Growing and Tending Your Forest: An introduction to silviculture
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The document discusses the concepts of silviculture, which is defined as the art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, and health of forests to meet the diverse needs of landowners and society sustainably. Several silvicultural systems are described such as clearcutting, seed tree, shelterwood, group selection, and single tree selection. The document also discusses forest structure, values derived from forests, and intermediate treatment techniques used in silviculture.
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Growing and Tending Your Forest: An introduction to silviculture
- 1. Applied Forest Ecology: An Introduction to Silviculture Eli Sagor [email_address]
- 2. Thanks to Dan Gilmore, UMN College of Natural Resources
- 3. Outline What is “silviculture?” Values of the forest Forest structure Silvicultural systems Q&A
- 4. Definitions of Silviculture The art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, and health of forests and woodlands to meet the diverse needs of landowners and society on a sustainable basis. (J. Helms 1998)
- 5. Definitions of Silviculture The art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, and health of forests and woodlands to meet the diverse needs of landowners and society on a sustainable basis. (J. Helms 1998)
- 6. Definitions of Silviculture The art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, and health of forests and woodlands to meet the diverse needs of landowners and society on a sustainable basis. (J. Helms 1998)
- 7. Definitions of Silviculture The art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, and health of forests and woodlands to meet the diverse needs of landowners and society on a sustainable basis. (J. Helms 1998)
- 8. Purpose of Silviculture To create and maintain the kind of forest that will best fulfill the objectives of the owner and governing society. (DM Smith et al. 1997)
- 9. Limits of Silviculture Working with the forces of nature: sailing analogy
- 10. Values we derive from forests Common forest products: Timber, game wildlife, recreation...
- 11. Values we derive from forests Common forest products Timber, game wildlife, recreation... Specialty forest products: Berries & nuts, birch bark, balsam boughs...
- 12. Values we derive from forests Non-market values: Ecological, habitat Aesthetics Watershed protection Spiritual, existence values
- 13. Forest Structure
- 14. Kraft Crown Classification DOMINANT – trees with crowns extending above the main canopy—receiving direct sunlight from above and partly from the sides CODOMINANT – trees with crowns forming the general level of the crown cover—receiving direct sunlight from above but little from the sides
- 15. Kraft Crown Classification INTERMEDIATE – shorter trees with crowns extending into the main canopy—receiving direct sunlight from above but not from the sides SUPPRESSED – trees with crowns entirely below the main canopy—receiving no direct light from above or from the sides
- 18. Age classes and cohorts EVEN-AGED: the difference in age between the youngest and oldest trees does not exceed 20% of the total rotation age. TWO-AGED: stands contain two distinct age classes. UNEVEN-AGED: stands contain at least three distinct age classes.
- 20. The toolbox
- 21. 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…
- 22. Silvicultural System Components Age classes (cohorts) Regeneration method Natural (from seed or sprout) Artificial (planted) Species composition pure or mixed
- 23. Silviculture ≠ Harvesting A silvicultural system applies to the whole rotation . A harvesting system applies only to the harvest .
- 24. Silvicultural Systems Clearcutting Seed tree Shelterwood Group selection Single-tree selection Intermediate treatments
- 25. Clearcutting Method Clear all vegetation Prepare the site Plant trees (generally) Spray herbicide to control competition Thin (generally) Clearcut, and start over
- 30. Seed Tree Method Start with a mature stand Harvest all but a few large trees per acre of desired species to drop seed Retain or remove seed trees Thin, etc Harvest
- 31. Seed tree: Before (Wisconsin DNR image)
- 32. Seed Tree: After (Wisconsin DNR image)
- 34. Shelterwood Method Start with a mature stand Partial harvest New seedlings are established Remove canopy, “release the advance regeneration”
- 35. Shelterwood: mature hardwood stand before any treatment (Wisconsin DNR image)
- 36. Shelterwood: After first cut (Wisconsin DNR image)
- 37. Shelterwood: After first cut, 5 years later (Wisconsin DNR image)
- 38. Shelterwood: After overstory removal (Wisconsin DNR image)
- 42. Group Selection Start with a mature stand Remove small groups of trees to create patches of regeneration Repeat periodically in different areas
- 44. Selection System Start with mature stand Remove single trees or small groups Repeat as needed
- 45. Single tree selection: Before (Wisconsin DNR image)
- 46. Single tree selection: After (Wisconsin DNR image)
- 49. High-Grading Treatment occurs when landowner is strapped for cash Best trees removed, worst left, with little consideration for regeneration Future of the stand?
- 50. Highgrade: Before any treatment (Wisconsin DNR image)
- 51. Highgrade: After treatment (Wisconsin DNR image)
- 52. High-Grading Treatment occurs when landowner is strapped for cash Best trees removed, worst left, with little consideration for regeneration Future of the stand? Is high-grading a silvicultural system?
- 53. Intermediate Treatments Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) Thinning Pre-commercial Commercial Salvage cutting Sanitation cutting
- 56. Thinning (red pine) (Wisconsin DNR image)
- 57. More on Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) When choosing trees to cut, pay attention to: Tree form Crown class Desired future condition of stand
- 58. How to get it done Long view Work with a professional forester May need to invest Ask around!
- 60. Prescriptions Inventory: What do you have to work with? OBJECTIVES Available options?
- 61. Review Art and science: be creative! Desired future condition? Work WITH nature Many different options
- 62. Questions? Eli Sagor [email_address] (651) 624-6948