H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest reference stand system : establishment and use history

Nineteen l/4-hectare reference stands have been established in the central western Cascade Mountains of Oregon to represent widespread and important portions of the vegetation continuum. Their species diversity, cover, and structure are described here. The stands provide points of reference for visiting scientists and researchers who wish to design experiments around the natural stratification of vegetation provided by the differing habitat types. Several studies have tested theory about certain plant community-environment relations and given credence to the classification of habitat types in use in many northwest forests. This work reviews the methods for establishment, mapping, and collection of data on vegetation and the six-year history of use of the reference stands for 1972-1977.