History of Forest Management in U.S.

Distribution of National Forest Lands

- Diversity of Forest Types in U.S.

- East to West, North to South

Distribution of National Park & Monument Lands

Lower Peninsula

Upper Peninsula

Pigeon River

Ownership of Forestlands

In U.S.:

Private = 58% = 100 M ha (250 M A)

Forest Industry = 14% = 24 M ha

National Forest = 18% = 31 M ha

NPS, other = 10% = 17 M ha

U.S. Forest Service (USDA)

1) administer national forest lans

2) research

3) state-level cooperation

* Use multiple-use approach & sustainable yield model

• Sustained yield concept dependent on:• Distribution of age classes• Length of rotation (harvest

cycle)• Reason for harvest (tree species)

• pulpwood vs. sawlogs

Forest Products

Artificial Regeneration

Site Index: characterize quality of stand

= size of tree after 50 years (100 years in some parts of U.S.)

> Site index = better quality stand

* Based on red oak

Even vs. Uneven Stands

Disturbance Regimes

Even-Age Management

Controversy of Clearcuts

Pros = early successional habitat, quick, $$, tree-specific

Cons = erosion, edge effects, aesthetics, reduce diversity

Clearcuts and National Forest Management

Patch Clearcuts

Disturbance Regimes in Forest Landscapes

Patch Clearcuts Simulating Natural Disturbance

Strip Cutting

Strip-Cutting vs. Seed Tree Cuts

Group Selection

Single-Tree Selection

Unsustainable Demand for Wood Products

Distribution of Tropical Forests

Tropical Forests

• Approximately 70% of life on Earth• Huge diversity / small population size• Approximately 50% already

harvested….Amazon, Indonesia

Tropical Forests

• Slash-and-burn agriculture, cattle ranching, logging (teak, mahogany)

Tropical Forests

• Chico Mendes & rubber tappers – organize reserves for nontimber products

• Murdered in 1988

“At first I thought I was fighting to save rubber trees, then I thought I was fighting to save the Amazon rainforest. Now I realise I am fighting for humanity.”

Forest Certification

• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – international certification that timber harvested in ecologically, socially, and economically sound manner

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

• Members = foresters, timber traders, retailers, environmental groups, indigenous peoples

• Forest mgt certification = examine forestry operations

• Forest product certification = tracking the history of a wood product