A GUIDE FOR SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN LANDOWNERS ANAGING OUR OODLANDS M Y W PPALACHIAN OICES A V APPALACHIAN VOICES FORESTRY HANDBOOK First Edition Published by Appalachian Voices, 2004 Second Edition Published by Appalachian Voices, 2006 © 2006 Appalachian Voices For more information, visit www.appalachianvoices.org or call toll free, 1-877-APP-VOICE First Edition Text: Katie Goslee Revised Text: Benji Burrell, Appalachian Voices staff and volunteers Layout: Michelle Kimmons This publication was reviewed in full or part by many individuals. Special thanks to: • Bruce Hull, Professor of Natural Resources, Department of Forestry, Virginia Tech • Alyx Perry, Coordinator, Southern Forest Network, Asheville, North Carolina • Mark Megalos, Outreach Associate for Forestry, North Carolina Cooperative Extension • Jennifer Gagnon, Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program Coordinator, Virginia Cooperative Extension • Jeanine Davis, Associate Professor, Extension Specialist, and Specialty Crops Program Coordinator, North Carolina State University • Scott Persons, Tuckaseegee Valley Ginseng, Tuckaseegee, North Carolina • Katie Goslee, State and Private Forests, US Forest Service, Washington, DC • Rick Hamilton, Department Leader, NC Cooperative Extension, Raleigh, North Carolina • Harry Groot, Principal, Next Generation Woods, Inc., Montgomery, Virginia Thanks to the many individuals, organizations, and agencies who made this resource possible by providing valuable feedback and generously sharing information. PPALACHIAN OICES A V h o w t o u s e t h i s g u i d e hether you bought your land for pleasure or investment, you inherited it, or it was part of your home lot, your piece of the Appala- chian forest didn’t come with an owner’s manual. Your forest land is an investment for you and your family. It also comes with a responsibilityW for good stewardship. That’s why we developed this handbook–to give you the knowledge and resources you need to make smart decisions about your forest. Forests are an investment that can pro- vide landowners with financial returns, enjoyment, and a legacy for future generations. As with any other invest- ment, proper management of forests is imperative for their health over time. Sustainable forestry facilitates the long- term protection of forest investments, both economically and ecologically. But where to begin? This handbook has been divided into sections designed to walk you through all the questions you’ll consider when deciding how to manage your land to ensure the long- term health of your forest. This handbook is not glossy or printed in full color for a reason: to make it in- expensive so that you won’t be afraid to take it outside with you, write in it, and use it–it can easily be replaced! It’s the hope of the authors that the resources will inspire you to go outside and begin thinking about the current state and fu- ture possibilities of your forest. But the next step–getting out there–is up to you. Take this handbook with you. And if, while you’re strolling, you feel a twinge of pride in owning a piece of such a magnificent forest, it can easily be forgiven– millions share that pride. More of us all the time, just like you, are taking responsibility for being good stewards of our own piece of the Ap- palachian forest. If you are interested in making a long-term investment in your forest, in protecting its health and beauty, in producing high quality timber and other goods for local industry, in protecting habitat for wildlife and protecting water quality, or just leaving the gift of a healthy and valuable forest to your heirs, then read on. Good luck, and thank you for being a good steward of the Appalachian forest! 1 PPALACHIAN OICES A V n o t e s a n d c o n t a c t s se this page for any notes you may have about your woodlands and their management. You may want to include contact information Ufor some key professionals that can assist you. County Forester _________________________________ Number _________________________ Extension Agent _________________________________ Number _________________________ Consulting Forester _________________________________ Number _________________________ Notes _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ 2 PPALACHIAN OICES A V t a b l e o f c o n t e n t s Table of Contents Introduction: Sustainable Forestry p. 4 Chapter 1: What is Sustainable Forestry? p. 4 Section 1: Taking Stock of Your Forest p. 6 Chapter 2: What Sort of Forest Do I Have? p. 7 Chapter 3: Is My Forest Healthy? p. 11 Section 2: Management Options p. 22 Chapter 4: Does My Forest Require Active Management? p. 23 Chapter 5: How Do I Sustainably Harvest Timber? p. 38 Chapter 6: What are Non-timber Forest Products? p. 50 Section 3: Financial Options p. 54 Chapter 7: What Are My Financial Options for My Forest Land? p. 56 Chapter 8: How Do I Market and Sell Products From My Forest Land? p. 73 Chapter 9: Are There Incentive Programs and Tax Laws That Apply to My Property? p. 80 Appendices: p. 92 3 PPALACHIAN OICES A V i n t r o d u c t i o n chapter one: What Is Sustainable Forestry? y deciding to manage your woodlot sustainably, you are not only making a good decision for the long-term healthB of your land and your pocketbook. You are also contributing to the overall well-being of southern forests and counteracting trends toward urban development and intensive industrial forestry. In its truest and most simple form, sustainable forestry works to mimic the natural pro- cesses of a forest, while addressing the needs of individual landowners and communities. Sustainable forestry is a form of timber production that also improves the health of the forest and the welfare of forest-dependent communi- ties. There have been many attempts to define sustainable forestry–a few of these are listed in the sidebar. These definitions, while offering some guidance, do not describe on-the-ground implementation of sustainable forestry by landowners. You will find those stories in the following chapters of this handbook. There are seven primary goals of sustainable forestry: 1 Ensuring long-term forest health and productivity 2 Promoting economic vitality for individuals and communities 3 Protecting and improving soil, water, and air quality 4 Providing wildlife habitat 5 Maintaining native ecosystems 6 Protecting high conservation value forests 7 Maintaining recreational opportunities and aesthetic values 4 PPALACHIAN OICES A V i n t r o d u c t i o n c h a p t e r o n e Sustainable Forestry DEFINING ustainable forestry uses sound forestry practices that ensure long-term development of SUSTAINABLE high quality tree cover, while also maintaining habitat for other plants and wildlife native toS Appalachian forests. By using practices appropriate for local forest conditions, sustainable FORESTRY forestry techniques maintain and improve timber, soil and water quality, as well as forest health. Deforestation for development or agriculture and the planting of nonnative species in a planta- n 1992, the United Nations tion monoculture are not considered sustainable forestry practices. Conference on Environment andI Development defined sus- Sustainable forestry practices promote forest diversity that parallels the natural processes of tainable forest management as Appalachian’s native forests. In the majority of cases, this means a variety of tree ages and spe- the practice of a “land steward- cies, as well as a variety of other plant species. Such a structure greatly enhances habitat and the ship ethic that integrates the potential for wildlife diversity. reforestation, managing, grow- ing, nurturing, and harvesting This handbook has been designed to introduce forest landowners in the southern Appalachians of trees for useful products to the fundamental concepts of forest management and sustainable forestry, while also providing with the conservation of soil, a comprehensive catalogue of resources available to landowners in the southern mountains. air, and water quality, wildlife and fish habitat and aesthetics.” The 1993 Helsinki Ministerial THE STATE OF Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe defined SOUTHERN FORESTS sustainable forestry as “the stewardship and use of forests he forests of the South are some of the rich- and forest lands in a way, and Test forests in the world. They are home to at a rate, that maintains their more species of trees than any other forest in biodiversity, productivity, North America, and more species of aquatic life regeneration capacity, vitality, than any other forest in the continental US. They and potential to fulfill, now and have sustained local communities for genera- in the future, relevant eco- tions by providing natural resources, clean water, logical, economic, and social natural beauty, and a thriving tourism economy. functions at local, national, and global levels, and that does not Southern forests have always been an important cause damage to other ecosys- aspect of the culture and heritage of the region. tems.” The 1998 Montreal Pro- Yet for generations they have endured repeated cess described a list of criteria high-grading, a logging practice that involves for sustainable forestry that removing the best trees, leaving a degraded, low includes conservation of bio- quality stand. Today they also face high pres- logical diversity, maintenance sure from development. Between 1992 and 2020, of productive capacity of forest the South is expected to lose 12 million acres of ecosystems, maintenance of forests, or 8% of its forest land, to development. forest health and vitality, con- An additional 19 million acres of forests, about servation of soil and water re- the size of South Carolina, will be converted to sources, maintenance of forest High Grade Harvest developed uses between 2020 and 2040. contributions to global carbon cycles, enhancement of long- In addition to pressure from urban development, 60% of all logging in the United States occurs term multiple socioeconomic in the South.