Sustainable Forestry
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FNR-182 Purdue University - Forestry and Natural Resources & Natural Re ry sou st rc re e o s F A Landowner’s Guide to Sustainable Forestry in Indiana PURDUE UNIVERSITY Part 3. Keeping the Forest Healthy and Productive Ron Rathfon, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University Lenny Farlee, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry Sustainable forest Environmental Factors Affecting management requires an Forest Growth and Development understanding of site productivity and heredi- • Climate tary factors that affect • Soil forest growth and devel- • Topography or lay of the land opment, as well as factors • Fungi, plant & animal interactions like climate, soil, topogra- phy or lay of the land, and • Disturbances how fungi, plants, and animals interact and help A remarkable variety of forests grow in Indiana. Over or harm each other. 100 different native species of trees intermingle in Ron Rathfon Sustainable forest various combinations. They flourish in swamps, anchor Deep soils and ample soil management also requires sand dunes, cling precariously to limestone precipices, moisture on this northeast- knowledge of each bind riverbanks against ravaging spring floods, and sink facing, upland site promote species’ unique needs and tap roots deep into rich, fertile loam. the growth of a lush adaptations, how a forest understory shrub layer and Trees, like all other green plants, require sunlight, heat, changes over time, and fast-growing, well-formed how it responds when water, nutrients, and space to thrive. Environment trees. determines the availability of essential requirements. disturbed by fire, insect Foresters refer to this availability as site productivity. outbreak, tornado, or timber harvesting. Heredity determines the individual tree’s ability to use its Basing forest management decisions on this knowledge environment as it competes for survival. and working with nature results in healthy forests, Ron Rathfon Ron Rathfon Forests growing on shallow, rocky soils on south-facing Only uniquely adapted tree species thrive in the frequently slopes, such as this post oak glade in Perry County, flooded environment along our large rivers and associated indicate a dry site. wetland environments like this oxbow on the Patoka River. Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service • West Lafayette, Indiana factors are within partial control of the forest manager and owner, such as protecting and building the soil, favoring selected species of vegetation, and controlling livestock and deer. Soil Soil is the product of millennia of soil-building processes. This life-sustaining substance has been abused, squandered, degraded, and lost during recent Ron Rathfon Tulip tree seed history. Though we cannot speed the chemical and A mature tree is the product of physical weathering of rocks and minerals to build new its heredity and environment. soil, sustainable forest management protects that which The embryo curled and folded Ron Rathfon we have. Most importantly, forests build soil. inside a tulip poplar seed Mature tulip poplar When forest soils are trafficked with heavy equipment contains the potential to grow into a majestic, stately giant, such as tractors or log skidders or by large animals such 150 feet tall and 5 feet in diameter. This potential can only as cows or horses, compaction occurs. Regardless of the be achieved if the tree’s environment is favorable . and methods used, the harvest and removal of timber disturbs with a little luck. and compacts soil. Sustainable forestry practices limit thriving populations of wildlife, a diverse flora, and more soil erosion and compaction. Part 5 of the Sustainable productive soils. You and your heirs also benefit from Forestry series, entitled Forests and Water (FNR-184), increased long-term income from timber or other forest provides more information on preventing erosion. products and continued personal enjoyment. Decisions A well-planned logging job, choice of logging equip- made in ignorance of natural laws result in diminished ment, and logger skill and initiative can limit the amount productivity and profits, at best; or, at worst, ecological of soil compaction. Your forester, working with the catastrophe from which it takes many decades to recover. logger, helps minimize soil damage. Purdue Cooperative Principles of sustainable forest management for Extension Publication FNR-101, Timber Harvesting and keeping the forest healthy and productive include: • Maintaining and enhancing site productivity; • Improving tree growth, health and timber quality; and • Appropriately regenerating the forest. The remainder of this chapter is devoted to explaining these principles. Maintaining and Enhancing Site Productivity Some environmental factors affecting site productivity are not easily altered or improved. Climate and topogra- phy are examples. Sustainable forest management is Ron Rathfon confined by the limits these factors impose. Other A well-planned logging job locates log yarding areas and skid trails prior to the Checklist start of logging to reduce damage to the soil, water, Maintain & Enhance Site Productivity and timber. Ron Rathfon ✔ Prevent soil erosion ✔ Reduce soil compaction Logging Practices for Private Woodlands, provides more information on sustainable logging practices. ✔ Fence out livestock There are many reasons for fencing livestock out of the ✔ Maintain the leaf layer on forest floor forest. One is to protect the soil from compaction and ✔ Allow logging slash and other dead wood to erosion. Livestock trampling also damages the fine decompose feeder roots of trees that are close to the soil surface. These roots supply the tree with the majority of required 2 owners regard this slash as unsightly and want it removed. Conveniently located tops can be cut for firewood, but the remainder should be left in place to build soil and provide wildlife habitat. Part 6 of the Sustainable Forestry series, entitled Maintaining the Aes- thetic Beauty and Ron Rathfon Enhancing the Recre- Fencing livestock out of the forest prevents soil erosion and ational and Cultural compaction and damage to tree roots and bark. Values of Your Forest Ron Rathfon nutrients. Damage to roots and bark weakens the tree and (FNR-185), discusses No need to fret over an occasional leaves it vulnerable to insects, disease, and decay. logging aesthetics. dead or dieing tree; nature will put Between timber it to good use as with this wildlife Dead Wood harvests, an occasional apartment house. Dead wood from limb fall, natural death of trees, and tree dies or blows over. If the dead trees are of such from logging or other forest management activities species and quality to make them very valuable, it may contributes to soil building in the forest. Although not as be worthwhile to salvage them. Otherwise, you need not high in plant nutrients as leaf matter, it provides a rich fret over an occasional dead tree. Nature does not allow source of carbon for building up soil organic matter. anything to go to waste. Such organic matter has the ability to absorb and hold large quantities of water and nutrients for later uptake by Improving Tree Growth, tree roots. It forms miniature dams on the soil surface to slow surface water runoff and trap sediment. Dead Health, and Timber Quality wood, in the form of standing dead trees, called snags, Forest researchers and the lumber industry have and fallen logs, also provide wildlife habitat. See Purdue documented the decline in timber quality over the last Cooperative Extension Publication FNR-102, Woodland century as the last of the old growth hardwood timber has been cut. Today, nearly 100% of the timber harvested in Indiana is second growth; i.e., timber that grew up following previous logging. This second growth timber is generally of lower wood quality than previous genera- tions of timber, largely because we don’t let it grow 150 to 200 years before harvesting it. The average harvesting age in Indiana is closer to 70 to 90 years old. Because Ron Rathfon Tree tops left after logging is complete may affront our sensibilities, but they contribute nutrients to the soil and provide habitat for wildlife. Wildlife Management for more information on how dead wood benefits wildlife. When timber is logged, the tops of the trees are usually left lying in the forest — they simply are not useable by Most of Indiana’s old growth timber, like this large log most sawmills or veneer mills. Tree tops and other being brought to a mill in Jasper, has been cut (ca. 1900). logging debris are referred to as slash. Some forest Virtually all timber cut today is second growth. 3 species, or value. The Checklist remaining crop trees are then allowed to grow to Improving Tree Growth, Health, and maturity before being Timber Quality At Timber Harvest harvested. (Improvement Harvest): Harvesting timber, ✔ Allow crop trees to grow to maturity. when done according to ✔ Thin to proper stocking (number of trees sound forest manage- per acre). ment principles, can ✔ Remove dying, diseased, decaying, and poor improve the health and quality trees. productivity of the ✔ Protect trees from logging damage. forest. Care must be ✔ Use low-impact logging methods where feasible. taken during logging to Between Timber Harvests protect the remaining Ron Rathfon (Timber Stand Improvement): trees from damage caused by falling trees and heavy ✔ Control grape vines. equipment. Well-trained, conscientious loggers and a ✔ Release crop trees from competition. good timber sale contract minimize such damage. ✔ Thin dense areas. Employing the services of a professional forester can ✔ Kill cull trees. help ensure a good logging job. You may request that ✔ Prune selected crop trees to produce more clear lumber. Anytime: ✔ Promote tree species diversity. ✔ Monitor your forest for insect and disease outbreaks. ✔ Cooperate with government agencies in controlling forest insect and disease outbreaks. ✔ Prevent wild fire. trees are harvested at a younger age, they have less clear, knot-free, defect-free wood. Ron Rathfon The wood manufacturing industry has adapted to the Galen Wright decline in timber size and quality.