing herbage production in woodlands that are in early (Phase 1) and mid (Phase 2) successional stages. In late successional stands (Phase 3) cutting and prescribed fire resulted in similar increases in herbage production. The amount of increase in Phase 3 woodlands varied considerably (2 to 10-fold increases) depending on site potential. �Composition of herbaceosus response is variable and tends to be fairly predictable following cutting treatments (all woodland phases) and following fire in Phase 1 and 2 woodlands.
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