Land Management Land Management Decision Making and Decision Making and

Silvicultural Silvicultural PrescriptionsPrescriptions

David LoftisDavid Loftis

Bent Creek Experimental Bent Creek Experimental ForestForest

SilvicultureSilviculture

►The SCIENCE and ART of cultivating The SCIENCE and ART of cultivating (i.e. growing and tending) forest crops, (i.e. growing and tending) forest crops, based on a knowledge of silvics.based on a knowledge of silvics.

►The theory and practice of controlling The theory and practice of controlling the ESTABLISHMENT, COMPOSITION, the ESTABLISHMENT, COMPOSITION, STRUCTURE and GROWTH of forests.STRUCTURE and GROWTH of forests.

SilvicultureSilviculture

The art and science of controlling the The art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests and health, and quality of forests and woodlands to meet the diverse needs woodlands to meet the diverse needs and values of landowners and society and values of landowners and society on a sustainable basis. (SAF)on a sustainable basis. (SAF)

Silvicultural PrescriptionSilvicultural Prescription

► A deliberate course A deliberate course of action to of action to manipulate forest manipulate forest vegetation to vegetation to achieve specific achieve specific management management objectives.objectives.

Silviculture is applied at the stand Silviculture is applied at the stand level, but usually in the context of level, but usually in the context of objectives achieved at larger scales.objectives achieved at larger scales.

Purpose ( Smith, 1962, 1986)Purpose ( Smith, 1962, 1986)

►Silviculture is normally directed at the Silviculture is normally directed at the creation and creation and maintenancemaintenance of the kind of the kind of of forestforest that will best fulfill the that will best fulfill the objectives of the owner.objectives of the owner.

►……the objectives should be clearly the objectives should be clearly defined and silviculture directed to defined and silviculture directed to their attainment.their attainment.

The Creation and Maintenance of a The Creation and Maintenance of a Mosaic of Stands That Satisfies Mosaic of Stands That Satisfies Objectives Requires an Objectives Requires an Understanding of Ecological Understanding of Ecological Response to Silvicultural Response to Silvicultural Treatments….and the Practicality Treatments….and the Practicality of Implementing Those of Implementing Those TreatmentsTreatments

TopicsTopics

►Disturbance History of the Southern Disturbance History of the Southern AppalachiansAppalachians

►Fire in Upland Hardwood EcosystemsFire in Upland Hardwood Ecosystems►Environmental Gradients and Forest Environmental Gradients and Forest

CompositionComposition►Forest Site Classification Forest Site Classification

TopicsTopics

►Regeneration EcologyRegeneration Ecology►Cumberland Plateau Regeneration Cumberland Plateau Regeneration

StudyStudy►Reintroduction of American ChestnutReintroduction of American Chestnut

TopicsTopics

► Intermediate Stand Management Intermediate Stand Management ►Overview of the Forest Vegetation Overview of the Forest Vegetation

SimulatorSimulator►Economic Considerations of Hardwood Economic Considerations of Hardwood

Management Management ►Managing Low Quality Stands Managing Low Quality Stands ►Biltmore Forest Field Trip Biltmore Forest Field Trip

TopicsTopics

►Managing Wildlife Species and Their Managing Wildlife Species and Their Habitats Habitats

►The Production and Management of The Production and Management of Hard Mast and Fleshy Fruit Hard Mast and Fleshy Fruit

►Emerging Forest Health IssuesEmerging Forest Health Issues►Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern

Appalachian Hardwood ForestsAppalachian Hardwood Forests