forestry
forestry, the management of forested land, together with associated waters and wasteland, primarily for harvesting timber. To a large degree, modern forestry has evolved in parallel with natural resource management. As a consequence, professional foresters have increasingly become involved in activities related to the conservation of soil, water, and wildlife resources and to recreation.
even-aged systems
Clearcut - near to complete removal of trees
Clearcutting favors species of wildlife that utilize open and young growth habitat conditions or are well adapted to early successional vegetative types, such as the five-lined skink, woodcock, white-tailed deer, snowshoe hare, and ruffed grouse. Some predators such as Northern goshawks, wolves, fishers, and lynx can be key beneficiaries of certain prey species that thrive in early successional vegetative types. Some of these same prey species are also highly desired by hunters.
Clearcutting favors species of wildlife that utilize open and young growth habitat conditions or are well adapted to early successional vegetative types, such as the five-lined skink, woodcock, white-tailed deer, snowshoe hare, and ruffed grouse. Some predators such as Northern goshawks, wolves, fishers, and lynx can be key beneficiaries of certain prey species that thrive in early successional vegetative types. Some of these same prey species are also highly desired by hunters.
Shelterwood - a phased approach to cut a mature stand and restart forest succession. Successive thinning will occur until the stand is mature, and the process then repeats. Forests managed with shelterwood cuts never reach maturity and are harvested as soon as the "shelter" (canopy) hinders seedling growth it is considered ripe for harvest.
Shelterwood cutting favors wildlife species that utilize a variety of age classes and tree species mixture, such as wood pewee, purple finch, Cooper’s hawk, and woodcock.
Shelterwood cutting favors wildlife species that utilize a variety of age classes and tree species mixture, such as wood pewee, purple finch, Cooper’s hawk, and woodcock.
Seed tree - removing all but a few trees which will serve as the seed source for the future forest. Once seedlings establish the seed trees are typically removed.
uneven-aged system
Individual and group selective cuts - Individual tree selection entails the periodic removal of individual trees. Initial cutting is often referred to as an “improvement cut” which is designed to move an even-aged stand toward an uneven-aged condition. The goal of the selection method is to maintain a given number of trees per acre in several diameter classes. This practice should not be confused with “high grading” where only large trees are cut. In order for the practice to work, some trees must be cut or killed within most, or all, diameter classes to maintain the desired distribution of diameter classes in the residual stand. This method favors shade-tolerant tree species. Shade tolerance is a term that refers to the ability of a tree to survive and grow in shaded conditions. The primary species in this area that are shade tolerant are sugar maple, hemlock, and balsam fir.
The individual tree selection method meets the needs of most high-forest, cavity-dwelling, closed canopy wildlife species. This method is least beneficial for wildlife species that use openings, edges and low browse.
The visual resource is minimally affected by harvesting with the individual tree selection method. This method provides for retaining a large-tree character on the landscape.
The individual tree selection method meets the needs of most high-forest, cavity-dwelling, closed canopy wildlife species. This method is least beneficial for wildlife species that use openings, edges and low browse.
The visual resource is minimally affected by harvesting with the individual tree selection method. This method provides for retaining a large-tree character on the landscape.
