California RPF Exam Questions and
Answers (Latest Update 2024)
1) Describe the effect of increased carbon dioxide on forest
growth. - Correct Answer ✅Increased CO2 can improve
photosynthesis efficiency and increase forest growth.
However heat associated with increased C02 may lead to
more extreme weather events causing more high intensity
fires.
2) List three (3) conditions that demonstrate forest
sustainability (note this is not simply sustained yield). -
Correct Answer ✅When management decision take into
account the environment, economy and society
3) What is the primary cause of long term natural (not
anthropogenic) global climate change? - Correct Answer
✅The Milankovitch cycle is the natural wobble in the earth's
tilt and rotation that change the relative position and
alignment between the earth and the sun leading to changes
in climate. This changes the
4) What is Tree Improvement? - Correct Answer
✅Improving the specific characteristics of a tree through
controlled breeding or cultural practices
,California RPF Exam Questions and
Answers (Latest Update 2024)
5) What is a Provenance Trial? - Correct Answer ✅A
planting in which population samples from stands of known
geographic origins are grown together in one or more
location.
6) What is a Genotype? - Correct Answer ✅An individual's
hereditary (genetic) constitution.
7) List three (3) objectives of forest fuel treatments? -
Correct Answer ✅Reduce fuel loads to prevent stand
destroying fires
Decrease competition among remaining trees
Generate biomass
8) List three (3) effects of sawtimber harvesting on forest
carbon sequestration? - Correct Answer ✅Can begin the
slow release of standing carbon in living trees that are
converted to lumber
Can allow for vigorous new growth if harvesting overstocked
trees
,California RPF Exam Questions and
Answers (Latest Update 2024)
9) List three (3) results of intense forest wildfire on carbon
stocks? - Correct Answer ✅Massive release of CO2 into the
atmosphere from sequestered carbon.
Can slow site from being capable of sequestering carbon due
to hydrophobic soils
Allow for increased carbon sequestration of new stand that
has not yet reached maximum growth rates.
10) What is biological diversity? - Correct Answer ✅The
variety and abundance of life forms, processes, function and
structure of plants, animals and other living organisms
including the relative complexity of species, communities,
gene pools and ecosystems and spatial scales that range
from local through regional to global. A measure of diversity
either among species, between species or of ecosystems
11) List three (3) main sources of genetic diversity in forests?
- Correct Answer ✅Natural selection, mutation, genetic
drift
, California RPF Exam Questions and
Answers (Latest Update 2024)
12) What determines the extent of genetic impacts of forest
management? - Correct Answer ✅The phenotypic variation
of a tree species. Some trees have very similar growth
characteristics across a wide variety of genotypes and
instead growth rates are more attributed to the environment.
Some trees species have widely varying growth
characteristics based on genotype.
13) According to the FPRs and PRC, what is watercourse? -
Correct Answer ✅Any well-defined channel with
distinguishable bed and bank showing evidence of having
contained flowing water indicated by deposit of rock, sand,
gravel, or soil, including but not limited to, Streams as
defined in PRC 4528(f). Watercourse also includes manmade
Watercourses.
14) List three (3) potential impacts of water drafting on
aquatic species. - Correct Answer ✅Mechanical take of
aquatic organisms from improper pump equipment
Increased sedimentation of the water
Loss of habitat if overdrafting
Change in water temperature
Answers (Latest Update 2024)
1) Describe the effect of increased carbon dioxide on forest
growth. - Correct Answer ✅Increased CO2 can improve
photosynthesis efficiency and increase forest growth.
However heat associated with increased C02 may lead to
more extreme weather events causing more high intensity
fires.
2) List three (3) conditions that demonstrate forest
sustainability (note this is not simply sustained yield). -
Correct Answer ✅When management decision take into
account the environment, economy and society
3) What is the primary cause of long term natural (not
anthropogenic) global climate change? - Correct Answer
✅The Milankovitch cycle is the natural wobble in the earth's
tilt and rotation that change the relative position and
alignment between the earth and the sun leading to changes
in climate. This changes the
4) What is Tree Improvement? - Correct Answer
✅Improving the specific characteristics of a tree through
controlled breeding or cultural practices
,California RPF Exam Questions and
Answers (Latest Update 2024)
5) What is a Provenance Trial? - Correct Answer ✅A
planting in which population samples from stands of known
geographic origins are grown together in one or more
location.
6) What is a Genotype? - Correct Answer ✅An individual's
hereditary (genetic) constitution.
7) List three (3) objectives of forest fuel treatments? -
Correct Answer ✅Reduce fuel loads to prevent stand
destroying fires
Decrease competition among remaining trees
Generate biomass
8) List three (3) effects of sawtimber harvesting on forest
carbon sequestration? - Correct Answer ✅Can begin the
slow release of standing carbon in living trees that are
converted to lumber
Can allow for vigorous new growth if harvesting overstocked
trees
,California RPF Exam Questions and
Answers (Latest Update 2024)
9) List three (3) results of intense forest wildfire on carbon
stocks? - Correct Answer ✅Massive release of CO2 into the
atmosphere from sequestered carbon.
Can slow site from being capable of sequestering carbon due
to hydrophobic soils
Allow for increased carbon sequestration of new stand that
has not yet reached maximum growth rates.
10) What is biological diversity? - Correct Answer ✅The
variety and abundance of life forms, processes, function and
structure of plants, animals and other living organisms
including the relative complexity of species, communities,
gene pools and ecosystems and spatial scales that range
from local through regional to global. A measure of diversity
either among species, between species or of ecosystems
11) List three (3) main sources of genetic diversity in forests?
- Correct Answer ✅Natural selection, mutation, genetic
drift
, California RPF Exam Questions and
Answers (Latest Update 2024)
12) What determines the extent of genetic impacts of forest
management? - Correct Answer ✅The phenotypic variation
of a tree species. Some trees have very similar growth
characteristics across a wide variety of genotypes and
instead growth rates are more attributed to the environment.
Some trees species have widely varying growth
characteristics based on genotype.
13) According to the FPRs and PRC, what is watercourse? -
Correct Answer ✅Any well-defined channel with
distinguishable bed and bank showing evidence of having
contained flowing water indicated by deposit of rock, sand,
gravel, or soil, including but not limited to, Streams as
defined in PRC 4528(f). Watercourse also includes manmade
Watercourses.
14) List three (3) potential impacts of water drafting on
aquatic species. - Correct Answer ✅Mechanical take of
aquatic organisms from improper pump equipment
Increased sedimentation of the water
Loss of habitat if overdrafting
Change in water temperature
