Forest Management

1
Forest Management

• The art and science of managing forest resources
  so as to produce a constant and predictable flow
  of goods and services in perpetuity

2
In Perpetuity

• Meeting todays needs without depleting
  tomorrows resources
• or limiting the opportunities of future
  generations
• Sustained Yield

3
In Perpetuity
3 years old
6 years old
17 years old
22 years old
4
In Perpetuity
Man 76 years old
Trees 66 years old
I helped plant these trees when I was 10 years
old.
5
Who owns Alabamas timberland and what are their
objectives?

• 78 private, non-industrial landowners
• 16 forest industry investment firms
• 3 national forest
• 3 other public
• Every situation is different .

6
Management Objectives Set By the Owner(s)

• Forest Industry/
• Return on Investment
• Sustained Yield
• Predictable Timber Flows
• Private Non-Industrial Owners
• Objectives as diverse as the population
• Income
• Recreation
• Wildlife
• Aesthetics
• Legacy

• Public Ownership
• Biodiversity
• TE Species
• Multiple Use
• Recreation
• Aesthetics
• Resource Conservation

7
Private Non-Industrial Owners

• Objectives as diverse as the population
• Income
• Recreation
• Wildlife
• Aesthetics
• Legacy

8
PlatBook
9
Ownership More Fragmented

• Great Grandfather 1000 acres
• 4 Children 250 acres each
• 4 Childrens children 125 to 20 acres

10
Objective 1

• Income
• It is the economic value of trees that guarantees
  that there will always be lots of them.

11
Tree Farming

• Tree farmers and row crop farmers all use
  technology to make their crop rotation shorter
  and yields higher.
• Corn.. 4 months
• Trees.20 to 80 years

12
Landowner decision
10 diameter 62 years
18 diameter 42 years
13
Management Influences

• Forest managers can manipulate forest changes by
  using a number of management practices
• Prescribed Fire
• Timber Harvest
• Vegetation Management
• Choices include scale, frequency, and intensity

14
Prescribed fire

• Reduces competing weed species
• Enhances wildlife habitat
• Improves visibility
• Reduces fuel hazard

15
Timber Harvest

• Thinning a tree stand is no different than
  weeding a garden.

23 years
18 years
16
Vegetation Management

• Fire
• Herbicides

17
What circumstances warrant cutting a forest?

• Mature forestnegative growth, mortality
• Market conditions
• Storms
• Fire
• Insect infestation
• Death tax, poor estate planning
• Help pay for purchase

18
Start over or continue?

• Even-aged management...
• Clear cutplant
• Seed Treenatural regeneration

19
Start over or continue?

• Uneven-aged management
• Natural stands
• Higher quality
• Longer rotation

20
History in a stump
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Management Concerns

• Forest Health
• Forest Protection
• Wildlife Habitat
• TE Species
• Property Security/Liability
• BMPs

22
Teachers!

• No chewing Gum!
• No rough-housing
• And keep your hands to yourself