Forestry 101 Eli Sagor [email_address] (612) 624-6948 MCC mid-year retreat, July 2006

Outline About forestry Forest types Silvicultural systems Combinations Q&A

About forestry

Forest types

Silvicultural systems

Combinations

Q&A

About forestry

Outline About forestry Forest types Silvicultural systems Combinations Q&A

About forestry

Forest types

Silvicultural systems

Combinations

Q&A

Sound forestry is… … production of a renewable resource … a $7 billion industry in Minnesota … beneficial to wildlife and water … conducted by professional foresters and loggers

… production of a renewable resource

… a $7 billion industry in Minnesota

… beneficial to wildlife and water

… conducted by professional foresters and loggers

Sound forestry is… … not necessarily timber-focused … a responsible way to make money from the land … a way to keep forest land forested … a way to restore lost habitat elements

… not necessarily timber-focused

… a responsible way to make money from the land

… a way to keep forest land forested

… a way to restore lost habitat elements

Sound forestry is NOT… … clearing land to build shopping malls … a “cut & run” extractive industry

… clearing land to build shopping malls

… a “cut & run” extractive industry

Some important concepts

Kraft Crown Classification Dominant crowns extending above main canopy receiving direct sunlight from above and from sides Codominant crowns at general level of crown cover receiving direct sunlight from above but little from the sides

Dominant

crowns extending above main canopy

receiving direct sunlight from above and from sides

Codominant

crowns at general level of crown cover

receiving direct sunlight from above but little from the sides

Kraft Crown Classification Intermediate shorter but with crowns extending into the main canopy receiving direct sunlight from above but not from the sides Suppressed crowns entirely below the main canopy receiving no direct light from above or from the sides

Intermediate

shorter but with crowns extending into the main canopy

receiving direct sunlight from above but not from the sides

Suppressed

crowns entirely below the main canopy

receiving no direct light from above or from the sides

Shade Tolerance A tree species’ ability to grow and thrive under low light conditions. Some trees need full sun, others can grow under a dense canopy.

A tree species’ ability to grow and thrive under low light conditions.

Some trees need full sun, others can grow under a dense canopy.

Outline About forestry Forest types Silvicultural systems Combinations Q&A

About forestry

Forest types

Silvicultural systems

Combinations

Q&A

Source: J. Tester, 1995. Fig. 1.6

Minnesota’s 3 biomes Northeast: Coniferous Central: Deciduous Southeast: Prairie Source: MN DNR

Northeast: Coniferous

Central: Deciduous

Southeast: Prairie

Source: J. Tester, 1995. Fig. 1.22

Common Forest types Photo by Firth Photo-Bank, Mpls, from Tester 1995

Aspen-birch Early successional Generalist Short-lived Excellent seed dispersal

Early successional

Generalist

Short-lived

Excellent seed dispersal

Aspen-birch Natural disturbance that maintains this type: severe fire or extensive windthrow Transition to white-red pine or fir-spruce, depending on site

Natural disturbance that maintains this type: severe fire or extensive windthrow

Transition to white-red pine or fir-spruce, depending on site

White & red pine Mid-successional Red, white, jack pine and birch Sticks around on drier, more fire prone sites Long-lived

Mid-successional

Red, white, jack pine and birch

Sticks around on drier, more fire prone sites

Long-lived

White & red pine Natural disturbance that maintains this type: Severe fire / extensive windthrow

Natural disturbance that maintains this type: Severe fire / extensive windthrow

Black spruce Found on wet, low areas Not much competition… Dominant boreal forest type

Found on wet, low areas

Not much competition…

Dominant boreal forest type

Fir-spruce Late successional type Balsam fir, white spruce, birch, black spruce Can exist on many soil types but not driest Photo: UGA online photo library

Late successional type

Balsam fir, white spruce, birch, black spruce

Can exist on many soil types but not driest

Fir-spruce Natural disturbance that maintains this type: small or larger gaps from windthrow, insects, or tree death

Natural disturbance that maintains this type: small or larger gaps from windthrow, insects, or tree death

Oaks Mid-successional type Fire dependent Likes drier, fire-prone sites Heavy seeds, seedlings and stump sprouts

Mid-successional type

Fire dependent

Likes drier, fire-prone sites

Heavy seeds, seedlings and stump sprouts

Oaks Natural disturbance that maintains this forest type: Fire

Natural disturbance that maintains this forest type: Fire

Northern Hardwoods Late successional Yellow birch, red oak, maples, white pine, fir Rich, moist northern MN sites (cold) Long-lived type

Late successional

Yellow birch, red oak, maples, white pine, fir

Rich, moist northern MN sites (cold)

Long-lived type

Northern Hardwoods Natural disturbance that maintains this forest type: small gaps, windthrow

Natural disturbance that maintains this forest type: small gaps, windthrow

Maple-Basswood Climax type Moist, rich sites Doesn’t like disturbance Relatively heavy seeds, stump sprouts Likes low-intensity (gap) disturbance

Climax type

Moist, rich sites

Doesn’t like disturbance

Relatively heavy seeds, stump sprouts

Likes low-intensity (gap) disturbance

Maple-Basswood Natural disturbance that maintains this forest type: small gaps from windthrow or tree death Small gap disturbance every 40-150 yrs Catastrophic disturbance 400-1000 yrs MN DNR

Natural disturbance that maintains this forest type: small gaps from windthrow or tree death

Small gap disturbance every 40-150 yrs

Catastrophic disturbance 400-1000 yrs

Outline About forestry Forest types Silvicultural systems Combinations Q&A

About forestry

Forest types

Silvicultural systems

Combinations

Q&A

Silviculture The art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, and health of forests and woodlands to meet the landowner’s objectives. (Modified from J. Helms 1998)

The art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, and health of forests and woodlands to meet the landowner’s objectives.

(Modified from J. Helms 1998)

The toolbox Clearcut harvesting “ Selective” or partial harvesting Prescribed burning: to control understory competition to prepare a cleared site for planting to favor natural regeneration of desired species to reduce fuel loads Planting of desired species and/or genetically improved stock Protecting stands from damage from wildlife (deer!) Thinning at various times in the rotation Pruning: to improve log quality to reduce disease effects Spraying herbicides or pesticides Cutting to reduce insect threats Salvage cutting Fire suppression And more…

Clearcut harvesting

“ Selective” or partial harvesting

Prescribed burning:

to control understory competition

to prepare a cleared site for planting

to favor natural regeneration of desired species

to reduce fuel loads

Planting of desired species and/or genetically improved stock

Protecting stands from damage from wildlife (deer!)

Thinning at various times in the rotation

Pruning:

to improve log quality

to reduce disease effects

Spraying herbicides or pesticides

Cutting to reduce insect threats

Salvage cutting

Fire suppression

And more…

Forest management systems Clearcutting Selection Group selection Single-tree selection Intermediate treatments

Clearcutting

Selection

Group selection

Single-tree selection

Intermediate treatments

Clearcutting Clear all vegetation Prepare the site Plant trees (generally) Spray herbicide to control competition Thin (generally) Clearcut, and start over

Clear all vegetation

Prepare the site

Plant trees (generally)

Spray herbicide to control competition

Thin (generally)

Clearcut, and start over

(Wisconsin DNR image)

(Ontario Extension image)

Shelterwood Method Start with a mature stand Partial harvest New seedlings are established Remove canopy, “release the advance regeneration”

Start with a mature stand

Partial harvest

New seedlings are established

Remove canopy, “release the advance regeneration”

Shelterwood: mature hardwood stand before any treatment (Wisconsin DNR image)

Shelterwood: After first cut (Wisconsin DNR image)

Shelterwood: After first cut, 5 years later (Wisconsin DNR image)

Shelterwood: After overstory removal (Wisconsin DNR image)

(Ontario Extension image)

Selection System Start with mature stand Remove single trees or groups Repeat as needed

Start with mature stand

Remove single trees or groups

Repeat as needed

Group Selection Start with a mature stand Remove small groups of trees to create patches of regeneration Repeat periodically in different areas

Start with a mature stand

Remove small groups of trees to create patches of regeneration

Repeat periodically in different areas

Source: UGA Forestry Photo Gallery

Source: UGA Forestry Photo Gallery

Single tree selection: Before (Wisconsin DNR image)

Single tree selection: After (Wisconsin DNR image)

(Ontario Extension image)

Thinnings Improve the future growth of existing trees Row or selection thinnings Timber stand improvement

Improve the future growth of existing trees

Row or selection thinnings

Timber stand improvement

Outline About forestry Forest types Silvicultural systems Combinations Q&A

About forestry

Forest types

Silvicultural systems

Combinations

Q&A

Forest Management 101 Favor the right species for the site Know and mimic natural disturbance regimes

Favor the right species for the site

Know and mimic natural disturbance regimes

Source : Tom McEvoy, 2000. Introduction to Forest Ecology and Silviculture . Second Edition. Copyright Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service (NRAES).

Aspen-birch Early successional Generalist Short-lived Excellent seed dispersal

Early successional

Generalist

Short-lived

Excellent seed dispersal

White & red pine Mid-successional Red, white, jack pine and birch Sticks around on drier, more fire prone sites Long-lived

Mid-successional

Red, white, jack pine and birch

Sticks around on drier, more fire prone sites

Long-lived

Fir-spruce Late successional type Balsam fir, white spruce, birch, black spruce Can exist on many soil types but not driest Photo: UGA online photo library

Late successional type

Balsam fir, white spruce, birch, black spruce

Can exist on many soil types but not driest

Oaks Mid-successional type Fire dependent Likes drier, fire-prone sites Heavy seeds, seedlings and stump sprouts

Mid-successional type

Fire dependent

Likes drier, fire-prone sites

Heavy seeds, seedlings and stump sprouts

Northern Hardwoods Late successional Yellow birch, red oak, maples, white pine, fir Rich, moist northern MN sites (cold) Long-lived type

Late successional

Yellow birch, red oak, maples, white pine, fir

Rich, moist northern MN sites (cold)

Long-lived type

Maple-Basswood Climax type Moist, rich sites Doesn’t like disturbance Relatively heavy seeds, stump sprouts Likes low-intensity (gap) disturbance

Climax type

Moist, rich sites

Doesn’t like disturbance

Relatively heavy seeds, stump sprouts

Likes low-intensity (gap) disturbance

[email_address]