VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Chamaecyparis nootkatensis | Alaska-Cedar 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
Alaska-cedar commands a high price for stumpage due to its fine texture,
straight grain, durability, freedom from splitting and checking,
resistance to acid, and excellent milling qualities [1,24,33,35].  The
wood is used in window frames, doors, boat building, utility poles,
marine pilings, cabinets [24,56], carving, and greenhouse construction
[33].

Most of the harvested wood is exported to Japan where, because of its
similar bright yellow color, it is used as a substitute for the rare
hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) [6].

The wood has an unusual and distinct "potato-like" odor [48].


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Alaska-cedar is of minor importance to livestock and wildlife as browse.
When densities of black-tailed deer are high, Alaska-cedar is browsed
[51].  The Alaskan brown bear girdles the upslope side of the tree in
the spring to feed on the phloem, which is high in sucrose [27].


PALATABILITY : 
Alaska-cedar browse is unpalatable to blue grouse [36].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
Alaska-cedar as a component of old-growth forests can provide critical
thermal and hiding cover for large ungulates [22] and small mammals
[58].


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Alaska-cedar seedlings can be planted in the subalpine environment where
disturbance is recurrent, for it is the only conifer capable of
surviving on sites with frequent avalanches [15].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Native Americans used Alaska-cedar wood to produce bows [52], masks,
bowls, and dishes.  The roots were split and used for the framework of
baskets and hats [48].

Alaska-cedar is grown as an ornamental in North America and Europe
[41].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
In southeast Alaska, Alaska-cedar is suffering from dieback that started
around the turn of the century [28,30,31].  Most of the mortality has
occurred in bog and semibog sites [28].  The search for a pathogen has
been exhaustive with little results.  It now seems likely the cause is
abiotic [28,30,31].  The most plausible hypothesis offered thus far is
that of a warming trend that started in Alaska in the late 1800's which
has decreased the snow pack [28].  Because Alaska-cedar has low frost
resistance [40], the decreased snow pack renders the fine roots
susceptible to frost damage.  This is the first sign of Alaska-cedar
decline [28].

Alaska-cedar is relatively free of damaging agents due to chemical
compostion of the wood [24].  It is virtually rot-free, and the snags
can persist for 100+ years [29].  Hennon [26] lists the 77 known fungi
associated with Alaska-cedar.

Clearcutting changes the species compostion of second-growth forests in
the Western Hemlock Zone, increasing Alaska-cedar's percent composition
[23].  The recommended silvicultural practice of cutting old-growth
Alaska-cedar is clearcut with planting [60].

Plantation-grown Alaska-cedar has a growth rate comparable to that of
Douglas-fir; this is much greater than natural regeneraton of
Alaska-cedar within its range [34].

Equations have been developed for Alaska-cedar based on growth percent
as an estimation of future productivity on different soil types [54].

Hamilton [21] explored the response of Alaska-cedar to single-tree
selection method, and he determined that Alaska-cedar will respond
favorably to the method.

Related categories for Species: Chamaecyparis nootkatensis | Alaska-Cedar