Page |1
RPF Exam Short Answer Questions and
Correct Answers/ Latest Update / Already
Graded
According to the definition in 14 CCR 895.1, define the two conditions
required in the abandonment of a forest road.
Ans: 1. Leaving a logging road reasonably impassable to
standard production 4WD vehicles;
2. Leaving a logging road and landings in a condition which
provides for long-term functioning of erosion controls with
little or no continuing maintenance
For THP planning, how would you define an active nest of an osprey
when you have not seen an osprey occupy the nest in the 3 months
you've been doing fieldwork?
Ans: Active nest: a bird nest site at which breeding efforts have
recently occurred as determined by the CA Dept. of Fish and
Wildlife, as specified:
Great Blue Heron, Great Egret = 2 years
Golden Eagle, Osprey, Goshawk = 3 years
Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon = 5 years
Nests that have not been used within this time period are
considered abandoned.
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
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The marking of the most commercially valuable trees for cutting under
an individual tree marking regime is normally termed _____.
Ans: Selective harvest/high-grading
What other law was brought to bear on the FPA by the court ruling in
NRDC vs. Arcata National Corp (or "Broaddus decision")?
Ans: CEQA; 1976: THPs are indeed subject to CEQA (brought
about the special status of THPs as functional equivalent
documents)
What are two types of fixed costs + two types of variable costs with
harvesting equipment?
Ans: Fixed = depreciation, interest, insurance, taxes, rent,
purchase price
Variable = labor, repairs, fuel, tire/track
(fixed = remains constant in relation to amount of good
produced; variable = cost rises with production of more un its)
The extent to which the lower portion of a tree's stem diverges from
straight, usually measured in degrees
Ans: Sweep
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |3
A stream which derives most or its entire nutrient energy source from
such things as terrestrial insect drop and litter fall from terrestrial
vegetation
Ans: Allocthonous
Which of the following species are susceptible to white pine blister
rust?
Ans: Five-needle pines = sugar pine (pinus lambertiana),
western white pine (pinus monticola)
According to §763 of the Professional Foresters Law, what is the
minimum number of individuals who are to be appointed by the board
to serve on the Professional Foresters' Examining Committee?
Ans: 7 total:
4 RPFs
1 certified specialist (certified rangelane mgmt)
2 public members, including 1 from the board of forestry
List 4 characteristics of fuels that affect the way fires burn and are
important in prescribed fire management.
Ans: 1. Size of fuel - particle size class
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
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2. Fuel moisture
3. Distribution of fuel + loading
4. Type of fuel (composition)
How many TPA would you plant to achieve 16' spacing between trees?
Ans: =43560/(16*16) = 170
Remember: an acre = 1 chain (66 feet) * 1 furlong (660 feet)
Why does the concept of MAI not apply well to uneven-aged stands?
Ans: MAI describes the average annual growth of trees, and
trees grow at different rates during their lives - therefore, for
uneven-aged stands, the MAI is not effective at determining the
average growth rate
List 4 purposes a THP document serves during its life
Ans: 1. Guide for RPF
2. Information for regulatory agencies (CDF, CDFW, Water
boards, CGS)
3. Guide for LTO
4. Enforceable document used by CDF
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
RPF Exam Short Answer Questions and
Correct Answers/ Latest Update / Already
Graded
According to the definition in 14 CCR 895.1, define the two conditions
required in the abandonment of a forest road.
Ans: 1. Leaving a logging road reasonably impassable to
standard production 4WD vehicles;
2. Leaving a logging road and landings in a condition which
provides for long-term functioning of erosion controls with
little or no continuing maintenance
For THP planning, how would you define an active nest of an osprey
when you have not seen an osprey occupy the nest in the 3 months
you've been doing fieldwork?
Ans: Active nest: a bird nest site at which breeding efforts have
recently occurred as determined by the CA Dept. of Fish and
Wildlife, as specified:
Great Blue Heron, Great Egret = 2 years
Golden Eagle, Osprey, Goshawk = 3 years
Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon = 5 years
Nests that have not been used within this time period are
considered abandoned.
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |2
The marking of the most commercially valuable trees for cutting under
an individual tree marking regime is normally termed _____.
Ans: Selective harvest/high-grading
What other law was brought to bear on the FPA by the court ruling in
NRDC vs. Arcata National Corp (or "Broaddus decision")?
Ans: CEQA; 1976: THPs are indeed subject to CEQA (brought
about the special status of THPs as functional equivalent
documents)
What are two types of fixed costs + two types of variable costs with
harvesting equipment?
Ans: Fixed = depreciation, interest, insurance, taxes, rent,
purchase price
Variable = labor, repairs, fuel, tire/track
(fixed = remains constant in relation to amount of good
produced; variable = cost rises with production of more un its)
The extent to which the lower portion of a tree's stem diverges from
straight, usually measured in degrees
Ans: Sweep
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |3
A stream which derives most or its entire nutrient energy source from
such things as terrestrial insect drop and litter fall from terrestrial
vegetation
Ans: Allocthonous
Which of the following species are susceptible to white pine blister
rust?
Ans: Five-needle pines = sugar pine (pinus lambertiana),
western white pine (pinus monticola)
According to §763 of the Professional Foresters Law, what is the
minimum number of individuals who are to be appointed by the board
to serve on the Professional Foresters' Examining Committee?
Ans: 7 total:
4 RPFs
1 certified specialist (certified rangelane mgmt)
2 public members, including 1 from the board of forestry
List 4 characteristics of fuels that affect the way fires burn and are
important in prescribed fire management.
Ans: 1. Size of fuel - particle size class
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |4
2. Fuel moisture
3. Distribution of fuel + loading
4. Type of fuel (composition)
How many TPA would you plant to achieve 16' spacing between trees?
Ans: =43560/(16*16) = 170
Remember: an acre = 1 chain (66 feet) * 1 furlong (660 feet)
Why does the concept of MAI not apply well to uneven-aged stands?
Ans: MAI describes the average annual growth of trees, and
trees grow at different rates during their lives - therefore, for
uneven-aged stands, the MAI is not effective at determining the
average growth rate
List 4 purposes a THP document serves during its life
Ans: 1. Guide for RPF
2. Information for regulatory agencies (CDF, CDFW, Water
boards, CGS)
3. Guide for LTO
4. Enforceable document used by CDF
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
