Silviculture Art & Science of Establishing & Tending Trees & Forests
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Managing for Late-Successional/Old-Growth Characteristics in Northern Hardwood-Conifer Forests William S
Forest Ecology and Management 235 (2006) 129–142 www.elsevier.com/locate/foreco Managing for late-successional/old-growth characteristics in northern hardwood-conifer forests William S. Keeton * Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, United States Received 19 March 2006; received in revised form 2 August 2006; accepted 2 August 2006 Abstract In the northern hardwood region of North America managing for late-successional forest habitats and functions is an important element of ecosystem management. This study tests the hypothesis that uneven-aged practices can be modified to accelerate rates of late-successional forest development. An approach, termed ‘‘structural complexity enhancement’’ (SCE), is compared against conventional uneven-aged systems modified to increase post-harvest structural retention. Experimental treatments, including controls, were applied to 2 ha units and replicated at two multi- aged northern hardwood forests in Vermont, USA. Structural objectives include vertically differentiated canopies, elevated large snag and downed log densities, variable horizontal density (including small gaps), and re-allocation of basal area to larger diameter classes. The latter objective is achieved, in part, by cutting to a rotated sigmoid diameter distribution. This is generated from a basal area (34 m2 haÀ1) and tree size (90 cm dbh) indicative of old-growth structure. Forest structure data have been collected over 2 years pre-treatment and 3 years post-treatment. Fifty-year simulations of stand development were run in NE-TWIGS and FVS comparing treatment and no treatment scenarios. Simulations also tested the sensitivity of large tree development to prescription parameters. Leaf area index retention was spatially variable but significantly (P < 0.001) greater under SCE (91%) compared to conventional treatments (75%). -
Shelterwood Method
Shelterwood Method Characteristics •Form • Appearance --- Removal of mature crop in a series of partial cuttings which (1) stimulate seed production, (2) prepare the site and (3) make room for regeneration • Versatility --- Extremely versatile as far as use with different species and under different conditions Shelterwood Method Characteristics • Relation to Other Methods ---- Establishment of regeneration precedes the final cut • Protection of the Site • Quality Growth of Residuals ---- species? Shelterwood Method Uniform Shelterwood • Treatments applied uniformly over the whole stand. The objective of the method is to secure establishment of the new stand, but in addition to supplying seed, the shelterwood provides protection for the young seedlings. At some stage, the older trees start to interfere with growth of the new stand and must be removed. 1 Shelterwood Method Uniform Shelterwood • Thus, we are really describing sequences of harvest cuts used to secure seed, prepare the site, and then release the seedlings. Shelterwood Method Uniform Shelterwood • Cutting Sequences 1. Preparatory Cut 2. Seed Cutting 3. Removal Cutting 4. Additional Removal Cuttings Shelterwood Method Uniform Shelterwood • Normal Procedure ---- Could involve the 3 types of cutting, but normal procedure is a seed tree cutting and 1 or 2 removal cuttings. Known as a 2 or 3-cut shelterwood. Last cut is the final harvest cut. 2 Shelterwood Method Modifications • Strip Shelterwood • Group Shelterwood • Irregular Shelterwood refer to Fischer et al. 1980 --- library Shelterwood Method Advantages of Shelterwood • Reproduction is more certain • More quality growth on residuals • Protection of the site • More complete utilization of the site • Length of rotation may be shortened • Aesthetics • Possible to time cuttings with good seed year Shelterwood Method Disadvantages of Shelterwood • Often leads to overstocking • Cost of logging is greater • More skill to apply • Site prep is difficult 3 Shelterwood Method • Use of shelterwood in different forest types. -
FSA1091 Basics of Heating with Firewood
DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE RESEARCH & EXTENSION Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Arkansas System FSA1091 Basics of Heating with Firewood Sammy Sadaka Introduction Many options of secure, wood combustion Ph.D., P.E. stoves, freplaces, furnaces and boilers Associate Professor Wood heating was the predominant are available in the market. EPA certifed freplaces, furnaces and wood stoves with Extension Engineer means for heating in homes and businesses for several decades until the advent of no visible smoke and 90 percent less iron radiators, forced air furnaces and pollution are among alternatives. Addi- John W. Magugu, Ph.D. improved stoves. More recently, a census tionally, wood fuel users should adhere Professional Assistant by Energy Information Administration, to sustainable wood management and EIA, has placed fuelwood users in the environmental sustainability frameworks. USA at 2.5 million as of 2012. Burning wood has been more common Despite the widespread use of cen- among rural families compared to families tral heating systems, many Arkansans within urban jurisdictions. Burning wood still have freplaces in their homes, with has been further incentivized by more many others actively using wood heating extended utility (power) outages caused systems. A considerable number of by wind, ice and snowstorms. Furthermore, Arkansans tend to depend on wood fuel liquefed petroleum gas, their alternative as a primary source of heating due to fuel, has seen price increases over recent high-energy costs, the existence of high- years. effciency heating apparatuses and Numerous consumers continue to have extended power outages in rural areas. questions related to the use of frewood. An Apart from the usual open freplaces, important question is what type of wood more effcient wood stoves, freplace can be burned for frewood? How to store inserts and furnaces have emerged. -
Tennessee Christmas Tree Production Manual
PB 1854 Tennessee Christmas Tree Production Manual 1 Tennessee Christmas Tree Production Manual Contributing Authors Alan B. Galloway Area Farm Management Specialist [email protected] Megan Bruch Leffew Marketing Specialist [email protected] Dr. David Mercker Extension Forestry Specialist [email protected] Foreword The authors are indebted to the author of the original Production of Christmas Trees in Tennessee (Bulletin 641, 1984) manual by Dr. Eyvind Thor. His efforts in promoting and educating growers about Christmas tree production in Tennessee led to the success of many farms and helped the industry expand. This publication builds on the base of information from the original manual. The authors appreciate the encouragement, input and guidance from the members of the Tennessee Christmas Tree Growers Association with a special thank you to Joe Steiner who provided his farm schedule as a guide for Chapter 6. The development and printing of this manual were made possible in part by a USDA specialty crop block grant administered through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. The authors thank the peer review team of Dr. Margarita Velandia, Dr. Wayne Clatterbuck and Kevin Ferguson for their keen eyes and great suggestions. While this manual is directed more toward new or potential choose-and-cut growers, it should provide useful information for growers of all experience levels and farm sizes. Parts of the information presented will become outdated. It is recommended that prospective growers seek additional information from their local University of Tennessee Extension office and from other Christmas tree growers. 2 Tennessee Christmas Tree Production Manual Contents Chapter 1: Beginning the Planning ............................................................................................... -
Accelerating the Development of Old-Growth Characteristics in Second-Growth Northern Hardwoods
United States Department of Agriculture Accelerating the Development of Old-growth Characteristics in Second-growth Northern Hardwoods Karin S. Fassnacht, Dustin R. Bronson, Brian J. Palik, Anthony W. D’Amato, Craig G. Lorimer, Karl J. Martin Forest Northern General Technical Service Research Station Report NRS-144 February 2015 Abstract Active management techniques that emulate natural forest disturbance and stand development processes have the potential to enhance species diversity, structural complexity, and spatial heterogeneity in managed forests, helping to meet goals related to biodiversity, ecosystem health, and forest resilience in the face of uncertain future conditions. There are a number of steps to complete before, during, and after deciding to use active management for this purpose. These steps include specifying objectives and identifying initial targets, recognizing and addressing contemporary stressors that may hinder the ability to meet those objectives and targets, conducting a pretreatment evaluation, developing and implementing treatments, and evaluating treatments for success of implementation and for effectiveness after application. In this report we discuss these steps as they may be applied to second-growth northern hardwood forests in the northern Lake States region, using our experience with the ongoing managed old-growth silvicultural study (MOSS) as an example. We provide additional examples from other applicable studies across the region. Quality Assurance This publication conforms to the Northern Research Station’s Quality Assurance Implementation Plan which requires technical and policy review for all scientific publications produced or funded by the Station. The process included a blind technical review by at least two reviewers, who were selected by the Assistant Director for Research and unknown to the author. -
Do-It-Yourself Ways to Steward a Healthy, Beautiful Forest | Northwest Natural Resource Group | Take the Time to Become Familiar with Your Forest
You can do many simple things yourself to make your forest attract more wildlife, provide recreation, and contribute to its own upkeep. Our forests provide for us in many ways. Their While getting to know your forest, you can do a lot beauty inspires us. They clean the air, filter and store to improve its health and enhance its beauty. water, protect soil, and shelter diverse plants and wildlife. They sustain livelihoods and yield firewood, This guide focuses on common ways Northwest building materials, and edible and forest owners can steward their land to meet a range of goals. These practices include: medicinal plants. With all that forests do for us, a little care in Observing and monitoring the forest return will help our forests Making your forest more wildlife-friendly continue to sustain our well-being. Controlling invasive plants Keeping soil fertile and productive This guide is intended for forest Creating structural and biological diversity owners who are just getting started in stewarding their land. This is not an exhaustive manual with detailed NNRG put this information together based on years instructions on how to complete these DIY of experience working with families, small businesses, practices. Instead, it describes the most important and conservation groups across western Oregon and actions to help you start your journey of forest Washington. In conducting site visits, we’ve found stewardship. At the end of this booklet, you’ll find a that lands share common needs and owners share list of resources that can help you learn how common questions. to carry out each of these practices. -
Silviculture Is Trees
Forests and Iorestry are much in the news these days. More and more [he public is looking over the forester’s or the landowner’s shoulder and asking, "What is gi?ing on here?" Indeed, what-to-do-about-our-forests is such a newsworthy topic that there is an increasing need for a clear understanding of what foieslry really is. The essence of forestry-the art and science of grow- ing foresls-is called silviculture. And that is what this booklel is all about. Of course, there is mere to forestry than silviculture, but understanding the basic silvicultural options available for treating a forest is a first big step in exploring the entire range of foreslry. In its broadesl sense, forestry includes economic, social, and phil- osophical as well as biological considerations; silviculture deals primarily with the biological aspects of growing trees. Oespite its recent emergences as a national "issue’,’ forestry-and mere specifically, silviculture-is not a new invention. It has been known and practiced in Europe for hundreds of years and in Ibis country for nearly a century. A brief treatment of a complex subiect must, of course, generalize and simplify, and that is what we have done in the following pages. We are more concerned here with Ihe principles of silviculture than wilh specific applica- tions. The discussion should help the reader to better un- derstand what he reads and hears about forestry, and sees for himself in the woods. He will also learn Io use some of the terms defined and-more importantly per- haps-know when they are being misused. -
Forest Stewardship Planning Workbook
EB2016 FOREST STEWARDSHIP PLANNING WORKBOOK AN ECOSYSTEM APPROACH TO MANAGING YOUR FORESTLAND Funding for this project was provided by the Renewable Resources Extension Act (RREA) to assist in the implementation of ecosystem management on Pacific Northwest family forest lands. Many people have contributed to the original workbook (PW490, 1995) and this revision including: David Baumgartner, Arno Bergstrom, Jim Bottorff, Thomas Brannon, Jim Dobrowolski, Richard Everett, Steve Gibbs, Peter Griessmann, Donald Hanley, Paul Hessburg, Lynda Hofmann, Mark Jensen, John Keller, Melody Kreimes, John Lehmkuhl, Mike Nystrom, Karen Ripley, Dennis Robinson, William Schlosser, Chris Schnepf, Aleta Sonnenberg, Donald Strand, and Donald Theoe. Extension Publications Cooper Publications Bldg. Washington State University PO Box 645912 Pullman, WA 99164-5912 Phone: (509) 335-2857 Fax: (509) 335-3006 Toll-free: (800) 723-1763 E-mail: [email protected] http://pubs.wsu.edu FOREST STEWARDSHIP PLANNING WORKBOOK AN ECOSYSTEM APPROACH TO MANAGING YOUR FORESTLAND Washington State University Extension Pullman, Washington No other living planet has yet been found in space and ours is very small. We tax it sorely with our bombs, wars, fumes and fires, our cutting down and building up, our teeming cities and plundered fields, our grasping and our greed. And that is why you will sit down with your planning sheets, your computers, and your maps, and do your work—so that when the paintings in their galleries and the poems on their shelves have gone to dust, the earth, your piece of land, will abide. —Sam Bingham Holistic Resource Management Workbook, Center for HRM TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 1 Forest Stewardship and Ecosystem Management ..................................................................................... -
Christmas Tree Growing in Ireland I
Christmas Tree Growing In Ireland i Christmas Tree Growing in Ireland A sectoral report outlining the opportunities and problems SECTORAL COMMITTEE Dr. Conor O'Reilly Mr. David Hasslacher Mr.William Murphy Mr. Eugene Hendrick Mr. Declan Ward Mr. John Sheridan (Co-ordinator) Dr. Denis Kelleher Professor John Gardiner (Chairman) Thanks are due to Ms. Patricia Lynch of COFORD for her work in arranging the document for publication ISBN: 0 9523938 3 2 © COFORD 1997 All rights reserved . No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means with prior permission of the publishers. Designed at Language ii Christmas Tree Growing In Ireland Contents Page Foreword iii 1. Introduction 1 2. Silviculture 2 3. Harvesting and Transport 10 4. Marketing of Christmas Trees 11 5. Decorative Foliage Production 13 6. Priority Research Needs of the Sector 14 7. Organisation of Research Funding 15 Christmas Tree Growing In Ireland iii Foreword “The walls and ceilings were so hung with living green, that it looked a perfect grove, from every part of which, bright gleaming berries glistened. The crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe and ivy reflected back the light, as if so many little mirrors had been scattered there.” A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Decorating homesteads at Christmas time has been associated as much with the celebration of mid-winter and the need to brighten up lives at a particularly dull time of year as it is with the celebration of the birth of the founder of Christianity. Indeed it probably predates Christianity.Within the Irish tradition, the use of evergreen trees in this exercise added a new dimension. -
Silviculture Art & Science of Establishing & Tending Trees & Forests
Silviculture Art & science of establishing & tending trees & forests Karen Bennett, [email protected] Extension Forestry Professor & Specialist Presented to NH Coverts, May 2017 The Purpose of Silviculture Smith, Larson, Kelty and Ashton. Chapter 1 In silviculture, natural • Control stand structure & process processes are • Control stand composition deliberately guided to • Control stand density produce forests that • Restock unproductive areas are more useful than • Protection & reduction of losses those of nature, and to • Control rotation length do so in less time. • Facilitating harvest • Conservation of site productivity 1 Silviculture Actions Have Two Broad Outcomes • Grow the trees that are already present – tending • Start new trees – regenerating • In practice, often accomplish both outcomes at once • Most common actions- cut trees or leave trees Harvesting is the most common tool for conducting silviculture 2 Forest Management/ Forest Stewardship Interaction of silviculture, ecology, landowner objectives, multiple resources, economics, marketing, regulation, societies’ needs and a landowner’s interests and time. – Markets, plans, laws, harvesting, equipment, landowner, logger, forester, neighbors, trails, access Silviculture is the set of site specific tools used in forest management – weeding, thinning, pruning, improving, harvesting, regenerating, uneven-aged, even-aged, selection, shelterwood, clearcut Hallmarks of Good Forest Stewardship/ Management • Considers multiple resources • Based on landowner objectives • Uses best available practices • Practices based on a plan • Looks long term • Uses professionals • Uses best available science- SILVICULTURE 3 The Forest Management Triangle For Success Landowner Logger Forester Silviculture can be used to create and maintain the kind of forest meets landowner objectives Can be single or multiple objectives 4 Grow big trees for beauty, wildlife, and timber for money to send the kids to college. -
Assessing the Single-Tree and Small Group Selection Cutting System As
Forest Ecology and Management 430 (2018) 21–32 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Forest Ecology and Management journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/foreco Assessing the single-tree and small group selection cutting system as intermediate disturbance to promote regeneration and diversity in T temperate mixedwood stands ⁎ Patricia Raymonda, , Alejandro A. Royob, Marcel Prévosta, Daniel Dumaisa a Direction de la recherche forestière, Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec, 2700 rue Einstein, Québec G1P 3W8, Canada b USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, 335 National Forge Road, P.O. Box 267, Irvine, PA 16329, USA ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: Traditional silvicultural systems such as clearcutting and single-tree selection cutting are critiqued for their Ecological forestry tendency to simplify forest complexity. By more closely emulating natural disturbance regimes and increasing Disturbance-based management the availability and heterogeneity in understory light levels, we pose that systems causing intermediate dis- Uneven-aged management turbances such as the single-tree and small group selection cutting system can promote tree regeneration, retain Multi-aged silviculture stand structural attributes, and maintain high understory plant diversity in temperate mixedwood stands. To Mixed-species assess this, we implemented a harvest intensity gradient experiment (residual basal area [BA], % removal) consisting of uncut control (26 m2/ha, 0%), light (21 m2/ha, 20%), moderate (18 m2/ha, 31%) and heavy (15 m2/ha, 42%) cutting with retention of legacy trees in uneven-aged yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton) – conifer stands. We evaluated the effects on gap size, light transmittance, abundance of living and dead trees, plant diversity, and regeneration of target species (i.e. -
FIRE and SILVICULTURE RECENT ADVANCES in the SILVICULTURAL USE of Prescrffied FIRE
FIRE AND SILVICULTURE RECENT ADVANCES IN THE SILVICULTURAL USE OF PRESCRffiED FIRE David H. Van Lear School of Natural Resources, Department of Forest Resources, 261 Lehotsky Hall, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634 ABSTRACT Although the silvicultural use of prescribed fire has been researched for almost 70 years, new advances are still being made. These advances are primarily the result of (1) a better understanding of fire as an ecological process and (2) the use of this knowledge to restore declining ecosystems, save threatened and endangered species, enhance natural beauty, and regulate composition and structure of plant communities. The role of growing-season fires, avoided in the past century, in shaping the composition and structure of longleaf pine (Pinus paiustris) ecosystems has recently been established. Silvicultural prescriptions for using prescribed fire to benefit oak (Quercus spp.) regeneration on good sites have been developed. Prescribed fire is being used to restore the historical character and health of ponderosa pine (P. ponderosa) ecosystems in the southwestern United States and to regenerate Table Mountain (P. pungens) and pitch pine (P. rigida) ecosystems in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Guidelines also have been developed for using prescribed fire to thin dense natural stands of loblolly pine (P. taeda). Ongoing research continues to identify new uses of prescribed fire to enable ecosystem management to become a more fully implemented paradigm in the twenty-first century. keywords: biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, oak regeneration, prescribed burning, thinning. Citation: Van Lear, D.H. 2000. Recent advances in the silvicultural use of prescribed fire. Pages 183-189 in W. Keith Moser and Cynthia F.