DON SIEGELMAN TIMOTHY C. BOYCE Governor, State of Alabama State Forester

am committed to protecting Alabama’s forests and natu- e are all so blessed to be able to call ourselves ral treasures. In April 2000, I appointed 63 members of Alabamians. We live in a great state rich in natural Ithe Alabama Commission on Environmental Initiatives Wresources and wonderful people. Sometimes, however, to research and develop quality options to encourage the we take this for granted. I received the following in an e-mail from long-term preservation of Alabama’s natural environment. my mother recently, and wanted to share it with you. It truly puts Since that time, the commission has conducted a series of things in perspective. 12 town meetings to gain input from citizens, while the Putting Things into Perspective members developed plans to protect our natural treasures. If we could shrink the earth’s population to a village of precisely The commission has since made 40 recommendations 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it that will help us protect our lakes, rivers and forests. A would look something like the following. There would be: number deal specifically with ideas for protecting • 57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 14 from the Western Hemisphere, both Alabama’s forests. The entire report is available online cour- North and South Americas, and 8 Africans tesy of Jacksonville State University at • 52 would be female; 48 would be male; 70 would be non-white; http://www.jsu.edu/depart/epic/ACEIreport.htm. 30 would be white The commission stresses their support for the Clean Water Action Plan, which was designed to protect public • 6 people would possess 59% of the entire world’s wealth and all health and restore our nation’s precious waterways. This 6 would be from the United States. plan charts a new course by emphasizing collaborative • 80 would live in substandard housing; 70 would be unable to read; strategies built around watersheds and the communities they 50 would suffer from malnutrition; 1 would be near death; 1 would sustain. Alabama’s commission is already working to devel- be near birth; 1 (yes, only 1) would have a college education; 1 op a water withdrawal system for our state. would own a computer They also suggest a comprehensive state plan for envi- When one considers our world from such a compressed perspec- ronmental education to assure that Alabamians understand tive, the need for both acceptance, understanding and education the importance of our natural treasures and the conse- becomes glaringly apparent. This is also something to ponder . . . quences of actions that may harm them. Such programs • If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are would focus on schools but also reach out to the general more blessed than the million who will not survive this week. public. • If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of I am personally committed to improving environmental imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you education in this state. I certainly appreciate the commis- are ahead of 500 million people in the world. sion’s hard work in developing its recommendations, and I • If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, will keep you updated on our progress. These recommenda- arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than 3 billion people tions are just the first step. We will continue to work in in the world. order to protect our forests and all of Alabama’s environ- • If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof mental treasures. overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world. • If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy. • If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not. • If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over 2 bil- lion people in the world that cannot read at all.

2 / Alabama’s TREASURED Forests Spring 2001

LongleafLongleaf TREASURETREASURE By KIM G. NIX, Editor

Abundant natural regeneration is found throughout the property.

ovington County, with its sandy mated 4 million acres. In recent years Starting from Scratch soils and temperate climate, is an longleaf has been making a comeback, The Mickelsons acquired their 280 Cideal area for growing longleaf in thanks in part to the efforts of landown- acres from Myra’s father, who gave the Alabama. The natural range of this pine ers like Marion and Myra Mickelson. property to the couple as an early inheri- includes most of the Atlantic and Gulf Actually, the Mickelsons have long been tance in 1950. The property was cutover Coastal Plains from southeastern Virginia advocates of planting longleaf. when they became the new owners. to eastern Texas and south through Recognizing that their land is most suit- According to Marion, a person could northern Florida. While there were once ed to this species, the Mickelsons are stand in the middle of the property and 60 million acres of longleaf growing in managing their property to optimize the see three-quarters of a mile in all direc- this region, today there is only an esti- growth of longleaf. tions. “There wasn’t a tree in sight,” he

4 / Alabama’s TREASURED Forests Spring 2001 Natural and Artificial Regeneration About 240 acres of the property is in longleaf pine. The Mickelsons have used both natural and artificial regeneration methods on their TREASURE Forest. Approximately 60 acres have been plant- ed in longleaf, while the remainder is natural. The pines range in age from 50 years on down to two years old. The seedlings planted on one tract a few years ago were infected with brown- spot needle blight, which can stunt the growth of seedlings and even kill the young trees. Upon the advice of the Alabama Forestry Commission, the Mickelsons prescribed burned the tract and effectively eliminated the disease from the seedlings. The Mickelsons were approved for prescribed burning under the Stewardship In 1986 the Mickelsons became some Incentives cost-share program. Covington County Forester Mike Older, center, of the first landowners in Alabama to explains the paperwork to them. plant longleaf under the Conservation ment as a pilot in the Air Force meant Reserve Program. “For my money, the couple had to leave their newly built there’s nothing better than a longleaf home for several years and spend time pine,” says Marion. “Some people say overseas. When they returned in 1967 they are harder to plant—and they are,” after Marion’s retirement from the mili- he added. “But it’s worth it.” He cites the tary, they received a big surprise. tree’s disease and fire resistance, ease of Longleaf pine had naturally regenerated management and the value of different and covered the acreage. This was due in products the tree yields as reasons, but great part to some neighboring property also feels longleaf has special beauty. owned by forest industry that contained County Forester Mike Older wishes mature pines. The Mickelsons believe more landowners had recognized the that these trees seeded their property dur- value of planting longleaf in years past. ing the years they were away. It also “Mr. Mickelson was just ahead of his helped that wildfires had burned on a time by planting longleaf,” he said. “He’s regular basis and vegetative competition a good example of what you can do. He for the young pines was kept at bay. “It always saw what nature did and tried to had burned almost every year that we imitate it.” were gone,” said Marion. During their years of ownership, the Marion realized that fire is of special Mickelsons have had one large timber benefit to longleaf and has been dedicat- sale and several thinnings. The big sale ed to prescribe burning sections of the came soon after they had put their three Most of the trees are harvested for property every two to three years. Not children, Arthur, Roger and Diane, poles. only does fire reduce the competition through college. Myra thought their trees from other species, Marion explains, but might be able to bring them some much- said. Their first order of business was to danger from wildfires is reduced as well. needed income. “I said, ‘Marion, let’s have firelanes plowed by the local The major competition for the pines are sell some of these trees. I’m tired of Alabama Forestry Commission. Myra plants like gallberry and yaupon. being broke!’” After receiving profes- remembers paying 5 cents per acre for This year the Mickelsons were sional advice, the couple decided to sell this service in the early 1950s. The approved for prescribed burning under 100 acres of timber. They were pleasant- Mickelsons had some of the first fire- the Stewardship Incentives Program. ly surprised at what the trees brought. lanes in the county and have set an They are working with the Covington Except for one load of sawtimber, all the example of responsible stewardship from County office of the Forestry trees were cut for poles. the beginning. Commission to burn part of the property Twice they were forced to salvage During the first years of ownership it in 2001 and the remainder in 2002. timber that was downed by hurricanes, was impossible for the couple to manage once in 1975 and then 20 years later the property hands-on. Marion’s commit- Continued on page 6

Spring 2001 Alabama’s TREASURED Forests / 5 when Hurricane Opal devastated the Setting an Example area. Just prior to Hurricane Opal, the The Mickelson have always enjoying Mickelsons had thinned much of their hosting groups of people on their proper- timber. The bad timing meant that the ty. One of the first relationships formed hurricane did even greater damage than was with the forestry students at Lurleen it would have otherwise. Openings in the B. Wallace College in Andalusia. As a forest allowed trees to be more easily way to put into practice what they downed by high winds. There are still a learned in the classroom, the students few scars from Opal here and there, but wrote a management plan for the the property is in excellent shape and the Mickelsons’ property that was tailored to Mickelsons are back on track with their their objectives. Nearby W.S. Harlan management plan. Elementary School brings classes of The acres under natural regeneration fourth and fifth graders to visit the are being managed with the shelterwood TREASURE Forest. In turn, the method. The trees have been thinned Mickelsons go into the classroom and enough so that the remaining ones are talk with the students. providing the seed for new trees. Young The Solon Dixon Forestry Education pines in the grass stage are visible Center has also taken advantage of the throughout the property, and some are nearby TREASURE Forest to help teach Patches of hardwoods add diversity beginning their growth spurt out of this college students. While they were at the to this TREASURE Forest. stage. Dixon Center for forestry camp, students from Iowa State University visited the Wildlife Management Mickelson property on two occasions. The primary objective for this TREA- Their property was chosen so the stu- SURE Forest is timber production, but a dents could see examples of both planted close second is wildlife management. It pines and naturally regenerated pines. is not unusual for visitors on a drive The TREASURE Forest concept was through the property to see several also highlighted. turkeys. Regular thinnings and salvaging Marion and Myra have been active from storm damage—along with fre- members of the Covington County quent prescribed burning—have left the Forestry Planning Committee for many land open and park-like. This kind of years and are members of their county habitat is favored by species such as chapter of the Alabama TREASURE turkey and bobwhite quail. “My Forest Association. Their property was property is better for quail than most certified as TREASURE Forest #773 in here in Covington County,” Marion said. 1990. It is also a certified Tree Farm. Again he touts the use of prescribed Out of more than 1,400 TREASURE burning, which stimulates the growth of Forest landowners, each year four are food in the understory for quail and chosen as winners of the Helene Mosley other animals. Open ares were converted to food Memorial TREASURE Forest Award. In Open areas where there were few or plots for wildlife. 2000 the Mickelsons were honored with no trees were converted to food plots for this award for the Southeast Region of passers and potential poachers. wildlife. One of the six plots is planted the state. Bluebird boxes have been positioned in chufas, a favorite turkey food. Others It is hard to calculate how one’s con- throughout the property. Duck boxes are are planted in various grains. Autumn tact with others will affect the future. As placed next to a pond that is shared with olive and sawtooth oak have also a result of the Mickelsons’ involvement a neighbor. The Mickelsons enjoy watch- been planted on the perimeter of pine in the TREASURE Forest program, two ing all kinds of wildlife and can tell plantations. of their nephews now have certified many stories about the beaver activity in Although the property is not leased TREASURE Forests. Their son Roger the pond. One of Marion’s favorites is for hunting, the Mickelsons allow friends has purchased 40 acres nearby and is how he once found that his boat had and neighbors to hunt. As a result, those actively managing it. The Mickelsons’ been pushed from the edge of the pond friends and neighbors have taken on interaction with students from elemen- by the beavers and used in the construc- some responsibilities to aid the couple. tary school to college may well result in tion of their dam! They help plant and maintain food plots, future landowners and land managers Although the majority of the property build and put up tree stands, and have who are better stewards than they would is in longleaf pine, there are spots of even constructed a tree stand for Marion be otherwise. The Mickelsons have set hardwoods along natural drainages. with windows and a special chair. In an example that all of us can follow. Different species of oaks provide acorns addition, they also look out for tres- for deer, squirrels and other animals.

6 / Alabama’s TREASURED Forests Spring 2001 LAND WNERS LEGISLATIVE • ALERT By JAY JENSEN, Washington Office, National Association of State Foresters

ongress has now reconvened for Bush’s endorsement and enabling an significant interest among members of its 107th session and is gearing early environmental victory for the Congress and the Bush administration on Cup for action. For the first time in fledgling administration. these issues. nearly a half-century, Republicans con- Along these lines, we can expect a trol both the Executive and Legislative Roadless Areas number of bills to be introduced that will Branches of the government resulting in In January 2001 the USDA-Forest attempt to amend the Clean Water Act. the very real prospect of bill passage. Service released their plan to close off The first out of the blocks is a bill from However, legislative success will depend roadless areas within the National Forest last session, the Fishable Waters Act heavily on compromise and taking the System. Expected to impact nearly 60 (H.R. 325) introduced by Rep. Tanner middle ground approach because of the million acres of NFS land, along with (D-TN). H.R. 325 would put renewed tight margins in both the House and the the communities and people associated emphasis on nonpoint source pollution Senate. The Republicans currently hold a with those lands, the final rule has drawn abatement by empowering local water- five-seat advantage in the House and also strong praise and criticism from all sides. shed councils with grant-making authori- hold the tie-breaking vote of Vice- Congress and the new Bush ty. In all, we will definitely see numer- President Dick Cheney in the evenly split Administration have announced their ous committee hearings, congressional Senate. intention to review and scrutinize the reports and other inquiries into the busi- So what is on the minds of legislators roadless policy. ness of nonpoint source water pollution, related to private forestry? We will likely Congress has a number of options, including a few major water bills, but see immediate attention on many of the including the authority to overturn the like other issue areas, success will be hot issues that were left unresolved at the rule under the Small Business hard to come by. end of the 106th Congress. The Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act Conservation and Reinvestment Act within 60 days of finalization. This Endangered Species (CARA) will be introduced again and authority has never been tried previously The realm of threatened and endan- Republican leaders, including President and Congress may not be able to make gered species is another area that will be Bush, have already begun investigating the decision stick. Its application would of interest to the 107th Congress, but one the federal rules that were finalized as be nebulous at best. However, we should where we will not likely see any major Clinton left office. This includes the expect introduction of legislation to stop revisions or reauthorizations of the USDA Forest Service’s roadless area rule or overturn the rule, but the prospects for Endangered Species Act. There will be and the EPA’s Total Maximum Daily passage would be highly unlikely as the requisite number of bills introduced Load program. Below is a brief break- strong polar interests are at play. In all from all camps addressing private prop- down of these issues and more. likelihood, we will see a number of com- erty takings, the listing process, recovery mittee hearings and investigations into planning and other aspects of the ESA. Conservation and the matter. Further, Congress and the However, anything more than a piece- Reinvestment Act administration may not act until lawsuits meal approach to ESA reauthorization CARA was the largest and most pop- filed against the roadless policy begin to will get into serious trouble as the tight ular single piece of natural resource play out as well. vote margins will not allow for major, related legislation to move through the substantial changes to this highly contro- 106th Congress. The massive billion dol- Water versial law. lar conservation package proposed using There has been a significant amount offshore oil and gas royalty revenue to of regulatory and judicial activity in the Carbon Sequestration fund numerous conservation programs realm of forest water quality over the Congressional action to ratify the including two State & Private Forestry past year, particularly the Total Kyoto Climate Change treaty seems programs, the Urban & Community Maximum Daily Load program and wet- unlikely in this Congress, although it is Forestry and Forest Legacy programs. lands. Although forestry was not includ- not known yet how the Bush administra- Although it did not pass Congress last ed in the final TMDL rule released last tion will approach the issue. However, year, supporters are planning on reintro- July, and has also not been directly businesses and others interested in cli- ducing nearly identical legislation early impacted by any of the recent wetland mate change view carbon sequestration in the 107th hoping to garner President ditching regulations and rulings, there is Continued on page 31

Spring 2001 Alabama’s TREASURED Forests / 7 Mohr’s Barbara Button By ALFRED R. SCHOTZ, Botanist/Ecologist, Alabama Natural Heritage ProgramSM

n the early summer of 1882, ble of storing sufficient reserves of while surveying for plants near water. During early spring, upon ICullman, Alabama, Dr. Charles being replenished with winter pre- Mohr noted an unfamiliar relative of cipitation, the plants emerge and the sunflowers growing among some evolve into an erect herb that pro- grasses in a small streamside open- duces attractive heads of small pale ing. He promptly collected a sample pink flowers in May and June. and stowed it away for identification. Once commonplace, these glade Little did he know that his discovery and prairie systems were scattered was a species new to science and upon the landscape across northern one of the rarest of all native plants Alabama, often occurring as small to be found in the Southeast. The isolated openings. Today, there are a species, Mohr’s Barbara button few remaining examples that have (Marshallia mohrii), is now listed by escaped the influence of humanity, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) many of which have been destroyed as threatened. by trash disposal, road building, and Named in honor of Dr. Mohr by residential development. One of the venerable botanists Chauncey finest remaining populations occurs Beadle and Frank Boynton, in an open glade complex situated Marshallia mohrii was collected along the Cahaba and Little Cahaba only a few times following Mohr’s Rivers in Bibb County. The Nature discovery. For more than 80 years Conservancy has acquired portions the species remained in relative of this site and is currently working obscurity with no new populations with adjacent landowners to protect known from beyond its small range nearby areas. A high degree of in two north Alabama counties. endemism, the presence of several However, in 1969, Dr. Robert Kral of encountered elsewhere in the state. rare species, and the decline of these Vanderbilt University made a startling Although generally dominated by a rich habitats make calcareous glades and discovery when he observed the species and diverse herbaceous component, these marly prairies some of the most botani- along a roadside in Cherokee County plant communities are often character- cally unique ecosystems in Alabama. If near the present-day village of Centre. ized by a sparse occurrence of small we are to preserve this species in perpe- Since then, with an expanded knowledge trees and shrubs, such as Eastern red- tuity, it is important that we maintain the of habitat preferences and growing pat- cedar, hackberry, glade privet, and natural habitat in which Mohr’s Barbara terns the species has been found else- Carolina buckthorn. The incidence of button is a part. Only through the long- where across the region. periodic droughts and shallow well- term commitment toward conservation Mohr’s Barbara button is a narrowly drained soils are partially responsible for planning will this species remain a part distributed species preferring calcareous the scarcity of woody vegetation, but yet of Alabama’s remarkable natural heritage glades and marly (wet clay comprised of is essential for nurturing some of the for generations to come. For further dissolved limestone) prairies scattered state’s rarest and most cherished plant information contact the Alabama Natural throughout northern Alabama and adja- life. Marshallia mohrii is a perennial Heritage Program of The Nature cent Georgia. These plant associations species able to withstand the harsh often Conservancy, Huntingdon College, are specialized habitats that support a desert-like conditions of these habitats Massey Hall, 1500 East Fairview unique assemblage of flora rarely by developing a thick root system capa- Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36106.

8 / Alabama’s TREASURED Forests Spring 2001 Alabama Clean Water Partnership By COLEEN VANSANT, Alabama Forestry Commission, Information Specialist, Cullman

labama is blessed with an oversee the administrative activi- abundance of natural ties and projects of each basin. Aresources. Two of the most Many of the basins have been abundant and interdependent are the further divided into smaller geo- thousands of miles of rivers, creeks, graphical areas by river section or and streams and the 22 million sub-basins. Local stakeholders acres of forested land. Now the representing diverse interests will forestry community has the oppor- participate by serving on a sub- tunity to get involved with the pro- basin stakeholder committee. Each tection and management of our local committee will oversee the state’s vast water resources. development of a watershed man- The Clean Water Action Plan, agement plan and to pursue the announced in February 1998, implementation of watershed man- encourages the involvement of local agement projects. Local commit- citizens to address the protection tees are comprised of stakeholders and restoration of America’s water representing agriculture, local and resources. One of the primary com- state government, forestry, public ponents of the plan is to utilize a health, utilities, environmental watershed management approach in concerns, industry, economic protection and restoring water quali- developers, as well as recreational, ty in our rivers, streams and lakes. educational and regulatory repre- In Alabama, nine Clean Water sentatives. Each sub-basin com- Partnership Projects have been iden- mittee will have representation on tified by river basins. They are the the steering committee. Alabama River Basin, Cahaba River Through the combined efforts Basin, Chattachoohee/Choctawatchee- and interests of these partnerships, Pea/Perdido (not Baldwin County) Alabama’s water resources will be Escambia Basin, Coosa River Basin, protected or restored for citizens Mobile, Escatawpa/Perdido (includes today and for future generations. Baldwin County) Basin, Tallapoosa For more information about the River Basin, Tennessee River Basin, Alabama Clean Water Partnership Tombigbee River Basin, and Warrior committees are comprised of stakehold- contact Allison Newell, Executive River Basin. These basins will serve as ers who have basin-wide interests. Each Director, Alabama Water Watch partnerships in a coordinated effort of basin will also have a facilitator who will Association, at 334-514-3826. public and private stakeholders to restore and protect Alabama’s water resources. Through these partnerships, watershed Benefits of the Alabama Clean Water Partnership management plans for each basin will be developed and implemented. • Improved communication to promote information sharing, broad awareness of Participation in the partnership allows resource availability, and networking with others in river basins facing the same community-based groups, units of gov- challenges. ernment, industry, farms, forestry, special • Data and information consolidation through the creation of a communications interest groups, and individuals to pull and technical assistance network so that a more complete account of each together available resources to develop basin’s water quality is available. and implement programs that address and meet the needs of a variety of interests. • Improved coordination between community-based groups, municipalities, and In each basin, a steering committee industries to prevent the duplication of efforts and to streamline the use of limit- has been or will be established to facili- ed resources. tate communication and provide vision • Opportunity for collaboration in decision-making and implementation of water- for the protection and restoration of shed management projects. Alabama’s water resources. Steering

Spring 2001 Alabama’s TREASURED Forests / 9 Alabama Forest Inventory Completed By STEVE NIX, Forest Resource Analyst, Alabama Forestry Commission

he Alabama Periodic Forest Amazingly, this growth occurred at • The total forest acreage for Alabama is Inventory for 2000 is complete. the same time the forest products indus- increasing. Trees on nearly 6,000 plots were try continued to expand plants and locate T • Stocking levels are increasing (trees measured during a period between new ones. The late 1980s and early are fully occupying more acres). February 1997 and December 2000. 1990s saw billions of dollars invested in Nine crews working full time for the last by forest product companies in Alabama. • Pine acreage has stabilized and there is three years collected enough data to pro- At the same time 300,000 to 400,000 an increase in the hardwood forest. vide a picture of the Alabama forest and acres of trees were planted annually. • There are more non-industrial private how it fared during most of the 1990s. Timber volumes increased and have forest acres than ever before. All 67 counties in six units have more than doubled in 40 years. Total tree • The total volume for both pine and forestry data and a portion of the state volume increased from 11 billion cubic hardwood is increasing. now has current published resource feet in 1953 to over 23 billion cubic feet reports. Some of this data is still in in 1990. Both pine and hardwood vol- Even with this good news, those review. More on the present survey later. umes grew at about the same rate. reviewing the data have not yet come to Improved forest management any statewide conclusions. Much of the Historical Data increased the statewide annual growth data is yet to be processed. However, the United States Forest Service and from 37.1 cubic feet in 1953 to 55.9 data for completed units look good. Alabama Forestry Commission field cubic feet in 1990 or to approximately To enhance the survey’s reliability, a crews have been in the tree data collect- one-half cord per acre. The cut also Survey Review Committee looks at every ing business for 50 years. Published expanded from 28.7 cubic feet in 1953 to completed unit’s data. This review com- reports based on this data were compiled 49.8 cubic feet. mittee is made up of users from state and for years 1953, 1963, 1973, 1982, and We are growing more wood than is federal government, the forest product 1990. Data taken from these five surveys being cut—and have been for 50 years. industry, Auburn University, conservation indicate a growing but changing organizations and private consultants. resource. The Present Survey This broad-based committee’s mission is These past surveys show that while Information gathered from the latest to ensure a significant measure of quality sustaining the same amount of forested Alabama survey data has forest resource control, lend credibility to the database acres, Alabama continues to grow more analysts cautiously optimistic. At this and help in the distribution of the data. trees than ever before. Eleven billion writing, two southwest Alabama units As new information is processed, arti- trees grew in Alabama forests in 1953. are complete with published data. Two cles in Alabama’s TREASURED Forests Four decades later the forest increased to other units are in review. magazine will continue to provide 14 billion trees. Here is what we are finding: updates.

10 / Alabama’s TREASURED Forests Spring 2001 Littleleaf Disease By JIM HYLAND, Forest Health Chief, Alabama Forestry Commission

ittleleaf disease is the most serious a four-year cycle. One ton of 5-10-5 fer- disease of shortleaf pine in the tilizer plus one-half ton of ammonium Lsouthern United States. Affected sulfate per acre can be used for high- trees have reduced growth rates and usu- value trees or ornamentals. Occasionally, ally die within six years. fertilization is used to boost a forest Early work on littleleaf disease was stand into the next higher value class; for done in northwest Alabama by Dr. York example, from pulpwood to pole. of the Alabama Forestry Commission. Fertilization will delay the development His early work centered on the fact that of symptoms for about four years. Trees shortleaf pine will sprout and the trees appear to recover since the needles pro- showing littleleaf symptoms had sprout- duced during this period will be very ed from being killed back by fire. close to normal in color and size. The disease is caused by a complex of Average forest stands, 10-25 percent factors including the fungus of trees symptomatic—Remove symp- Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands, low tomatic trees during normal thinning oper- soil nitrogen, and poor internal soil ations. Beware that these stands will be drainage. Often, microscopic round- highly susceptible to Southern pine beetle. worms called nematodes and species of More than 25 percent of the trees the fungus genus Pythium are associated symptomatic—Cut all shortleaf pines with the disease. SCOTT ENEBAK and regenerate the area in a more resis- In the most recent general survey, lit- in these cones are sterile. Trees killed by tant species such as loblolly pine or tleleaf disease was found over 35 percent littleleaf can often be recognized by hardwoods. Site preparation can include of the commercial range of shortleaf these undersized cones, which remain subsoiling to break up any brick-like pine and was severe enough to be a fac- attached to the branches. compacted layer of clay (hardpan) pre- tor in timber management on about 1.4 Where the disease is present, preven- sent in the soil. This technique permits million forested acres. tive or control measures should be taken. better drainage on the site, thus reducing Shortleaf pine is the most seriously A set of management recommendations the spread of the fungus. damaged host, with loblolly pine dam- has been developed for use where little- aged to a lesser extent. Littleleaf disease leaf has been or is expected to be a Reference has also been reported on Virginia, pitch, problem. Forest Insect and Disease Leaflet 20, slash, and longleaf pines. High-value trees or stands (urban “Littleleaf Disease,” Paul Mistretta, areas, seed orchards, etc.)—Fertilize on 1984. Symptoms The first symptoms of littleleaf dis- ease are those of nutrient deficiency: a slight yellowing and shortening of the CHANGE OF ADDRESS FORM needles and reduction of shoot growth. Are you receiving Alabama’s TREASURED Forests at the correct address? If not, In the later stages of the disease, the please complete this form and return to: symptoms become progressively more Alabama's TREASURED Forests Magazine, P.O. Box 302550, Montgomery, AL 36130-2550 distinctive. The crown of an infected tree New Address appears thin and tufted: needles are dis- Name:______colored and shorter than normal, and the Address:______tree loses all but the new needles near the tips of the branches. Branches begin City:______State:______Zip:______dying, starting in the lower crown and Old Address as it appears on mailing label progressing upward through the crown. Name:______During this time, the tree’s diameter Address:______growth is markedly reduced. About three years before death, dis- City:______State:______Zip:______eased trees commonly produce abundant o Please check here if receiving duplicate copies and enclose both mailing labels. crops of small cones. Most of the seeds E-mail changes of address to: [email protected]

Spring 2001 Alabama’s TREASURED Forests / 11 Why Clearcut Your Timber? By TIM ALBRITTON, Forest Operations Specialist, Alabama Forestry Commission

ny timber harvest should be well Sound Silviculture Artificial regeneration should be used planned and have specific goals Clearcutting is a sound silvicultural if achieving successful natural regenera- Ain mind. Some goals for harvest- practice used by many foresters today. tion following a clearcut is doubtful. If ing timber might include the following: When used properly it can lead to the the clearcutting operation is performed to increase the vigor of residual trees, to establishment of an even-aged stand properly, the majority of the vegetation salvage timber damaged by weather, to composed of naturally or artificially of the previous stand is removed and remove trees with disease or insect prob- established trees. However, it should not replaced by newly planted seedlings. lems, to receive income, to improve be confused with a “commercial” Some form of site preparation is usually wildlife habitat of a desired game ani- clearcut where only the merchantable needed before tree planting begins. mal, or to remove overmature trees. In trees are cut. Commercial clearcutting, order to achieve these goals land man- also called high-grading, usually leaves a Wildlife Benefits agers use a variety of forest cutting stand in an unacceptable condition and Many species of wildlife benefit from methods. requires considerable site preparation the opening effect of clearcutting. The One of these methods is clearcutting. before tree planting can occur. Whitetail deer have much more browse, Many foresters today refer which is a major source of to clearcutting as a regener- food, after a clearcut. ation cut, which more accu- Clearcutting in small patches rately describes what takes also increases the amount of place. “Clearcutting is con- “edge.” Edge is the transition ceptually the simplest way area between two different of starting the replacement stands. The edge effect is most of old stands.” (Smith, prevalent between a forest David M., “The Practice of stand and an opening; however, Silviculture” 1986). The increased diversity, cover, and clearcutting practice is forage can exist between two defined as: A method of different stand types. regenerating a forest stand The most recent forest in which all trees on the inventory data for Alabama area to be regenerated are estimates that 800,000 acres removed in one cutting, per year have had some form of leading to the development harvesting conducted. of an even-aged stand either Clearcutting in small patches increases the amount of edge, Approximately 360,000 acres, by natural seeding or by which is beneficial to wildlife. or 45 percent, of the 800,000 planting. Clearcutting may acres harvested is clearcut. be done in blocks, strips, or When clearcutting with natural regen- This 360,000 acres represents less than 2 patches. eration careful consideration should be percent of the commercial forest in Clearcutting is generally recommend- given to the desired species of the future Alabama. ed in the following situations: stand. Some species regenerate readily • All the trees of a stand are mature or from stump sprouts, others depend on Summary overmature and the stand contains no seed stored in the forest floor, and other Many individuals, groups, and soci- desirable seed trees. light-seeded species can reproduce from eties today view clearcutting as an envi- seed disseminated from trees located adja- ronmentally insensitive practice that • The stand is stocked with undesirable cent to the clearcut. Natural regeneration should be banned. In my view, the species. after a harvest cut comes from new forests of Alabama should be managed • The stand is seriously damaged by fire, seedlings established at or after the time of for the multiple benefits they can provide insects or disease. the harvest cut, from older seedlings estab- to our society, not preserved like a lished prior to the harvest cut (advanced museum piece. If sufficiently planned • It is required to generate certain reproduction), and from stump sprouts or and properly applied, clearcutting can be species. roots of the harvest trees (Beck 1980). a management tool to improve the future Clearcutting is not recommended on Depending on the species composition of forest productivity and sustainability of steep lands subject to erosion. the stand, options may be limited. Alabama’s forest.

12 / Alabama’s TREASURED Forests Spring 2001 Leave Some Trees in Your Clearcut

By JEFF JACKSON, Extension Wildlife Specialist and Professor of Wildlife Management, University of Georgia

hat on earth did you leave Perhaps best of all these tall trees • Location: Where would it look nice to those trees for?” a forester allow me to get above my young trees in see tall trees? Wfriend asked me as we looked a climbing deer stand. I can sit there in • Wildlife food value: Fruits, nuts, out over a clearcut on my land. I had left comfort in my little climbing armchair, seeds, etc. a random scattering of tall pines along high in my tree, viewing my domain like with a hardwood here and a clump of a hawk. My view from above allows me • Good place to hunt: Overlooking game leftovers there. Row upon row of newly to see wildlife and to take deer from the trails or stream crossings. planted pines covered the land. The big interior of the stand—in places where • Ease of climbing: Modern climbing trees left behind looked like an accident. they would normally be inaccessible. deer stands work best on straight trees They could have been sold along with Now that the pines make excellent with diameters that fit the climber. the rest. What a waste! My forester hiding and escape cover for deer, I’ve • Not the best timber trees: Unless it is friend viewed them as unwanted compe- converted some of the little clearings intended as a seed source for the next tition with the new crop in the making. near the leave trees into secret mini food generation, I prefer to sell the more Wood production is the only way patches. These are a wonderful hunting valuable trees. some strictly utilitarian people look at aid. There is no way to get a tractor in forest management. Why leave perfectly there so I make the patches with hand • Number: I leave two or three times as good crop trees unsold? But there are tools and herbicides. many as I want because the leave trees other points of view. I also left some of those trees because will suffer high mortality from ice and I like the visual variety these sentinel they produce fruits and nuts for wildlife. wind after their protecting neighbors trees provide. I prefer to see some tall Some of my favorites are persimmons are cut. vegetation in a young woods. It makes and oaks. In the context of production • Picturesque form: If you have artistic the land look more like a forest and less pines here in the South, these trees are sense, leave “wolf trees” and other like . . . well . . . a clearcut or a cropland. viewed as “weeds.” But I like them, so I trees of interesting shape. Leaving some trees in a clearcut can give keep them. They serve to support the Reprinted with permission of the subtle values to the land. deer stand and to attract wildlife. American Forest Foundation from “Tree A few big old survivors give the land When I select trees to leave in a Farmer: The Practical Guide to a sense of history—I can keep in touch clearcut I consider a range of values: Sustainable Forestry,” Nov/Dec 2000. with the way the land looked before the cut. Tall isolated trees serve as perches and nest sites for hawks, owls, flycatch- ers and other birds. The larger hawks and Southern Forest Science Conference owls can help keep rabbit and rodent populations at moderate levels. These November 26-28, 2001 bark-chewing creatures can damage or Atlanta, GA destroy little pines if they get very numerous. Renaissance Waverly Hotel Now that those little trees are 6 years old and 15 to 20 feet tall, I use the “leave The Southern Forest Science Conference is a collaborative effort to trees” as reference points to help find my highlight the history and future role of science in sustainable forestry. way. It’s easy to get disoriented in stands Understanding the contribution science makes to the management of for- of young trees taller than your head. I est ecosystems and resulting social and economic benefits is essential. can’t see far at eye level so it’s hard to Speakers will include representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, J.W. find my way, but I can look up and see Jones Ecological Research Center, Virginia Tech, The Nature the tops of tall trees. I know all my tall Conservancy, International Paper, The University of Georgia, The leave trees individually so I can use them Sampson Group, Inc., and the State University of New York-Buffalo. as markers to help me return to an exact For more information on the conference, visit the web site: spot in my stand of little trees. They also come in handy when laying out fire- breaks for prescribed fire. www.southernforestscience.net

Spring 2001 Alabama’s TREASURED Forests / 13 Prescribed Burning for Timber and Wildlife

By TED DEVOS, Trust Forester and Wildlife Biologist, Regions Bank, Montgomery, AL

he use of prescribed fire has been Smoke management is the most common Quail around for centuries in North problem with many complaints arising Of all the game species occurring in TAmerica, being first used by due to “smoking in” roadways and Alabama, quail have had the hardest native people for creating access to game developments. “Smoke on the Road” time in the environment of the last three and good feeding range for deer, etc. signs, pre-burn notification of affected decades. For a variety of reasons primar- Nature helped this process along in the residents and a simple explanation of ily related to habitat destruction and Southeast by causing lightning set fires why you are burning may reduce com- degradation, quail populations have that burned large expanses (tens or hun- plaints. severely declined throughout the dreds of thousands of acres per burn) of So the sensible question arises: why Southeast. One of the most obvious habi- upland longleaf pine woodlands each go to all the trouble to burn? The simple tat degradation factors is the lack of fire year depending upon seasonal weather. answer is that more acres of wildlife in the woodlands. Ask anyone who lived Amazingly enough, and contrary to pop- habitat can be positively influenced for in rural Alabama before the late 1960s ular belief, the Southeast was dominated far less money with controlled burning what the woodlands were like and you by a near monoculture of pine except for than with probably any other manage- will learn a few things about quail man- the wetter draws and agement and burning. creek/river bottoms Fire was routinely used where fire seldom to control hardwoods and burned. Through thou- quail were abundant sands of years of consis- around the many small tent fire, plants and ani- farms. Quail is also one mals adapted to this of the only game animals dominant habitat type that can seldom be man- and often required it for aged without annual survival. burning in portions of Also, contrary to their range. popular belief, this pre- Several benefits are dominantly pine stand associated with fire that with a scattering of directly influence quail upland and bottomland populations. In wood- hardwoods was the habi- lands that are kept open tat type which resulted (lots of sunlight on the in the huge populations ground), fire keeps the of game and non-game sapling hardwoods under wildlife the first settlers Prescribed burning is often used after clearcutting to prepare the control but still allows to the Southeast ground for replanting. resprouting. This allows described. This wood- some “hard” cover to be land described by early retained close to the botanists and travelers was a “cathedral- ment technique. Generally, burning helps ground giving birds some protection like” forest, “scatteringly planted to control sapling hardwoods, keeping the from predators. Fire also removes broom-pine (longleaf),” with a grassy woodlands more open, allowing sunlight buildup of dead vegetation (duff) on the (herbaceous) understory that was very to reach the dirt, thereby stimulating ground, exposing seeds. This means easy but monotonous to ride through. native plants that many species rely on quail have access to food and can more In today’s environment, it is becom- for food. In addition, burning reduces the easily move through the growing vegeta- ing increasingly uncommon to see large duff layer on the ground, scarifies seeds, tion. By stimulating hard-seeded plants scale burning in the woodlands, both and acts as a fertilizer catalyst promoting such as legumes to sprout, fire actually because of excessive development near- the sprouting of many seeds that would increases the production of seeds and by or lack of understanding of the bene- be dormant without fire. With that intro- food plants on which quail rely through fits of prescribed fire in the piney woods. duction, lets look at the more common the year. Fire promotes grasses to grow Burning for preparation of clearcut sites species that benefit from a controlled (by controlling taller hardwood saplings) for replanting is most common but does burning program. in the understory and, by leaving por- not have the same wildlife benefits. tions of the woodlands unburned for a

14 / Alabama’s TREASURED Forests Spring 2001 year, allows you to increase coverage of stands per year is probably optimal for much earlier in its life (possibly as early quality nesting cover. Research is indi- wild turkeys. as the second year after planting or cating that burned woodlands rival fal- regeneration). Loblolly and shortleaf low fields for insect production, and Non-game and Others pine can be managed and burned regular- quail cannot be raised without good Several non-game wildlife species are ly, but burning must be done carefully to quality brood rearing range containing either dependent upon or benefit from avoid damaging young regeneration high insect densities. prescribed burning. Red-cockaded wood- where it exists or is wanted. Once pine pecker, gopher tortoise, and indigo snake stands have grown to 3-4 inches in diam- Deer are species that rely on this type of habi- eter and have been burned once or twice, Utilizing fire for deer management is tat management to survive and are feder- they are relatively resistant to fire dam- not as often used as for quail manage- ally protected within their range. age. There is conflicting information on ment, but outside of the Black Belt, Grasshopper and Bachman’s sparrows, whether regular burning slows the some of the largest body-sized and pine and prairie warblers, parulas, growth of pine timber, but generally it racked deer can be found on areas man- towhees, meadowlarks, bobolinks, indigo can assist in creating clean, limb-free aged for quail. They may not need the buntings, blue grosbeaks, vireos, and fly- boles on poles and logs and helps tree open ground to feed and move about, but catchers are examples of birds that bene- growth by reducing competition from the promotion of legumes and other fit from early successional habitats like hardwoods. Burning regularly with slow, forbs helps increase quality food sup- burned, open pinelands. These birds are cool fires probably has much less effect plies for deer. Amazingly, the majority of of special concern by both state and fed- on timber growth than burning once food that deer eat year every 5 or more years round are these “weeds,” when the fires are much which are strongly promot- hotter and flame height is ed by fire. Deer select much higher. Burning foods in these burned later in the growing sea- woodlands that tend to be son probably has more the same legumes, etc. negative effect on pine which are so important for growth than winter fires. quail foods and deer may Undoubtedly, late, hot also be having an impact on fires that result in high quail production in rates of needle scorch will Alabama. Regularly burned slow growth or eventually open piney woods may not kill even mature pines. look like the best deer Burning in hardwood woods due to the low stands should generally herbaceous understory, but be avoided but there is you would be amazed at the interesting research being deer densities that this habi- done on the positives and tat type can support due to negatives of cool fires in increased food supplies. As mature hardwood stands.

with quail management, STEVE MASLOWSKI/USFWS Fire in mixed pine/hard- burning in pine stands for Many non-game species like the prairie warbler benefit from wood stands will eventual- deer should be tied closely prescribed burning. ly result in the mortality of with timber thinnings. some of the thinner-barked hardwoods but will also Turkeys eral agencies due to declines that are allow more sunlight (taken up by the Although wild turkeys can be sus- nearly as severe as that of bobwhite quail large canopy of the hardwoods in sum- tained at a high density without pre- in the last 30 years. Maintaining mer) to reach the ground during the scribed burning and benefit the least grassy/weedy woodlands and idle fields growing season, resulting in better and from the open, burned piney woods that on your property will greatly assist in the more wildlife foods. Burning in young quail like, they will benefit from regular maintenance of these species. upland hardwood stands should be controlled burning on a portion of their reserved for site preparation prior to range each year. Turkey like the open Timber replanting and for the control and nature of a more heavily stocked (shady) Managing timber in a regularly removal of those hardwood stands. In mixed pine/hardwood stand that is occa- burned environment can be a little more general, open, fire-maintained pine sionally burned to keep the shrub layer at problematical; however, utilizing lon- woodlands are better wildlife habitat a minimum and increase production of gleaf pine wherever possible greatly anyway. herbaceous weeds. Burning 20 percent assists a manager to maintain uplands Continued on page 17 of your upland pine and mixed pine with burning. Longleaf can be burned

Spring 2001 Alabama’s TREASURED Forests / 15 Seedlings Available from AFC Nursery Now is the time to plan for the next tree planting season. The Alabama Forestry Commission’s E.A. Hauss Nursery in Atmore will begin taking orders on June 1, 2001. For more information or to place a seedling order call 334-368-4854. You may also contact your county Alabama Forestry Commission office to place a seedling order. Pine and Hardwoods PINES HARDWOODS Seed Source Price Per 500 1,000 Species: Loblolly Green Ash Cherrybark Oak Yellow Poplar Coastal 1.5 Generation $25 $39 Shumard Oak Water Oak White Oak Piedmont 2nd Generation $28 $44 Prices: Slash $21 per 100 seedlings $185 per 1,000 seedlings 1st Generation $23 $35 • Minimum order of hardwood seedlings is 100 per species. 1.5 Generation $25 $39 • Total hardwood order determines price. Longleaf • Orders of less than 2,000 may be shipped UPS or picked Unimproved $39 $60 up at Hauss Nursery. Orders of more than 2,000 seedlings 1st Generation $45 $70 may be shipped to cooler locations with a 2-week notice from customer. Wildlife and Habitat Selection SPECIES AVAILABLE Autumn Olive Chinese Chestnut Crab Apple Flowering Dogwood Common Persimmon Native Pecan Lespedeza Thunbergii Sawtooth Oak “Gobbler” Sawtooth Oak $26 Per 500 25 Trees 100 Trees 500 Trees 1,000+ Trees $12 $40 $150 $250 $42 Per 1,000 • Species may be mixed. • Minimum order of wildlife seedlings is 25 per species. Ordering Information

• Call Hauss Nursery at 334-368-4854 or your local Alabama Forestry Commission office to place your order. You will receive an acknowledgment with 5-7 working days. • Upon receipt of your acknowledgment, remit a 10% non-refundable deposit or full payment if your order is for more than 50,000 pines or more than 10,000 hardwoods. Remit full payment for all other orders. • For proper credit always note your customer ID number on your payment. • We accept checks and money orders payable to: Alabama Forestry Commission. • All payments/deposits are due within 30 days of the acknowledgment date.

• Orders are normally available for delivery during December, January and February only. • Hauss nursery pick-up—Schedule your delivery at least 2 weeks in advance by calling 334-368-4854. • UPS delivery—Select shipping date from the calendar enclosed with your acknowledgment and return with your payment. • Cooler delivery—Orders of more than 2,000 may be shipped to our cooler locations in Huntsville, Florence, Tuscaloosa, Cullman, Autaugaville, Opelika, Ozark and Atmore. Delivery must be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance.

16 / Alabama’s TREASURED Forests Spring 2001

Manage Your Forest with Diversity in Mind By TIM ALBRITTON, Forest Operations Specialist, Alabama Forestry Commission

or many people, forest management usually means uni- the available food supply. That food source for the Southern formity. Driving down the interstate in Alabama people pine beetle is obviously pine trees, especially those stands that Fsee thousands of acres of uniform, even-aged pine stands are stressed or low-vigor (example: a pine stand that has not and relate this to forest management. It does require a signifi- been thinned). An SPB spot will not, however, spread into a cant amount of forest management knowledge and skill to hardwood stand. establish, maintain, protect, and ultimately harvest an even-age Landowners can eliminate the food supply from a growing pine stand. However, for the average Alabama private landown- insect population with changes in forest type. Forest stands can er of 100 acres, a uniform even-age pine stand may not be the differ in various ways: naturally regenerated vs. artificially best management decision. The old adage “Don’t put all your regenerated, hardwood vs. pine, mature vs. young, over-stocked eggs in one basket” could apply here. vs. under- stocked, uneven-aged vs. even-aged, and by species. A landowner can reduce losses due to insect and disease attacks Forest Diversity for Health by purposely managing for diversity. Let us consider forest diversity from a forest health perspec- A good way to create natural forest type changes that can aid tive. Generally speaking, the more diverse a forest is, the less in reducing the spread of insect populations is by leaving wide likely it will suffer significant losses due to insect and disease. streamside management zones or SMZs. A streamside manage- Alabama experienced one of the worst Southern pine beetle ment zone is a strip of land immediately adjacent to a stream (SPB) epidemics on record this past year. In 2000, Alabama had where soils, organic matter and vegetation are managed to pro- 24,465 SPB spots that killed 1,438,100 pine trees. tect the physical, chemical and biological integrity of surface One of the limiting factors with most insect populations is water adjacent to and downstream from the forestry operation.

The property on the left is much more diversified, especially if one is managing for species such as quail.

18 / Alabama’s TREASURED Forests Spring 2001 Forest Diversity for Wildlife Forest Diversity for Specialty Diversity is very important if wildlife Markets management is an objective. The three Species diversity can be an asset basic things wild animals need to survive when marketing timber. Timber markets, are food, water, and cover. Habitat needs to say the least, are difficult to predict. vary depending on which animal is being Relying on one species or product can be managed and, therefore, so should the a risky proposition. management. In his article, “Enhancing A growing interest with many Wildlife Habitat,” Wildlife Biologist landowners is the specialty wood prod- David Nelson of the Alabama ucts market. Specialty wood products are Department of Conservation says, “The nontraditional items from the forest. single most important objective of tim- These products range from baskets, bat ber management practices used to houses, and banjos to walking sticks, enhance wildlife habitat is to provide a wreaths, witch hazel bark and everything diversity of habitat types.” in between. A diversity of cover types with plenty A web site has been developed to help of edges is advantageous if deer hunting landowners list their product or products is an objective. Edge is the transition for sale. The web site lists hundreds of zone between two different plant com- specialty products being marketed and munities. The most prevalent is between sold: http://www.sfp.forprod.vt.edu/spe- a forest and an open field. cial_fp.htm. Thinning not only provides income The wild turkey and the gray squirrel but can improve the forest health of prefer mature hardwoods, preferably Forest Diversity for the stand. oaks. The bobwhite quail needs fairly Agroforestry open land with a combination of fields in Agroforestry helps to conserve and row crops, pasture, and fencerows. Agroforestry is an intensive land man- protect natural resources by mitigating Generally speaking, the best forest habi- agement system that optimizes the bene- non-point source pollution, controlling tats for the widest possible range of fits from the biological interactions cre- soil erosion, and creating wildlife habi- wildlife are those that: ated when trees and/or shrubs are delib- tat. The benefits of agroforestry add up 1. Contain both bottomland and upland erately combined with crops and/or ani- to a substantial improvement of the eco- sites mals. nomic and resource sustainability of The benefits created by agroforestry agriculture. 2. Contain both pine and hardwood tim- practices are both economic and environ- The Southern Agroforestry ber types mental. Agroforestry can increase farm Conference was held in Huntsville in 3. Differ in age classes from newly profitability in several ways: October 1998. Agroforestry practices regenerated to mature timber 1. By combining farming and forestry have been experimented in the south and 4. Are thinned on a regular bases the total output per unit area of have proven to be successful. For more tree/crop/livestock combinations is information contact the USDA National 5. Are prescribed burned at regular inter- greater than any single component alone. Agroforestry Center (NAC), East vals (if predominately pine) 2. By protecting Campus-UNL, Lincoln, Nebraska crops and live- 68583-0822. Phone: 402-437-5178; web stock from the site: www.unl.edu/nac. damaging effects of wind Conclusion so they can be In conclusion, managing your forest more productive for diversity can help prevent future (mainly in west- problems and create future opportunities. ern states). There is certainly nothing wrong—envi- 3. By introduc- ronmentally or economically—with an ing new prod- even-age single species forest manage- ucts to add to ment approach. There will always be a the financial place for commercial forest production diversity and in Alabama. However, a landowner own- flexibility of the ing a small tract may want to consider a farming enter- more diverse approach. Silvopasture combines trees with forage and livestock pro- prise. Illustrations on page 18 courtesy of duction. The trees are managed for high quality sawlogs at the Alabama Cooperative Extension the same time an annual income is generated for livestock System. grazing. Spring 2001 Alabama’s TREASURED Forests / 19 Feral Hogs in Alabama

By DAVID K. NELSON, Supervising Wildlife Biologist, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries and DR. M. KEITH CAUSEY, Ireland Professor of Wildlife Science, Auburn University, Retired

rue wild pigs are not native to of the Southeast were reportedly as high Alabama or the New World. Wild as 75-100 animals per square mile. Tswine in North and South America, which may include European History wild hogs, feral hogs and hybrids The first introduction of swine into between the two have been introduced. the New World theoretically was by Pigs were domesticated 8,000-9,000 Christopher Columbus in 1493 in the years ago and have spread throughout the West Indies. Hernando De Soto intro- world as livestock. In many areas they duced them to the U.S. mainland in 1539 have escaped or been released from into Florida and in 1542 into Texas. domestication and reverted to a wild, Domestic hogs may have been brought to free-ranging or feral state. Published esti- South Carolina in 1526 and in 1565 mates suggested a U.S. population of Admiral Pedro Mendez reportedly between 1 and 2 million feral hogs in brought 400 pigs to Florida. Other intro- 1991 and they were the most abundant, ductions continued in the Carolinas, free-ranging, introduced ungulate in the Georgia, Alabama and other areas of the U.S. In 1989 wild hogs reportedly Southeast by adventurers and missionar- The timber industry is adversely occurred in 19 states, Puerto Rico and ies throughout the 17th and 18th cen- affected by feral hogs because they the U.S. Virgin Islands. turies. Settlers, farmers and native destroy seedlings and young trees. In the 1980s feral swine in the South Americans promoted the spread of hogs were located primarily in the Coastal by open range practices that persisted in Population Distribution Plain from Virginia south to Florida, and some states until as recently as the A 1988 survey of feral swine distribu- west to Texas. As early as the 1950s con- 1960s. centrations of wild swine in some areas tion in Alabama suggested significant populations occurred only in those coun- ties of southwest Alabama along the Tombigbee and Alabama rivers. Apparently during the past 10 years there has been a general statewide spread of these animals aided by individuals who trap or catch wild pigs alive and relocat- ed them to new habitat. Once released, feral swine have an alarming reproduc- tive capacity with sexual maturity on good habitat attained at four to six months of age. After a gestation period of less that four months sows give birth to four to 12 piglets and some sows pro- duce two litters per year. Once estab- lished, feral pigs are virtually impossible to eradicate.

Negative Impacts Feral hogs are large-bodied, generalist feeders that tend to be rather nomadic and travel in groups. They have few nat- Feral hogs can produce two litters a year. ural enemies other than humans. Feral

20 / Alabama’s TREASURED Forests Spring 2001 swine almost always impact New World habitats negatively and most often are undesirable additions to habitats into FACTS ABOUT FERAL HOGS which they have been introduced. Feral hogs can damage timber, agriculture, n Feral hogs are present in at least 23 states and are found in most counties in pastures and wildlife openings and their Alabama. Their population and range is increasing. rooting habit is especially damaging n Feral hogs first breed at six months of age and average nearly two litters per because of soil disturbance that increases year. They average 4 to 7 pigs per litter and breed in cooler months with a erosion and alters nutrient cycles. Feral 115-day gestation period. pigs are considered the greatest verte- n brate modifiers of natural plant commu- A population of feral hogs can double every four months. Numbers can increase from one hog per square mile to 100 hogs per square mile in 3 years. nities since our native plants have not adapted to this rooting behavior. Rooting n Feral hogs are crafty, intelligent animals and can survive natural hardships. decreases total woody understory and They consume primarily vegetative matter. The meat of feral hogs is lean and while recovery of plant communities is delicious. variable, species composition may be n In Alabama the feral swine is categorized as a game animal and can be hunted by altered permanently. Rooted areas also licensed hunters year round without limits. They cannot be hunted over bait or at are prime spots for invasion by exotic night. If on private land, the landowner’s consent is needed. It is illegal to relo- plants. cate trapped feral hogs. Feral hogs directly compete with n native wildlife for hard and soft mast and The last cases of brucellosis and pseudorabies in domestic swine in Alabama many other foods important to deer, were in 1996. Since that time, there have been over 20 premises where trapped turkeys, squirrels and other native feral hogs have been found to have one or both diseases. Fortunately, the dis- species. Feral pigs are serious nest eases have not spread back to domestic hogs. predators and also prey upon birds, n Domestic swine owners should not allow their hogs to come in contact with feral mammals (including deer, sheep and hogs. Adequate fencing and sound management practices should be goats), reptiles and amphibians. They utilized. carry many parasites and diseases such n Brucellosis, also know as Bangs disease or undulant fever, can spread from as cholera, pseudrabies, brucellosis, infected hogs to humans, usually through contact with reproductive fluids and tuberculosis and anthrax. Some or all of internal organs. It is a debilitating disease in humans requiring extensive antibi- these diseases can by transmitted to otic and supportive treatment. Hunters are especially vulnerable when field native wildlife, domestic livestock and dressing feral hogs barehanded. The meat should be cooked thoroughly. humans. n Trichinosis, caused by a parasite found embedded in the muscle and Sparganosis, As a Game Species caused by a tapeworm found beneath the skin of infected hogs, can affect humans. Caution should be exercised in handling; thorough cooking will destroy Feral swine have been hunted widely the parasite. in the South and have become an integral part of the social fabric of many rural n Agricultural damage caused by feral hogs includes crops, land, fences and farm communities, especially in Florida and equipment. The timber industry is adversely affected through destruction of Texas and certain areas in the Carolinas, seedlings and young trees. Monetary loss can be extensive. Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana and n Feral hogs have a negative impact on wildlife habitat. They are known to com- Alabama. They make excellent table fare pete directly with native game species, cause damage to wildlife food plots and and the trophy value of large males may are predators of ground-nesting birds. be economically important in some Information provided by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. places. Feral hogs are listed as a game animal by the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries and apparently there in an increasing number of hunters interested in pursuing them. However, the list of undesirable effects of high populations of feral pigs is end- less. Individuals involved in releasing feral hogs into new range give little thought to the destruction they can cause and every effort should be made to pre- vent their spread into areas where they do not occur. Article and photos courtesy of the Alabama Wildlife Federation.

Spring 2001 Alabama’s TREASURED Forests / 21 Music from the Trees By TILDA MIMS, Forest Education Specialist, Northwest Region, Alabama Forestry Commission

y father was a carpenter for Halfway between Hamilton and with an affect on the sound it produces. more than 50 years. He was Hackleburg in Marion County, you will Even within a species, no pieces of wood from the old school where find Charles Grissom custom-building are exactly alike. Environmental condi- Martisanship was valued over profit, and guitars and mandolins. Self-taught tions, genetics, the age of the tree, quality valued more than convenience. through reading, observation and mis- growth patterns, grain orientation and Through his example, I learned early to takes, he has been in the business since curing conditions are equally important appreciate the patience and vision the mid-70s. His trademark mother-of- when wood is selected. required to turn a block of wood into an pearl “Grissom” is on the neck of many Spruce is the traditional source for the item of beauty and function. bluegrass instruments played today. soundboard of all musical instruments. It Although today’s technology makes it Anden Houben of Tuscaloosa has is light and has a tight grain enabling the possible to manufacture almost anything been creating historically accurate harp- wood, when properly cut, to vibrate. As in a matter of moments, there remains a sichords full-time since 1976. He, too, is the instrument ages, sap hidden in the desire to own a unique piece that suits self-taught and built his first instrument grain gradually dries and crystallizes, one’s individual needs, tastes and self- from a kit. Anden makes each part of the further accentuating the bright, resonant image. instrument by hand with the exception of quality of the wood. Luthiers, people who make musical the felt and strings, remaining faithful to Alabama woods commonly used for instruments, represent the best of those the original materials and construction guitars and mandolins are hickory, white who strive to recall, recreate and relive techniques. oak, maple, holly, persimmon, cherry, the artistry of a bygone era. Alabama is Musicians, whether they play cham- poplar, black walnut and redcedar. home to several of these talented individ- ber music or bluegrass, want to own a Anden makes use of cherry, basswood, uals and each of them make good use of beautiful instrument that also sounds cottonwood and walnut. Other species local and exotic woods to create lasting good. One of the most important vari- such as mahogany and rosewood are also treasures. ables in defining the sound of a musical among woods traditionally used in mak- Henry Taylor, 81, of Cullman County instrument is the wood used to make it. ing musical instruments. started building guitars about 22 years Other than species, a significant vari- ago when a friend introduced him to a Species able is the quality of the wood, which C.F. Martin guitar kit that had just come A musical instrument may contain includes appropriate cutting and careful on the market. After that he began mak- seven or more species of wood, each aging. ing the instruments from scratch and has since built about 50 “Taylormade” brand guitars in his Hanceville workshop. He has sold most of them but has given quite a few away as gifts to his seven children and 21 grandchildren.

Charles Grissom uses scrapers and planes rather than sandpaper to Henry Taylor strums an electric guitar he built for his grandson. On the floor smooth the wood. Here he works on are (center) a flattop acoustic guitar and (right) a scaled-down guitar for his wood that he cut and dried. youngest granddaughter.

22 / Alabama’s TREASURED Forests Spring 2001 Cutting Wood used for a musical instrument is quartersawn. The log is cut to length and then cut into quarters (called billets), and the boards are sawn off the resulting flat sides. Quartersawing contributes to a high strength-to weight ratio. This wood shrinks and swells less in width, and warps less than plain-sawn wood. Also, quartersawn wood makes the grain more visible. Quartersawn wood results in a multi- tude of wedge-shaped pieces. If you were to reassemble the log, you could pick up two adjacent pieces, open them up as though they were a book and create a “book-matched” set of wedges. Bookmatched wood for the top of a gui- tar provides symmetry and improves tone.

Drying Wood used for instruments must be thoroughly dry. Wood moves quite a lot as humidity changes; it shrinks as it dries and swells as it becomes moist. If the instrument is constructed before the wood is completely dry, shrinking and swelling can cause the wood to crack. Air-dried woods enhance the musical properties of wood and are preferred over kiln-dried by most luthiers. Lumber may be purchased air-dried, or the arti- RICKEY YANAURA Continued on page 27 This lautenwerck, built by Anden Houben of Northport, is a harpsichord-like instrument which imitates the sound of the lute.

Anden Houben patterned this harpsi- chord after one of the few surviving instruments. The original is in the Victoria and Albert Museum in This harpsichord frame is made of walnut. All surviving 17th century harpsi- England. chords were made of walnut.

Spring 2001 Alabama’s TREASURED Forests / 23 Take Action to Protect Your Home and Property from Wildfire By LOU HYMAN, Fire Staff Officer, Alabama Forestry Commission

lobal warming, El Nino, La The hard work of the Alabama was 13.6 acres. Through hard work, Nina. Whatever the possible Forestry Commission and the volunteer three-quarters of the wildfires in the state Gcause, Alabama is going through fire departments around the state kept the were kept to under 10 acres, with 98 per- an extended drought period. For the last actual acres burned down from the disas- cent of the wildfires being less than 100 three years, each summer and fall has ter levels they could have reached. The acres (Figure 3). seen significantly reduced rainfall and an average size fire in Alabama last year These fires had an impact on many increasing number of dangerous wild- fires. Figure 1

Drought Increases Wildfires Wildfires in Alabama 1997-2000 During the year 2000, the continued dry conditions led to a jump in both the number of wildfires and the size and intensity of the fires. Over the last three years, the annual number of wildfires in Alabama has more than doubled (Figures 1 and 2). During the same period, the total acres burned in the state more than tripled. The drought of 2000 led to a signifi- cant number of fires originating from what used to be “minor” causes. For example, in 1999 Alabama experienced only 56 wildfires caused by lightning. During 2000, lightning fires more than quadrupled to 254 fires burning over 10,400 acres. Last summer, Alabama experienced dry lightning storms—thun- derstorms where the rain evaporated Figure 2 before it hit the ground. This is usually a Western phenomenon. Acres Burned in Alabama 1997-2000 The number of wildfires started by children playing also more than doubled, from 58 fires in 1999 to 135 fires in 2000. People burning debris and letting the fire escape has always been a major cause of wildfires in Alabama. Last year the number of escaped debris fires nearly doubled, from 1172 to 1924 wildfires in 2000. What all these fire causes have in common is that under normal conditions, few incidents of lightning, children play- ing or people burning debris would lead to a wildfire. However, the drought con- ditions of the summer of 2000 left the forest so dry that any spark led to a wild- fire.

24 / Alabama’s TREASURED Forests Spring 2001 Alabama’s extended drought has meant increased wildfires across the state. Alabama landowners. There was a higher The other loss many landowners faced What’s a Landowner to Do? than average loss of pine plantations, was in hardwood stands, where the dry A major part of overall forest man- with over 33,427 acres burned. Many of conditions allowed intense fires to burn agement is the protection of the invest- these were in 4- to 10-year-old stands, in normally wet areas, killing and scar- ment. With so much treasure in your for- where dryness and winds resulted in ring hardwood trees, resulting in a long- est, doesn’t it make sense to install some almost unstoppable fires that killed most term loss of quality and value in the basic protective measures to safeguard trees. The loss of these investments hit stand. your property? many landowners hard. There are three parts to what is called the Fire Triangle: Fuel, Oxygen and Heat (or an ignition source). If all these fac- tors are together, a fire occurs. In wild- land fires, oxygen is not a limiting factor, but having fuels and enough heat to dry the fuel and cause ignition are key fac- tors. In hot, dry weather, like in a drought, less heat is needed to start the fire and to get it to grow. Just a spark can do it. When the Alabama Forestry Commission suppresses a wildfire, the most common method is to remove the fuel using a plowed fireline. To prevent catastrophic wildfires from damaging your forest, you need to break up the fuels. Landowners can do this using firelanes, plowed and disked trails through the forest that break up the ground fuels into compartments where

Firelanes help break up the forest so wildfires can be more easily controlled. Continued on page 26

Spring 2001 Alabama’s TREASURED Forests / 25 Protect Your Home and Figure 3 Property Size of Wildfires Continued from page 25 Calendar Year 2000 any wildfire can be controlled. Landowners can also thin their stands, which opens up the canopy and slows down any crown fires. Landowners can also reduce or remove heavy brush in the forest. Heavy brush, especially brush covered with pine needles, become fuel ladders, continuous layers of fuel that allow ground level fires to climb up into the crown layer. Here the wind can quickly spread it across the forest, severely damaging and killing trees. A low-cost method of fuel reduction is to fight fire with fire, using prescribed burning. Prescribed burning is the con- trolled use of light fires under exacting environmental conditions to achieve management objectives without environ- mental damage. Prescribed burning will reduce the heavy brush in the forest and also burn up a heavy litter layer so that later any wildfire will be low intensity and the surrounding forest. This open Another issue is, can a fire truck get and burn without seriously damaging the area can be grassed or kept natural, but it to your house? Many forests have quaint, forest resource. should contain the least amount of winding country lanes leading up to the By reducing the fuel loads and the flammable materials possible. Homes cabin. A fire truck needs a road 15 feet continuity of the fuels in the forest, any and decks should be kept away from wide and with a 15-foot clearance from landowner can protect his or her invest- bluff areas where a fire can burn up low branches. If the fire truck can’t get ment from catastrophic wildfires. beneath the structure. Also, keep down your driveway, how can they save Firelanes, thinnings, brush reduction and flammable liquids away from the struc- your house from a wildfire? Many peo- prescribed burning are all key insurance ture. Keeping a gas can under the porch ple like to have formal gates where the practices to protect your forest. can help the porch catch on fire during driveway meets the road. Can a large an emergency. The same goes for pine truck turn into the driveway through the Protecting Structures on straw on the roof. One spark, and then gate? If it’s a 10-foot wide gate, a 12- the house is on fire. Keep the roof foot wide fire truck won’t fit. Again, if Your Land swept off. the equipment can’t get to the cabin, it’s Speaking of insurance, one key issue awfully hard to save it from fire. is protecting buildings on your land. Out in the fields, hay bales are During the drought of 2000, landowners becoming very valuable, and in drought in Alabama lost 22 homes and 93 other REMEMBER conditions very burnable. Last year over structures destroyed by wildfires; another • Construct and maintain firelanes. 700 hay bales burned during wildfires, a 36 homes and 22 structures were dam- loss of over $60,000. If you store hay • Use prescribed burning to reduce aged by fires. The key factor in these bales in a pasture, disc around them to the fuel load in your forest. losses was a lack of “defensible space” keep grass fires away, especially during around these structures. Everyone likes • Contact your local office of the droughts. to have his or her cabin in the woods, but Alabama Forestry Commission for Even though many homes and struc- there is a need to be able to get firefight- more information on firelanes and tures were lost during last year’s wild- ing equipment up to the house and keep prescribed burning. fires, the AFC and local volunteer fire the wildfire away. • Clear a defensible space around departments worked extremely hard and Defensible space means having an your home. The area within 5 feet were able to save 629 homes and 144 area around a structure that prevents a of the house is the most critical for other structures as well as 195 hay bales. wildfire from burning up to the building fire protection. A little work on your part can protect and allows firefighters to stop the fire your forest and your country home from • Avoid using wood shake roofs on before the building burns. At a mini- a devastating loss from wildfire. Isn’t it woodland homes. mum, every structure in the woods needs time you insured your TREASURE? to have 30 feet of open space between it

26 / Alabama’s TREASURED Forests Spring 2001

WWiinnggeedd JJeewweellss

By VICTOR WHITMAN, Staff Writer, TimesDailey, Florence, Alabama DANIEL GILES/TIMESDAILY

28 / Alabama’s TREASURED Forests Spring 2001 anding hummingbirds. Now habits of hummingbirds for 20 years. that’s a challenge. With tiny, Daly said only four people in Alabama Bwafer-thin legs and wings hum- are certified to band hummingbirds. And ming like a giant moth, the needle-nosed he is among only 50 master banders in creatures are hard to study, not to men- the world. tion get a hold of. The only hummingbird in the Shoals But that’s what a University of North area during the summer is the ruby Alabama professor does in his spare throated, so named because of the color- time. Robert Daly is among a select ing of the throat on adult males. Eight to group of master hummingbird banders. 10 Western species have been observed “It’s very difficult,” he said, cradling in Alabama during the winter. a tiny ruby-throated hummingbird on his The birds fatten themselves up porch off Alabama 20 in the Macedonia through September and then move down community. “You have to be trained.” to the Gulf of Mexico. Then the birds fly Daly’s house is set a fair way back in continuously over the Gulf to the the woods, and he’s piled up shrubs and Yucatan Peninsula. “They will double logs in places off his long, gravel drive- their size there,” he said. “Once they get way to attract birds and rabbits. enough fat, it gets them across. Once Hummingbirds are on his mind most of they are across, they will lose all their the time these days. September is peak fat. migration season. Daly places a lightweight aluminum Several hummingbird feeders hang band on the foot of the hummingbirds. from the ceiling of his porch. The skit- The bands are tiny—300 bands can fit tish birds hover and dart up for the clear on a 4-by-4 inch sheet. They weigh one- sugar mixture. Sometimes they swarm. tenth of a gram, but to a hummingbird it “I’ve done about 500 all this summer,” would feel like carrying around 40 quar- he said. “I don’t know how many I’ll get ters in a pocketbook.

DANIEL GILES/TIMESDAILY before they all disappear in mid- Daly said people shouldn’t trap or Robert Daly, a TREASURE Forest October.” handle hummingbirds because it’s landowner in Lauderdale County, is Daly traps, weighs, measures and against the law and they’re fragile. one of only 50 master banders in bands the birds for the U.S. Department the world. of the Interior, which has studied the Continued on page 31 DANIEL GILES/TIMESDAILY

Spring 2001 Alabama’s TREASURED Forests / 29 Landowner Liability in Fee-Hunting Enterprises

Editor’s Note: The following information Alabama, all hunters must possess writ- can obtain liability insurance for their is not intended as legal advice. Its pur- ten permission from the landowner to members at reasonable costs. pose is to create an awareness of hunt on his or her land. Landowners may be listed as additional landowner liability and of the need for Licensee—A licensee enters property insured parties on most policies. This qualified legal counsel. Persons entering with permission from the landowner. The coverage protects both the landowner into a fee-hunting agreement should con- landowner does not require the licensee and the hunting group should either be sult an attorney, their insurance agent, to pay a fee for access. Under common found guilty of negligence. The hunters and other business advisors. law, in addition to the duties owed a tres- pay for this insurance. If a landowner passer, the landowner has the further wishes to require this kind of insurance, andowners who allow hunters duty to warn licensees of hidden dangers it should be clearly stated in the lease. access to their property for pay contained within his or her property. Owners’, landlords’ and tenants’ Lmay subject themselves to liabili- Invitee—An invitee enters land for (OL&T) policies which cover recreation- ty risks that deserve special attention. the benefit of the landowner as well as al enterprises are available through some Many landowners are concerned about for personal benefit and is required to insurance companies. Prices and cover- making themselves vulnerable to liabili- pay a “consideration” (fee or service) to age vary according to individual situa- ty lawsuits. To reduce their liability the landowner in exchange for access. tions. OL&T policies for hunting enter- exposure, landowners must simply exer- Common law establishes that, for an prises may also be added on to existing cise what is considered reasonable care invitee, a landowner must inspect the farm policies. Other sources for hunting for all visitors. Reasonable care varies property for hidden dangers and either liability insurance are: with the circumstances involved. Even remove them or give adequate warning when all precautions have been of their presence if they are not already observed, prudent landowners may find obvious to a reasonable observer. The Southeastern Wildlife they still need “layers” of specific liabili- Hunters who pay for the right to hunt are Federation ty protection. considered invitees. P. O. Box 1109 Montgomery, AL 36102 Liability and Negligence Reducing Liability Exposure 1-800-822-9453 www.alawild.org/southea.htm Negligence must be proven in order Liability lawsuits brought against pri- for the landowner to be held liable for a vate landowners for negligence involving The Alabama Forest Owners’ personal loss or injury. A landowner will hunting accidents are not common. But, Association most frequently be held liable for losses reasonable landowners do not want acci- P. O. Box 361434 or injuries that occur as a result of his or dents to occur, whether or not they may Birmingham, AL 35236 her gross negligence or willful miscon- be held liable. The following suggested (205)987-8811 duct. An example of willful misconduct steps should reduce liability exposure by www.alabamaforestowners.com is the setting of traps aimed at harming providing layers of protection for fee- trespassers. In the absence of any inten- hunting operations on private lands. The National Rifle Association tional wrongdoing, in order for the Safe Premises—Inspect the property of America landowner to be held liable, it must be and note in writing all potentially haz- Attn: Membership proved that he did not exercise the rea- ardous situations. Give each guest a map 11250 Waples Mill Rd. sonable care to prevent injury that is of the property. Take the time to mark Fairfax, VA 22030 expected under the law. and point out all boundaries and haz- 1-800-672-3888 Common law (the body of case law ardous conditions. www.nrahq.org/givejoinhelp/ developed in England and adopted in Written Rules—Supply each user with membership/benefits.asp Alabama) established principles in a set of regulations that are aimed at pre- which the degree of care expected of a venting accidents and protecting the landowner is dependent upon the classi- property. Have the guest sign a copy of Each liability situation is different. If fication of visitors as either trespassers, the rules stating that he or she has read you have any special concerns or prob- licensees, or invitees. them. lems with your liability exposure, con- Trespasser—A trespasser enters land Written Release—Each guest should tact an attorney. uninvited and without any right to be sign a written statement stipulating that there. Common law holds that a he or she holds the landowner innocent Wildlife Management landowner is liable only for injuries to of any responsibility before using the In order to stay in business and to trespassers that result from gross negli- premises. perpetuate opportunities for quality hunt- gence or willful misconduct. In Liability Insurance—Hunting clubs ing experiences, the landowners and

30 / Alabama’s TREASURED Forests Spring 2001

RiverRiver BirchBirch By COLEEN VANSANT, Information Specialist, Alabama Forestry Commission, Cullman

iverive birch (Betula nigra) with a metallic luster. The leaves are is the only birch common alternate, simple, ovate, 1-3 inches long Rin the South. As its name with a serrated margin, sometimes with suggests, this tree is found near running shallow lobes. The color is green above water, along the edges of slow-moving and whitish underneath. The leaves turn rivers and in old nearby fields. It can dull yellow in autumn. grow to a respectable size and larger Flowers are catkins, 2-3 inches long. trees are often seen leaning over a The tree’s fruit matures in the late spring stream. or early summer. It is the only spring- fruiting birch. Its young twigs, buds, and foliage are browsed by white-tailed deer and the seeds are eaten by turkeys and other small birds. Its wood is light, medium hard, strong, close-grained, light brown with pale sapwood. It is used for fuel and occasionally for inexpensive furniture, basket hoops, woodenware and turned articles. The fast-growing river birch has value in erosion control and as an ornamental and street tree. It is fairly resistant to dis- ease and insect attack but is short lived. The national champion river birch is Also called red birch, black birch or 90 feet high, 188 inches in circumfer- water birch, this tree is native to the ence with a 100-foot average crown Eastern United States, south to Florida, spread. It grows in Lawrence County, north to Minnesota and west to Kansas. Tennessee. It can grow from 40 to 80 feet tall and The red-brown, deeply furrowed bark The Alabama state champion is 111 15 to 30 inches in diameter. It grows on an old trunk breaks into ragged feet high, 158.4 inches in circumference upright and open with graceful drooping scales; the upper trunk and branches are with a 95.7-foot average crown spread. It stems. smooth, salmon pink to rose cinnamon grows in Lamar County.

Alabama’s TREASURED Forests PRESORTED 513 Madison Avenue STANDARD P.O. Box 302550 U.S. POSTAGE PAID Montgomery, Alabama 36130-2550 MONTGOMERY AL PERMIT NO 109 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED