January 2003: Volume 2 Private Land Section Harvest Choices for Island Forests Making the Right Choice for You and Your Woodlot

Harvesting a section of forest animals found on your land. The biological reasons. It is suited for can be profitable for you, and plan should identify the different stands which have one or more of good for your woodlot, stands found on your woodlot, the following characteristics: particularly if you plan for the suggest appropriate treatments, • where all of the trees are long-term well-being of your and provide a schedule for each even-aged (about the same treatment over a period of several age) and are mature to forest before you begin. There are years. overmature, many different options, but most • trees suffering from extensive are variations on three main insect or disease damage, systems: The Clearcut System, • trees which present a safety The Selection Cut System, and hazard to forest workers, The Strip or Patch Cut System. • trees in danger of blowing over Each silvicultural system offers into streams and watercourses, different approaches to the or harvest, regeneration, and • where the next crop of cultivation of trees and forests. seedlings need full sunlight to grow and thrive. This issue of Woodland Notes Varying the harvest edge helps to outlines the rationale and blend a clearcut into the landscape. What results can I expect when I methodology for these three use this method? systems and reviews some of the The Clearcut System Clearcutting removes all of the key elements landowners should The Clearcut System is defined merchantable trees from a given understand before they choose the as a harvest where most or all of area resulting in large amounts of system which is right for them and the trees in a given area are slash and harvest-related debris their forest. harvested in one operation. While there is no commonly accepted scattered across the site. As long as the stumps are not too high or First Steps minimum size for a clearcut, for the sake of this discussion it will the slash is not too heavy, the site Before you begin any forest be defined as an area of greater can usually be prepared for harvest or management operation, than one hectare (2.5 acres). planting in the following year. it is important to take stock of Clearcutting is the most However, if the landowner your woodlot, and develop a plan common harvest method used on wishes not to plant, the natural which addresses your needs and PEI for a variety of economic and seedlings and sprout growth which the needs of the trees, plants and

1 quickly reclaims most Island balsam fir and red maple are often The Selection Cut System clearcuts can be managed. Keep in found on these sites too because The Selection Cut system is the mind that the new, natural growth they will establish themselves in periodic harvest of individual may consist of species with lower the partial shade of the collapsing trees or small groups of trees timber potential, but with value for white-spruce stand prior to which are mature to overmature, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, and harvest, and then quickly respond unhealthy, or of unwanted species. aesthetics. to the increase in light and Every 10 to 15 years the stand is nutrients. thinned (maximum of 20 to 40 per Where should I use the Clearcut Clearcutting is not usually cent removed) to give the Option? recommended for white pine, red remaining trees room to grow, Contrary to popular opinion, spruce or hemlock stands, uneven encourage the establishment of clearcutting can be beneficial aged stands, tolerant hardwood shade tolerant species, remove particularly if it is designed to stands, or mixed wood stands unhealthy or overmature crop mimic natural disturbances. It is a containing a high percentage of trees, and provide revenue to the good choice for the mature and shade-tolerant species. landowner. overmature old-field, white-spruce stands common across much of Benefits PEI. These stands arose on 1. Simplest and safest harvest abandoned lands which were once method cleared for agriculture but have 2. Generates highest immediate subsequently reverted to forest profit cover. 3. Favours shade intolerant (sun-loving) and shallow rooted species which in turn will benefit certain wildlife species Small openings promote shade 4. Can mimic natural tolerant species such as Sugar Maple disturbances such as forest fire or insect damage How It Works 5. Suited to either mechanical or Before undertaking a selection cut, it is important to conduct a Cover Patch manual felling 6 Easiest harvest system to site stand inventory to identify tree By leaving standing dead prepare species, size, health, and quality. snags, cover patches, and travel Once this information has been corridors you can mimic natural Disadvantages collected, the selection criteria can disturbances and provide valuable 1. Unpleasant to look at for three be defined. Trees which will be habitat for many wildlife species. to five years left to grow (Crop Trees*) should Varying the harvest edge with the 2. Exposed areas can be difficult be marked at the base with a land’s natural contours will also to renew naturally bright, highly visible colour. lessen the visual effect on the 3. May require additional landscape. investment to prepare for Marking is your protection that This method will eventually planting, plantation only the selected trees are produce a new, even-aged forest, maintenance, and browse harvested. particularly for shade-intolerant protection (sun-loving) species such as red 4. Liquidates stand in one * Crop Trees are trees left to pine, larch, poplar, and white operation, removing timber grow for future commercial birch. These species will quickly income potential over the next harvest, for their value as dominate a clearcut area because 25 years wildlife habitat, or as high 5. Of little value for recreation they require full sunlight in order quality seed sources for the for several years to develop and thrive. Young renewal of the site.

2 The Selection Cut relies on tolerant and windfirm species such natural renewal. By harvesting as sugar maple, yellow birch, individual or small groups of trees, hemlock, white pine, and quality and leaving high-quality, (disease free) beech. These forest shade-tolerant species standing to types rely on small-scale produce seed, you can encourage disturbances such as wind, insects, the renewal of species such as and disease to remove groups of sugar maple, white pine, and old trees and create growing space hemlock. Because there are many for young seedlings. Small, trees still standing, care must be periodic cuts mimic this natural taken to avoid damage to crop renewal cycle. Assistance from trees. This means that access roads forestry experts is recommended. and the skid trail networks must be laid out in advance to improve the Benefits efficiency of the treatment and 1. Partial canopy protects site minimize potential damage to crop from severe change or Strip width should be one to two trees. disturbance times the height of the tallest trees. 2. Creates periodic income and steady supply of wood Strip or Patch Cut System 3. Preserves the genetic diversity How It Works of the forest Under the Strip Cut System, 4. Offers wildlife and recreation the harvest area is divided into areas strips and these strips are 5. Maintains a more harvested in two or three natural-looking forest operations over a period of years. 6. Promotes more shade tolerant, Strip widths are usually one to two long-lived species Snag trees are important to many times the height of the tallest trees species of wildlife. depending on the wind-firmness of Disadvantages residual trees and tolerance What results can I expect for my 1. Pre-harvest investment characteristics of the desired forest when I use this method? required to evaluate the forest, renewal species. Shade tolerant When conducted in suitable select and mark crop trees, species will benefit from narrower stand types, the Selection Cut layout extraction trails and strips while intermediate or should support a diverse forest safely harvest trees intolerant species will need wider with a wide range of species of 2. Larger areas are required to strips. Under the Patch Cut System different sizes and ages. It also generate enough wood and small patches are also harvested provides a continuous wood income to cover costs over a period of years. In more supply, habitat for wildlife, and 3. Requires greater skill, care and variable stands this system may be excellent opportunities for time to avoid damage to crop preferable to the more systematic recreation development. However, trees and regeneration strip cut. Diameter of patches will it is important to realise that many vary between one and two times of these changes will only occur the height of the tallest trees, again over a period of several decades. considering windfirmness of residuals and shade tolerance of Where should I use Selection the next tree generation. Cutting? It is important to conduct a The Selection Cut system is stand inventory to identify tree best suited to mixed or hardwood species, health, and quality before forests which contain shade you undertake a Strip or Patch Cut.

3 Bordering trees should be wind harvest strip or patch with the Conclusion firm, mature, and able to produce desired species. Once these Harvesting a section of forest sufficient quantities of seed. harvested areas are adequately can be profitable for you and good Undesirable species, and high reforested, the next series of strips for your woodlot. However, the quality trees which are not needed or patches can be harvested. harvest system you choose should for seed, can also be removed Eventually, the reforested strips or be based on long term goals for along the edge. patches will need to be thinned to your forest and the potential that Depending on how the strips support the growth of good-quality your forest has to meet those or patches are laid out, from trees. goals. So take some time to get to one-quarter to one-half of the know your woodlot and review the standing volume is removed in Where should I use the Strip ideas in the Woodland Notes each harvest. This stimulates Cut/Patch Cut option? series. Then you can decide which This system is well-suited to forest renewal by creating a options are best for you. many Island forest types suitable bed for seeds from trees at For information regarding particularly those with a high the edges of the cut. assistance programs for woodlot percentage of black spruce, red Strips should run owners, contact your local forestry spruce, balsam fir, white pine and perpendicular to prevailing winds district office. to ensure that seed is well yellow birch or mixed hardwoods. scattered across the harvest site. District Forestry Offices However, if there are problems Benefits with windfirmness, the strips can 1. The majority of the area Eastern Forest District Office be run toward the prevailing winds remains standing after the Southampton to prevent excessive blow-down harvest Box 29 2. Natural seeding renews quality losses. St. Peters Bay PE C0A 2A0 trees on the site Tel: (902) 961-7296 3. Creates diversity through a What results can I expect when combination of young and Fax: (902) 961-7298 I use this method? Because the site is harvested in older trees stages over the next 10 to 30 4. Allows the landowner to Central Forest District Office years, the financial return will be spread out income over several Beach Grove Road spread out over that period. If the years 5. Increased edge results in Box 2000 harvest site is scarified and the cut increased number of certain Charlottetown PE C1A 7N8 is timed in conjunction with a wildlife species Tel: (902) 368-4800 good seed crop, the harvest area Fax: (902) 368-4806 should quickly revert to Disadvantages high-quality species. 1. Several smaller cuts may result in higher costs and lower Western Forest District Office returns Wellington 2. Pre-harvest investment Box 144 required to mark the harvest strips or patches Wellington Station RR1 3. Potential to lose valuable trees PE C0B 2E0 to blow down between Tel: (902) 854-7260 harvests Fax: (902) 854-7448 4. Creates several small stands of various ages. This can cause Successful White Pine regeneration loss of habitat for animals that on a 7 year old strip cut. require large blocks of mature It usually takes from five-10 closed canopy years to adequately reforest a

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