silviculture: how do i get my woods to do what i want?

40
Silviculture: How do I get my woods to do what I want? Peter J. Smallidge NYS Extension Forester & Director, Arnot Teaching and Research Forest www.ForestConnect.info

Upload: jasmine-kaufman

Post on 02-Jan-2016

34 views

Category:

Documents


2 download

DESCRIPTION

Silviculture: How do I get my woods to do what I want?. Peter J. Smallidge NYS Extension Forester & Director, Arnot Teaching and Research Forest www.ForestConnect.info. Outline. What is silviculture? Applying silviculture on your property The landowner’s objective - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

TRANSCRIPT

Silviculture:How do I get my woods to do

what I want?

Peter J. SmallidgeNYS Extension Forester & Director, Arnot

Teaching and Research Forest

www.ForestConnect.info

Outline

• What is silviculture?

• Applying silviculture on your property– The landowner’s objective– The landowner’s responsibility

• Examples of silvicultural practices

• What silviculture is not

What is Silviculture?

• A means to an end

• Tool to “control” forest vegetation

Establishment

Composition

Growth

Quality

What is Silviculture

• Silvi = Culture =• The (art and) science of controlling the

Establishment, Composition, Growth, and Quality of forest stands to achieve the objectives of ownership.

• Ownership objectives are within a context of sustainability…..otherwise it’s exploitation

“Your” Objectives….

UtilitarianAesthetic, legacy, biodiversity

Traditional

Your Responsibilities

• Know and discuss your objectives

• Develop and follow your plan

• Educate yourself• Work with competent

foresters and loggers

Getting from Point A to Point B

Current Stand

Condition

Desired Stand

Condition

•Planting

•Pruning

•Herbicides

•Prescribed fire

•Thinning

•Forest stand improvement

•Road work

•Regeneration Harvests

BA

Even-aged Forests

Intermediate Treatments

Influence the current forest

Tools

Chemical Mechanical

Biological

What’s wrong with this picture?Answer: safety gear is missing.

Enhance Road and Trail Access

Enhance Road and Trail Access

Favor Certain Species

1 2

34

4-sided release optimizes growth, but

1 2

34

Improve Sawlog Value

Reduce Health Problems:Insects and Disease

Maple borer

FusariumNectria

Eutypella

Reduced undesirable species

Reduce Undesirable Species

Improve Tree Growth

Regeneration Treatments

Preparing for the next forest

Uneven-aged: Single Tree Selection

Uneven-aged: group selection

Two-aged

Even-aged: Shelterwood

Even-aged: Seed tree

Seed tree Appalachian hardwoods 20 sq ft basal area avg dbh 15”

Even-aged: Clearcut

Even-aged: Clearcut

Even- vs. Uneven-agedEven-aged Systems

(stand level)

Uneven-aged Systems

(stand level)

Scale of Activity Stand wide Patchy, within stand

Frequency of Activity

Variable, 30 – 60 years

Regular, 12 – 15 years

Age and size class diversity

Low at a given point in time at stand level

High at all times

Species Diversity High, and changes depending on time

since harvest

Low, constant

Enhance Wildlife Habitat

Protect Water Quality

Aesthetics and Leisure

XXX

The non-negative consequences

• Increased “wildlife” trees • Site productivity (soils) not

necessarily affected• Still “green”

What are the Ecosystem Consequences of High-Grading?

Negative Consequences to the Ecosystem

• Reduced diversity• Reduced food sources• Reduced $ value per acre• Increased disease & insect,

risk to storm damage• Reduced volume, stocking,

and quality• Slower growth• Extended time to next harvest

of equal volume• Future options constrained

Your Next Steps

• Review your objectives• Join forest land owner association• Continue to educate yourself• Review work schedule in your plan• Attend woodswalks• Walk and talk with your forester• Take safety precautions• www.ForestConnect.info