Forestry Practices ~ Part II ~

Forest Management With the influence of human activities plans are important for developing sustainable forests for future generations. Silviculture is the manipulation of forest vegetation in order to control forest composition, growth, and forest pests and diseases. Silvicultural practices may include a variety of cutting styles and controlled fires to maintain a healthy forest.

Clear-Cutting System involves the removal of all trees in an area leaving a barren landscape. Advantages: burning the brush/stumps that are left behind, returning some nutrients to the soil. it is the fastest, cheapest, and safest method for logging. Disadvantages: The removal of all trees (shelter and food) reduces the wildlife significantly and plant/animal biodiversity. ecosystem functioning Soil degredation due to increased erosion Water quality (fish habitat) is damaged from the runoff of soil and nutrients

Shelterwood system Advantages: is the clear-cutting of part of an old growth forest usually in long strips (also referred to as strip clear-cutting). Advantages: Seed bearing trees are left beside the clear-cut areas to regenerate the area Rows of trees protects against soil erosion. Disadvantages: These clear-cut areas have the same problems as a full clear-cut, but with reduced effects.

Patch system The clear-cutting of small areas (100-200 hectares), leaving the rest of the forest intact. Advantages: This leaves the most connectivity in the forest allowing the movement of animals within the tracts of land. Seed bearing trees surrounding the cut areas are able to regenerate naturally. Disadvantages: Specialized equipment (helicopters) may be needed to move the felled trees F Fragmentation may be increased because more access roads would be required.

Selection system Advantages: Disadvantages: is harvesting only the mature trees of the desired shape, size, type, or quality. Advantages: The forest is left to regenerate naturally. Less soil erosion and runoff Habitat disruptions are minimized and habitat is left intact for the wildlife. Disadvantages: Most expensive of all methods R Requires the construction of more access roads that may lead to some forest fragmentation.

Fire and Pests Most of the forests evolved with forest fires as a natural occurrence. Some species (e.g., jack pine and fireweed) adapted to and require fire to germinate and thrive in the charred landscape. Humans have limited the spread of natural forest fires for economic reasons and the safety of communities. As an alternative, prescribed burns have been recommended by forest scientists to emulate the natural fire conditions.

Pests Forest insects and diseases can readily change forest conditions, often over large areas. A number of major pests and diseases have had significant impacts on Ontario's forests, including the spruce budworm, Dutch elm disease, gypsy moth, European sawfly, Emerald ash borer, and the Asian long horned beetle.

Sustaining Ontario's Forests The Ontario Crown Forest Sustainability Act (1994) ensures that before any forestry activities take place, a forest management plan is prepared. Forest companies are licensed to manage the Crown forests for a period of 20 years. A number of federal forest-related laws also govern aspects of forest management activities in Ontario, including the Constitution Act, the Fisheries Act, and the Pest Control Products Act. The MNR is also responsible for 40 other laws dealing with resource management and conservation issues related to forestry, provincial parks, conservation authorities, fisheries, wildlife, water resources, aviation, firefighting, public lands, privately owned lands, and aboriginal resource matters. Close to 9 million hectares of land are now protected, with 6 million hectares of forested area.