Douglas Fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii

Forestry, Inventory & Production

In the western region, approximately 55 million hectares are forested and home to more than 21 commercially important species for timber production. Of the 55 million forested hectares, 20.2 are set aside --- forever protected from harvesting through legislative, administrative or judicial withdrawal, in parks, scenic and habitat reserves, wilderness, and research areas.

Pseudotsuga menziesii is a distinct species and most often referred to as Douglas fir; however, other common names include Oregon, Oregon Pine, British Columbian Pine, Red Fir and even Douglas tree. By any name, Douglas fir accounts for about one fifth of North America’s total softwood reserves.

On the commercial timberlands of the western region, there are approximately 14 million hectares of Douglas fir managed primarily in natural stands. These timberlands are governed by tough local and state laws related to harvesting and timberland management practices, reforestation requirements, protection for habitat, watersheds and soils, and biological diversity. In 1998, Douglas fir timber production totalled 17.5 million cubic metres.

Grading Agencies

Softwood Export Council (SEC) member grading agencies (and their grading rules) include:

	Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau (PLIB), Export “R” List Grading & Dressing Rules for West Coast Softwood Lumber;
	Redwood Inspection Service (RIS), a division of the California Redwood Association (CRA), Specifications for Grades of California Redwood Lumber;
	West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau (WCLIB), Standard Grading Rules for West Coast Lumber; and
	Western Wood Products Association (WWPA), Western Lumber Grading Rules.

All of these grading agencies are accredited by the American Lumber Standard Committee, Inc. (ALSC), under the U.S. Department of Commerce. RIS, WCLIB and WWPA are also accredited rules-writing agencies and represent three, of only six, agencies in the U.S. whose grading rules are certified as conforming to the American Softwood Lumber Standard PS-20. This U.S. product standard provides a mechanism for timber to be of the size, grade and design values indicated by its labelling.

All four agencies are certified to provide grading and inspection services for structural products under the National Grading Rule for Dimension Lumber (NGR). PLIB, WCLIB and WWPA are also accredited by the Canadian Lumber Standards Accreditation Board to provide grading inspection services under the Standard Grading Rules for Canadian Lumber published by the National Lumber Grades Authority (NLGA) of Canada.

The SEC publication, Western Softwood Species & Grades provides additional information on these grading agencies.

Douglas firs are among the tallest trees on the continent, second only to coastal redwoods. They average from 45 to 60 metres in height, from 600 to 1850 mm in diameter, and are found at elevations ranging from sea level to 1830 metres.

Douglas fir growing west of the Cascade Crest to the Pacific Ocean in the states of Washington, Oregon, and northern California is known as coastal Douglas fir; identified by DF in the grade stamp.

East of the Cascade Crest in the northern “Inland Empire” region, Western Larch (Larix occidentalis) grows intermixed with Douglas fir. Because these two species are similar in appearance and properties, they are sometimes combined for structural applications. If combined they are marketed as Douglas fir-Larch, indicated by DF-L in the grade stamp.

A small volume of Douglas fir originates from Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah; these products are identified as Douglas fir South, indicated by DF(S) or DF^S in the grade stamp.

Douglas fir grown in Canada is identified as Douglas fir North, indicated by DF(N) or DF^N in the grade stamp.