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T oday’s • Tomorrow’s Legacy T oday’s Forest • Tomorrow’s Legacy

these factors can lead to serious and and federal agencies and organiza- Deer Impact expensive mistakes. tions. Rhode Island , as Forests take decades to grow, but can be destroyed in just a few days of poorly USDA Natural Conservation with much of the northeast Service Working for Renewable conducted cutting. Landowners can region, can regenerate (401) 828-1300 • www.ri.nrcs.usda.gov abundantly through the avoid these pitfalls by retaining a profes- • Obtain the Survey Map of Rhode Island Forest Resources natural growth of sprouts sional who can identify which and assistance with the identification of and (coppice) on stumps. to be harvested, determine the vol- information about the on your proper- This form of natural forest ume to be removed, and how much ty; technical assistance with conservation imber, , , amount, tree harvesting associated with regeneration has been value or income the landowner should planning and practices; and local conserva- clean …We can have our commercial forestry operations repre- tion district contacts. greatly impacted by high receive. have been proven to forest and cut it too! There are sents less than one-fifth of the timber deer populations that heav- be well worth the money. Research has ways of managing forests to being removed in the state. The remain- ily browse the new sprouts Southern New Logger Education shown the average landowner makes T ing four-fifths of timber removals are on and older tree seedlings. Program assure that they remain ecologically Fencing and other methods more money from a timber sale adminis- Forest and Products Institute sound while also meeting the needs of that is being converted to some use for discouraging deer can tered by a competent forester, than by www.mwcc.mass.edu/HTML/FWP/ our society. The way we do this is other than timberland, such as land be costly and labor inten- selling the timber on his/her own. default.html through the application of the science of cleared for development or restricted sive. Contact RI DEM Call your public service forester, RI (978) 630-9334 forestry. Many owners take from timber harvesting. If the state were Division of Forest DEM Division of Forest Environment at • Information about logger education pro- pride in managing their property while to maintain the current acreage of tim- Environment and Fish and gram, certification, and scheduled work- (401) 647-3367 for advice and assistance shops. at the same time allowing the forest to berland and manage it sustainably – har- Wildlife for more informa- with achieving your woodland goals in a Timber Access retain its diversity and beauty. vesting by best management practices tion on deer population way that protects and enhances the Northeastern Loggers’ Association Forestry that incorporates the full and taking no greater volume of wood control. Equipment access for tim- value of your property. Your public serv- www.loggertraining.com • (315) 369-3078 ber harvesting can often complement of environmental benefits is than grows each year – Rhode Island forester can provide you with: pose a practical, logistical known as “ management.” could increase both annual net growth of ¢Forest cutting/harvesting regulations- USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, problem for many small This means managing forests to meet trees and production of wood products -assistance with the Intent to Cut State and Private Forestry acreage forest owners. human needs while maintaining healthy, several times over. application process. www.na.fs.fed.us Many small acreage forest diverse ecological conditions. This Links to Durham, NH Field Office ¢Best Management Practices and over- properties are fronted by approach reflects an understanding of Sustainable Harvesting (603) 868-7600 site when working in forested wet- homes, garages, sheds, how forests function, and the recognition www.fs.fed.us/na/durham lawns & gardens, Managing the forest for forest products . Refer to factsheet Working for of the growing importance landowners • Information on Forest , Fire stonewalls & patios, wells, and managing for are com- Clean, Plentiful Water for more infor- Management, Conservation Education and and society place on non-timber values. and septic systems leaving patible goals. We can have our forest and mation about wetland laws. , Economic Action Program, The goal of is to no area large enough to per- cut it too! The reason for this is simple: ¢ on-line library. maintain complexity, mimic natural dis- A list of consulting foresters and mit access to most standard both quality wood products and ecologi- types of large equipment. turbance, and work at a scale. licensed wood operators. Cornell Cooperative Extension, Department cal health require a mature, diverse for- ¢Ways to manage your in of Natural Resources Where one nearby property owner has enough est. Timber harvesting traps for an ecologically sustainable manner. (607) 255-2115 Renewable Forest Resources frontage or other access decades (or even centuries) in the form The decision to cut trees on your www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/ext/index.htm Wood is a renewable and wood of boards, while back in the new publications: to allow for large property is an important one; don’t be products are often environmentally supe- trees go on absorbing , an Programs and activities are available to www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/ext/publications.htm equipment, it may then all persons without regard to race, color, rushed into a bad decision. CALL require passage through one rior to alternatives, such as steel and con- important step in combating global sex, disability, religion, age, sexual ori- • A Guide to Aesthetics, other publica- entation, or national origin. BEFORE YOU CUT! tions on timber and firewood production or more neighboring proper- crete, which require far more fossil- warming. on small acreage woodland plots. ties to ultimately reach your to produce than . Rhode This project is a collaboration of the property. This situation Southern New England Forest Where to do I turn for more Islanders, like all Americans, are large There are two parts to managing 1 presents an opportunity for Consortium, Inc. , and the University information and help? A Forest Landowner’s Guide to Internet consumers of wood products. Americans of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension Resources: States of the Northeast several forest owners to par- for quality timber products: 2 consume 25 percent of all the wood prod- Home*A*Syst Program . Written by ticipate jointly in a tree har- intermediate and 2 www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/misc/ir/index.htm Holly K. Burdett , Christopher RI DEM Division of Forest Environment ucts produced in the world! Yet, while Modisette1, Alyson McCann2 and (401) 647-3367 • www.dem.ri.gov • Publications and factsheets for: Economics vest, reducing costs and regeneration harvests 2 Rhode Islanders consume more and more Brianne Neptin . Special thanks to all •Talk with a state service forester of Forest Investments; Tree other obstacles. Refer to publication reviewers. Funding for this wood products, our own forest produc- • Obtain information and assistance with for- Identification/Species Info; Forest Health factsheet Working With project was provided by the USDA and Protection; Tree tion declines – not because our forests are Improvement Forest Service in cooperation with the est management, forest harvesting opera- Your Neighbors— Rhode Island Department of Planting/Regeneration; Forest tions and laws; a list of consulting foresters Reconnecting Forest depleted—but because we choose to Young trees grow in dense stands or Environmental Management Division Management Planning; Sustainability and Fragments for more ideas import all we can. Some imports come of Forest Environment and the USDA and licensed wood operators; Best Certification; ; Forest Sampling groups, filling the gaps created in the Renewable Resources Extension Act, Management Practices for Rhode Island: Water involving group projects. from as far away as and URI Cooperative Extension. and Inventory; Forest Harvesting forest after some type of disturbance Quality Protection and Operations; Timber Sales; Special Forest the of Indonesia. (fire, harvesting, , storms). Most Guidelines. Products; Riparian Forest & Wetland Mgmt; Rhode Island forests can grow Glossaries of Forestry Terms; Miscellaneous trees gradually die out of the stand superb timber. However, they are cur- through competition over time. Forestry Rhode Island Forest Conservators rently producing far less than their Organization (RIFCO) practices known as improvement thin- potential capacity. Furthermore, few nings present an opportunity to periodi- (401) 568-3421 • www.rifco.org Rhode Island woodlands are being man- • Educational programs and events, newslet- cally thin the stand, removing some trees ter, Rhode Island Tree Program, links aged to grow the best wood. so that others can grow better. Growth to numerous publications and local, state, Currently, we are only harvesting can be concentrated on those remaining 12% of our annual growth. Of this T oday’s Forest • Tomorrow’s Legacy

trees that have the best timber poten- by the size of the gap that is opened red cedar, aspen, poplar, black cherry, and Timber (Sawlogs) Silviculture Low Impact Logging tial, while at the same time utilizing in the overlying forest --either The production of wood products meas- red maple tend to have low heat value. the products generated from the thin- through natural disturbance or artifi- ured in board feet—also known as Silviculture is the art, sci- Next to commercial fishing, com- ence, and practice of estab- ning. These thinnings generally take cially through cutting. sawlogs. These products are usually mercial logging is the most danger- lishing, tending, and repro- place every decade or two and result ous occupation in this country. higher in value, such as veneer and large In some areas of the country, there is the ducing forest stands of Logging is a physically and finan- in products like firewood, , There is more than one way to sawlogs. For board-foot volume produc- opportunity to grow trees to provide a desired characteristics. It is cially rough and risky business, and posts, poles, and small sawlogs. If harvest a forest tion, the value per foot differs greatly steady supply of wood to a pulp mill, based on knowledge of a logging operation is a disruptive markets are good, the costs of with species, tree size, and tree quality. chipboard , or wood burning energy Effective natural replacement in the species characteristics and operation even under the best of improvement thinnings can more Thus, focusing on volume production plant. Usually, treatments aim to grow as environmental requirements. conditions. Introduce adverse forest requires an orderly succession than pay for themselves. alone without considering the character- many trees, or as much volume, in as Much of silviculture is the weather, difficult site conditions, of trees growing to take the place of These intermediate treatments istics of individual trees is not the same short a period of time as possible, rather art of manipulating the and poor planning; and the disrup- those that die or are harvested. The are a slight modification of the way a as focusing on the value of the products. than focusing on growing large, high amount of light that is intro- tions are compounded. Most way in which trees are harvested forest naturally grows. They work Board-foot volume production involves quality trees. Short rotations and only a duced into the forest. Silva is landowners think of logging as helps determine how quickly the for- well in young and middle-aged treatments that focus available resources few, if any, improvement thinning treat- the word for forest. muddy and ugly. Research reveals est regenerates and what kinds of stands. From a timber production on trees that have the greatest potential ments are recommended. Income is that many woodland owners are trees will grow in succession. reluctant to harvest their timber for standpoint, many of Rhode Island’s value. To determine the right number of earned through the steady supply of – To make informed land manage- fear of destroying the natural beau- woodlands are in need of this type of trees per given area to grow, foresters pulpwood. The income from pulpwood Beware: ment decisions, landowners need ty, recreational opportunities, aes- management. identify the tree species and then meas- production may be enough to pay your Woodland owners are often information about the effects of dif- thetic values, and wildlife of However, for some older tree ure the tree stand density, the basal area, ownership costs, as well as earn a profit. scared away from timber ferent harvesting techniques. Having harvesting by visions of their forest. stands that have been neglected for the number of trees per acre, and the size The pulpwood market in Rhode Island The four elements of timber a range of options available means “” that are often too long, there is little that can be of the trees. Ideally, you want enough is limited and fluctuates dramatically. harvesting that cause the most landowners can choose a technique erroneously portrayed in the accomplished through this type of trees growing to make use of the avail- Species commonly sold for pulpwood impact are trucking roads, landings, that meets their objectives and pre- media. They are attracted by treatment. Such forests may be fine able space and other resources without include most of the hardwoods and soft- skid trails and tree . A land- serves Rhode Island’s beautiful land- the idea of “selective har- from an ecological point of view, but causing “overcrowding” which reduces woods depending on market demand. ing is a cleared area where logs or scape. vesting” in which only indi- are no longer valuable for timber both quality and growth rates. Most of the pulpwood sold in RI is vidual trees are harvested. trees are brought from the woods, The following are some com- products. The tree species most commonly shipped to mills in northern New England. However, in actual practice usually by a piece of heavy equip- monly applied regeneration harvests ment. The wood is cut up into vari- marketed as sawlogs in Rhode Island Prices for pulpwood tend to be very low. “selective harvesting” is too for Rhode Island’s forests: Diameter ous products, then sorted and Regeneration Harvests include: Red Oak, White Oak, and White often a term used for high Limit Harvest; Group Selection stored here until they are loaded . Other species also sold as sawlogs grading. Method; Shelterwood Harvest; Miscellaneous Products (Poles, onto trucks and hauled to market. A After trees have been allowed to grow but to a lesser degree include Black Oak, In this practice the best Commercial Clearcut; Silvicultural Custom Sawn Wood) and most commercially skid trail is a temporary road in the and produce more valuable wood, it Scarlet Oak, Maple, Birch, Hickory, Red forest that provides access for a Clearcut; and Coppice with Standards. There are some specialty markets that valuable trees are cut and is time to think about harvesting the Pine, and Hemlock. Red Oak is the most machine (not trucks or cars) to drag Depending on the tree species you may occasionally be available to the the poorer quality trees are timber and regenerating the next for- valuable species sold. felled trees or logs from the stump est. Much of Rhode Island’s forest is wish to encourage, the type of timber woodland owner. Poles are trees that left behind on the . to a central landing area. Finally, a approaching this point. Since it is not products you wish to produce, and meet certain manufacturers specifications “Cut the Best and Leave the Rest” is a phrase that is trucking road, which is often desirable, practical, nor economical to the degree to which you also wish to Firewood for use as utility poles, piling, and log unpaved, connects the landing with Fuelwood is produced from lower quali- commonly used to describe regenerate all the forest at the same incorporate other forest activities such cabin stock. Individual trees that meet publicly maintained roads. ty trees that are poorly formed or this practice. This is not a time, it is better to proceed gradually, as enhancing wildlife habitat, one of these rigorous specifications can be of In most cases, these activities crooked, or it may come from the tops of recommended woodland diversifying the forest into a variety these tree harvesting methods may more value to the landowner. Red pine is should be planned and supervised trees harvested as sawlogs. Lack of man- management practice--espe- of tree species and ages. Because of best suit your plans and goals. especially suited for use as poles. cially if your interest is by a professional forester, but they agement, past history of , and the abundance of natural regeneration Contact a state service forester and/or There is a market for trees that can be growing high quality tim- are ultimately under the direct fire have resulted in an overabundance of control of the logger or the in our region, it is not necessary to a consulting forester for more infor- custom sawn and used to construct such ber. In actual practice, the crooked, diseased and otherwise undesir- landowner. It is, therefore, impor- plant new trees. The that mation and assistance. Refer to the list things as post and beam homes, furniture, better way to manage your able trees. In most RI , crop trees tant that the logger as well as the emerges is determined by: of contacts and resources at the end of boat building and restoration, etc. This woodland is to periodically landowner understand the con- this factsheet. or straight trees of a species that are market generally requires trees to be har- remove poorer quality trees cerns and their solutions. ¢The seedlings (the types of existing desirable for sawlogs, are far outnum- vested in different lengths than is custom- to favor the better quality Logging can be a dangerous trees) that are on hand bered by undesirable cull trees (poorly ary for the standard sawlog harvest. Again, trees. Multiple intermediate What are some marketable harvests over the long term and disruptive affair but has come ¢How vigorously the tree stumps formed or damaged trees that have no individual trees may be of more value to wood products and tree often generate greater rev- a long way. Licensing and train- develop sprouts (known as cop- marketable timber value). Proper fuel- the landowner if he/she can develop a ing programs for loggers, such as enue returns than the one pice) species that I can grow? can, therefore, make relationship with the people and/or busi- the Southern New England use of these cull trees while at the same time practice of high grad- ¢The amount of now reach- nesses looking for this material. ing. CALL BEFORE Logger Education Program have Think Quality time improving your woodlot by giving ing the in that area YOU CUT! improved safety in the woods as While red oak and white pine are the desirable crop trees room to grow well the quality of the work that two most commonly grown and mar- Be A Smart Consumer - The ability of a tree to reproduce, (improvement thinning). the logger performs. Refer to the ketable tree species for Rhode Island Call Before You Cut! grow and compete (survive) is a Fuelwood can be of any species but list of contacts and resources at forestland production, it is important For most landowners, the process of sell- the end of this factsheet for more function of the amount of light that it species such as hickory, red oak, white to remember that tree quality is just ing timber is foreign, unknown territory. information. requires. The amount of light that is oak, ash, maple, yellow and black as important--if not more important-- Timber harvesting requires expertise produced in the forest is determined birch and American beech tend to have than tree species. high heat value while species such as such as current price information, famil- white pine, hemlock, red pine, pitch pine, iarity with markets, technical jargon, and environmental regulations. Ignorance of T oday’s Forest • Tomorrow’s Legacy

trees that have the best timber poten- by the size of the gap that is opened red cedar, aspen, poplar, black cherry, and Timber (Sawlogs) Silviculture Low Impact Logging tial, while at the same time utilizing in the overlying forest canopy--either The production of wood products meas- red maple tend to have low heat value. the products generated from the thin- through natural disturbance or artifi- ured in board feet—also known as Silviculture is the art, sci- Next to commercial fishing, com- ence, and practice of estab- ning. These thinnings generally take cially through cutting. sawlogs. These products are usually mercial logging is the most danger- Pulpwood lishing, tending, and repro- place every decade or two and result ous occupation in this country. higher in value, such as veneer and large In some areas of the country, there is the ducing forest stands of Logging is a physically and finan- in products like firewood, pulp, There is more than one way to sawlogs. For board-foot volume produc- opportunity to grow trees to provide a desired characteristics. It is cially rough and risky business, and posts, poles, and small sawlogs. If harvest a forest tion, the value per foot differs greatly steady supply of wood to a pulp mill, based on knowledge of a logging operation is a disruptive markets are good, the costs of with species, tree size, and tree quality. chipboard plant, or wood burning energy Effective natural replacement in the species characteristics and operation even under the best of improvement thinnings can more Thus, focusing on volume production plant. Usually, treatments aim to grow as environmental requirements. conditions. Introduce adverse forest requires an orderly succession than pay for themselves. alone without considering the character- many trees, or as much volume, in as Much of silviculture is the weather, difficult site conditions, of trees growing to take the place of These intermediate treatments istics of individual trees is not the same short a period of time as possible, rather art of manipulating the and poor planning; and the disrup- those that die or are harvested. The are a slight modification of the way a as focusing on the value of the products. than focusing on growing large, high amount of light that is intro- tions are compounded. Most way in which trees are harvested forest naturally grows. They work Board-foot volume production involves quality trees. Short rotations and only a duced into the forest. Silva is landowners think of logging as helps determine how quickly the for- well in young and middle-aged treatments that focus available resources few, if any, improvement thinning treat- the Latin word for forest. muddy and ugly. Research reveals est regenerates and what kinds of stands. From a timber production on trees that have the greatest potential ments are recommended. Income is that many woodland owners are trees will grow in succession. reluctant to harvest their timber for standpoint, many of Rhode Island’s value. To determine the right number of earned through the steady supply of High Grading – To make informed land manage- fear of destroying the natural beau- woodlands are in need of this type of trees per given area to grow, foresters pulpwood. The income from pulpwood Beware: ment decisions, landowners need ty, recreational opportunities, aes- management. identify the tree species and then meas- production may be enough to pay your Woodland owners are often information about the effects of dif- thetic values, and wildlife habitat of However, for some older tree ure the tree stand density, the basal area, ownership costs, as well as earn a profit. scared away from timber ferent harvesting techniques. Having harvesting by visions of their forest. stands that have been neglected for the number of trees per acre, and the size The pulpwood market in Rhode Island The four elements of timber a range of options available means “clearcutting” that are often too long, there is little that can be of the trees. Ideally, you want enough is limited and fluctuates dramatically. harvesting that cause the most landowners can choose a technique erroneously portrayed in the accomplished through this type of trees growing to make use of the avail- Species commonly sold for pulpwood impact are trucking roads, landings, that meets their objectives and pre- media. They are attracted by treatment. Such forests may be fine able space and other resources without include most of the hardwoods and soft- skid trails and tree felling. A land- serves Rhode Island’s beautiful land- the idea of “selective har- from an ecological point of view, but causing “overcrowding” which reduces woods depending on market demand. ing is a cleared area where logs or scape. vesting” in which only indi- are no longer valuable for timber both quality and growth rates. Most of the pulpwood sold in RI is vidual trees are harvested. trees are brought from the woods, The following are some com- products. The tree species most commonly shipped to mills in northern New England. However, in actual practice usually by a piece of heavy equip- monly applied regeneration harvests ment. The wood is cut up into vari- marketed as sawlogs in Rhode Island Prices for pulpwood tend to be very low. “selective harvesting” is too for Rhode Island’s forests: Diameter ous products, then sorted and Regeneration Harvests include: Red Oak, White Oak, and White often a term used for high Limit Harvest; Group Selection stored here until they are loaded Pine. Other species also sold as sawlogs grading. Method; Shelterwood Harvest; Miscellaneous Products (Poles, onto trucks and hauled to market. A After trees have been allowed to grow but to a lesser degree include Black Oak, In this practice the best Commercial Clearcut; Silvicultural Custom Sawn Wood) and most commercially skid trail is a temporary road in the and produce more valuable wood, it Scarlet Oak, Maple, Birch, Hickory, Red forest that provides access for a Clearcut; and Coppice with Standards. There are some specialty markets that valuable trees are cut and is time to think about harvesting the Pine, and Hemlock. Red Oak is the most machine (not trucks or cars) to drag Depending on the tree species you may occasionally be available to the the poorer quality trees are timber and regenerating the next for- valuable species sold. felled trees or logs from the stump est. Much of Rhode Island’s forest is wish to encourage, the type of timber woodland owner. Poles are trees that left behind on the woodlot. to a central landing area. Finally, a approaching this point. Since it is not products you wish to produce, and meet certain manufacturers specifications “Cut the Best and Leave the Rest” is a phrase that is trucking road, which is often desirable, practical, nor economical to the degree to which you also wish to Firewood for use as utility poles, piling, and log unpaved, connects the landing with Fuelwood is produced from lower quali- commonly used to describe regenerate all the forest at the same incorporate other forest activities such cabin stock. Individual trees that meet publicly maintained roads. ty trees that are poorly formed or this practice. This is not a time, it is better to proceed gradually, as enhancing wildlife habitat, one of these rigorous specifications can be of In most cases, these activities crooked, or it may come from the tops of recommended woodland diversifying the forest into a variety these tree harvesting methods may more value to the landowner. Red pine is should be planned and supervised trees harvested as sawlogs. Lack of man- management practice--espe- of tree species and ages. Because of best suit your plans and goals. especially suited for use as poles. cially if your interest is by a professional forester, but they agement, past history of land use, and the abundance of natural regeneration Contact a state service forester and/or There is a market for trees that can be growing high quality tim- are ultimately under the direct fire have resulted in an overabundance of control of the logger or the in our region, it is not necessary to a consulting forester for more infor- custom sawn and used to construct such ber. In actual practice, the crooked, diseased and otherwise undesir- landowner. It is, therefore, impor- plant new trees. The new forest that mation and assistance. Refer to the list things as post and beam homes, furniture, better way to manage your able trees. In most RI woodlots, crop trees tant that the logger as well as the emerges is determined by: of contacts and resources at the end of boat building and restoration, etc. This woodland is to periodically landowner understand the con- this factsheet. or straight trees of a species that are market generally requires trees to be har- remove poorer quality trees cerns and their solutions. ¢The seedlings (the types of existing desirable for sawlogs, are far outnum- vested in different lengths than is custom- to favor the better quality Logging can be a dangerous trees) that are on hand bered by undesirable cull trees (poorly ary for the standard sawlog harvest. Again, trees. Multiple intermediate What are some marketable harvests over the long term and disruptive affair but has come ¢How vigorously the tree stumps formed or damaged trees that have no individual trees may be of more value to wood products and tree often generate greater rev- a long way. Licensing and train- develop sprouts (known as cop- marketable timber value). Proper fuel- the landowner if he/she can develop a ing programs for loggers, such as enue returns than the one pice) species that I can grow? wood production can, therefore, make relationship with the people and/or busi- the Southern New England use of these cull trees while at the same time practice of high grad- ¢The amount of sunlight now reach- nesses looking for this material. ing. CALL BEFORE Logger Education Program have Think Quality time improving your woodlot by giving ing the forest floor in that area YOU CUT! improved safety in the woods as While red oak and white pine are the desirable crop trees room to grow well the quality of the work that two most commonly grown and mar- Be A Smart Consumer - The ability of a tree to reproduce, (improvement thinning). the logger performs. Refer to the ketable tree species for Rhode Island Call Before You Cut! grow and compete (survive) is a Fuelwood can be of any species but list of contacts and resources at forestland production, it is important For most landowners, the process of sell- the end of this factsheet for more function of the amount of light that it species such as hickory, red oak, white to remember that tree quality is just ing timber is foreign, unknown territory. information. requires. The amount of light that is oak, ash, sugar maple, yellow and black as important--if not more important-- Timber harvesting requires expertise produced in the forest is determined birch and American beech tend to have than tree species. high heat value while species such as such as current price information, famil- white pine, hemlock, red pine, pitch pine, iarity with markets, technical jargon, and environmental regulations. Ignorance of T oday’s Forest • Tomorrow’s Legacy T oday’s Forest • Tomorrow’s Legacy

these factors can lead to serious and and federal forestry agencies and organiza- Deer Impact expensive mistakes. tions. Rhode Island forests, as Forests take decades to grow, but can be destroyed in just a few days of poorly USDA Natural Resources Conservation with much of the northeast Service Working for Renewable conducted cutting. Landowners can region, can regenerate (401) 828-1300 • www.ri.nrcs.usda.gov abundantly through the avoid these pitfalls by retaining a profes- • Obtain the Soil Survey Map of Rhode Island Forest Resources natural growth of sprouts sional forester who can identify which and assistance with the identification of and (coppice) on tree stumps. trees to be harvested, determine the vol- information about the soils on your proper- This form of natural forest ume to be removed, and how much ty; technical assistance with conservation imber, firewood, wildlife, amount, tree harvesting associated with regeneration has been value or income the landowner should planning and practices; and local conserva- clean water…We can have our commercial forestry operations repre- tion district contacts. greatly impacted by high receive. Foresters have been proven to forest and cut it too! There are sents less than one-fifth of the timber deer populations that heav- be well worth the money. Research has ways of managing forests to being removed in the state. The remain- ily browse the new sprouts Southern New England Logger Education shown the average landowner makes T ing four-fifths of timber removals are on and older tree seedlings. Program assure that they remain ecologically Fencing and other methods more money from a timber sale adminis- Forest and Wood Products Institute sound while also meeting the needs of land that is being converted to some use for discouraging deer can tered by a competent forester, than by www.mwcc.mass.edu/HTML/FWP/ our society. The way we do this is other than timberland, such as land be costly and labor inten- selling the timber on his/her own. default.html through the application of the science of cleared for development or restricted sive. Contact RI DEM Call your public service forester, RI (978) 630-9334 forestry. Many woodland owners take from timber harvesting. If the state were Division of Forest DEM Division of Forest Environment at • Information about logger education pro- pride in managing their property while to maintain the current acreage of tim- Environment and Fish and gram, certification, and scheduled work- (401) 647-3367 for advice and assistance shops. at the same time allowing the forest to berland and manage it sustainably – har- Wildlife for more informa- with achieving your woodland goals in a Timber Access retain its diversity and beauty. vesting by best management practices tion on deer population way that protects and enhances the Northeastern Loggers’ Association Forestry that incorporates the full and taking no greater volume of wood control. Equipment access for tim- value of your property. Your public serv- www.loggertraining.com • (315) 369-3078 ber harvesting can often complement of environmental benefits is than grows each year – Rhode Island ice forester can provide you with: pose a practical, logistical known as “ecosystem management.” could increase both annual net growth of ¢Forest cutting/harvesting regulations- USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, problem for many small This means managing forests to meet trees and production of wood products -assistance with the Intent to Cut State and Private Forestry acreage forest owners. human needs while maintaining healthy, several times over. application process. www.na.fs.fed.us Many small acreage forest diverse ecological conditions. This Links to Durham, NH Field Office ¢Best Management Practices and over- properties are fronted by approach reflects an understanding of Sustainable Harvesting (603) 868-7600 site when working in forested wet- homes, garages, sheds, how forests function, and the recognition www.fs.fed.us/na/durham lawns & gardens, Managing the forest for forest products lands. Refer to factsheet Working for of the growing importance landowners • Information on Forest Stewardship, Fire stonewalls & patios, wells, and managing for biodiversity are com- Clean, Plentiful Water for more infor- Management, Conservation Education and and society place on non-timber values. and septic systems leaving patible goals. We can have our forest and mation about wetland laws. Sustainability, Economic Action Program, The goal of ecosystem management is to no area large enough to per- cut it too! The reason for this is simple: ¢ on-line library. maintain complexity, mimic natural dis- A list of consulting foresters and mit access to most standard both quality wood products and ecologi- types of large equipment. turbance, and work at a landscape scale. licensed wood operators. Cornell Cooperative Extension, Department cal health require a mature, diverse for- ¢Ways to manage your woodlands in of Natural Resources Where one nearby property owner has enough road est. Timber harvesting traps carbon for an ecologically sustainable manner. (607) 255-2115 Renewable Forest Resources frontage or other access decades (or even centuries) in the form The decision to cut trees on your www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/ext/index.htm Wood is a and wood of boards, while back in the woods new publications: roads to allow for large property is an important one; don’t be products are often environmentally supe- trees go on absorbing carbon dioxide, an Programs and activities are available to www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/ext/publications.htm equipment, it may then all persons without regard to race, color, rushed into a bad decision. CALL require passage through one rior to alternatives, such as steel and con- important step in combating global sex, disability, religion, age, sexual ori- • A Guide to Logging Aesthetics, other publica- entation, or national origin. BEFORE YOU CUT! tions on timber and firewood production or more neighboring proper- crete, which require far more fossil-fuel warming. on small acreage woodland plots. ties to ultimately reach your energy to produce than lumber. Rhode This project is a collaboration of the property. This situation Southern New England Forest Where to do I turn for more Islanders, like all Americans, are large There are two parts to managing 1 presents an opportunity for Consortium, Inc. , and the University information and help? A Forest Landowner’s Guide to Internet consumers of wood products. Americans of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension Resources: States of the Northeast several forest owners to par- for quality timber products: 2 consume 25 percent of all the wood prod- Home*A*Syst Program . Written by ticipate jointly in a tree har- intermediate thinnings and 2 www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/misc/ir/index.htm Holly K. Burdett , Christopher RI DEM Division of Forest Environment ucts produced in the world! Yet, while Modisette1, Alyson McCann2 and (401) 647-3367 • www.dem.ri.gov • Publications and factsheets for: Economics vest, reducing costs and regeneration harvests 2 Rhode Islanders consume more and more Brianne Neptin . Special thanks to all •Talk with a state service forester of Forest Investments; Tree other obstacles. Refer to publication reviewers. Funding for this wood products, our own forest produc- • Obtain information and assistance with for- Identification/Species Info; Forest Health factsheet Working With project was provided by the USDA and Protection; Tree tion declines – not because our forests are Improvement Thinning Forest Service in cooperation with the est management, forest harvesting opera- Your Neighbors— Rhode Island Department of Planting/Regeneration; Forest tions and laws; a list of consulting foresters Reconnecting Forest depleted—but because we choose to Young trees grow in dense stands or Environmental Management Division Management Planning; Sustainability and Fragments for more ideas import all we can. Some imports come of Forest Environment and the USDA and licensed wood operators; Best Certification; Silviculture; Forest Sampling groups, filling the gaps created in the Renewable Resources Extension Act, Management Practices for Rhode Island: Water involving group projects. from as far away as British Columbia and URI Cooperative Extension. and Inventory; Forest Harvesting forest after some type of disturbance Quality Protection and Forest Management Operations; Timber Sales; Special Forest the rainforests of Indonesia. (fire, harvesting, insects, storms). Most Guidelines. Products; Riparian Forest & Wetland Mgmt; Rhode Island forests can grow Glossaries of Forestry Terms; Miscellaneous trees gradually die out of the stand superb timber. However, they are cur- through competition over time. Forestry Rhode Island Forest Conservators rently producing far less than their Organization (RIFCO) practices known as improvement thin- potential capacity. Furthermore, few nings present an opportunity to periodi- (401) 568-3421 • www.rifco.org Rhode Island woodlands are being man- • Educational programs and events, newslet- cally thin the stand, removing some trees ter, Rhode Island Program, links aged to grow the best wood. so that others can grow better. Growth to numerous publications and local, state, Currently, we are only harvesting can be concentrated on those remaining 12% of our annual growth. Of this