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Juniper, which grows throughout the Northwest's inter-mountain region, is starting to get a new look for its wood-product potential.
credit:
Creative Commons/Snowpeak
PRINEVILLE, Ore. — Juniper is finally beginning to get some respect among Oregonians.
The tree is pesky east of the Cascade Range in Oregon. It sucks up precious water, takes over grasslands and crowds out grasses. It contributes to erosion and depletes sage grouse habitat.
Historically, wildfire kept junipers in check. With fires suppressed, they’ve spread to millions of acres.
But, the Bend Bulletin reports, juniper is hardy wood, and there’s growing interest in overcoming the difficulties of milling it.
A recent tour drew about 50 public officials, environmental nonprofit leaders, students and building industry representatives to examine the possibilities for using juniper.
The paper says there are at least five juniper mills in Oregon, mostly one-person operations with portable mills.
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EarthFix is a public media project of Oregon Public Broadcasting and Boise State Public Radio, Idaho Public Television, KCTS 9 Seattle, KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio, Northwest Public Radio and Television, Southern Oregon Public Television and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
