A Forest Begins: Timelapse of a Planted Forest

In 2015, the Oregon Forest Resources Institute installed two solar-powered cameras in a working forest in Oregon’s Coast Range. Because of its climate, the region is well-known as an ideal place to grow conifer trees quickly. The hope was to clearly document the speed and vigor of that growth. But it doesn’t occur in days. It takes years.

The cameras were installed in recent clearcuts. One documented the trees that had been planted two years prior. The other camera documented trees that were planted seven years prior. For the next seven years, the cameras took photos every day, with a few exceptions (thanks to wildlife or the weather). Those photos were collected twice every year and compiled into this video.

The timelapse footage details how quickly trees planted after logging can grow tall and thick, creating a closed canopy. Reforestation efforts help speed along the process of forest regeneration. As you’ll see in the video, given full sun conditions, good soil and moisture, this new forest is off to a great start.

To learn more about reforestation in Oregon, visit https://oregonforests.org/oregons-for...

Thanks to Stimson Lumber for allowing us access to film on their forestland.