1. FOREST MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
“It is a certainty that demands on the world’s forest lands will become greater while the area available for forest production will decrease …
The question facing us is not whether to use the forest resource but how to use it wisely for the greatest benefit to man in the long term.”
-Bruce Zobel, 1978

2. FIVE ERRONEOUS BELIEFS ABOUT FORESTS & FOREST MANAGEMENT
1. Ecosystems are inherently stable if people would simply leave them alone.
2. Diversity and stability are closely linked.
3. Evolution has finely tuned ecosystems, with genotypes perfectly matched to their site of origin. Therefore, all genetic diversity is important and should be preserved.
4. Any manipulation of the forest results in a severe loss of diversity.
5. “Natural” is always “best”.
- L. Fins, 1993, Forest Geneticist

3. SILVICULTURE
“The art and science of reproducing and growing trees and forests in a sustainable manner based on principles of forest ecology for the benefit of society.”

4. SILVICULTURAL SYSTEMS
A silvicultural system is a series of forestry practices using natural strategies designed to regenerate specific forest types according to landowner objectives.
Even-aged vs. Uneven-aged
Clearcutting
Shelterwood
Selection
Intermediate Treatments
Artificial Regeneration

5. NATURAL REGENERATION
Most of our forests in the U.P. are regenerated using natural strategies in silvicultural systems. Planting is not necessary.
Seeds
Sprouts
Suckers
Layering
Adapted from Baughman, et al., Woodland Stewardship. P. 30.

6. Forest Types: Pines, Spruces, Aspen, Oaks
CLEARCUTTING
An even-aged system where all or nearly all of the trees are harvested at one time.
Clearcut
Seed-Tree
Forest Types: Pines, Spruces, Aspen, Oaks
Adapted from Baughman, et al., Woodland Stewardship. P

7. SHELTERWOOD
An even-aged system where one or two cuts are used prior to the final harvest. The first two cuts stimulate and establish advanced regeneration before the final harvest cut.
Uniform
Group
Strip
Final Crop Should Be:
Windfirm
Non-Epicormic
Good Seeders
Undamaged by Logging
Forest Types: Northern Hardwoods, Spruce-Fir, White Pine, Oak, Paper Birch
Adapted from Baughman, et al., Woodland Stewardship. P. 36.

8. Forest Types: Northern Hardwoods, Spruce-Fir, Black Ash on Good Sites
SELECTION
An uneven-aged system where trees of all sizes are harvested on a cycle of about years.
A selection harvest IS NOT a diameter-limit cut!
Single-Tree
Group
Forest Types: Northern Hardwoods, Spruce-Fir, Black Ash on Good Sites
Adapted from Baughman, et al., Woodland Stewardship. P. 37.

9. HARVEST SYSTEM CONTRAST
Clearcut
Low
Early
Lowest
Irregular
Good
Poor
High
Selection
Late
Highest
Steady
Poor-Medium
Factors
Shade Tolerance
Succession Stage
Harvest Cost
Revenue Flow
Game Habitat
Visual Quality
Disturbance

10. INTERMEDIATE TREATMENTS
Nearly any forestry practice not connected with regeneration or harvest can be considered an intermediate treatment.
Timber Stand Improvement (TSI)
Weeding, Cleaning, & Release
Salvage & Sanitation Cutting
Protection
Pruning

11. TIMBER STAND IMPROVEMENT
TSI thinnings are intended to improve the quality of a timber stand. They can be commercial or non-commercial.
Low Fork
Crooked Limby
Crowded
Unwanted Species
Before TSI
After TSI
Adapted from Baughman, et al., 1993
.Woodland Stewardship. P. 41.

12. ARTIFICIAL REGENERATION
We usually think only of the physical act of planting trees, but there is much more to consider in order to achieve success.
Planting Methods
Competition Control
Direct Seeding
Underplanting
Species Selection
Site Selection
Site Preparation

13. TREE PLANTING
“Bare-root” stock must be handled carefully. Open root exposure can kill a seedling in under five minutes. 1 2 4 5 6 7 3
Planting 1 2 4 3
Heeling
Adapted from Baughman, et al., Woodland Stewardship. P

14. CROP TREE RELEASE View Above Side View Before
The idea is to allow the better quality trees more crown room, which translates to faster DBH growth and value.
After
Adapted from Baughman, et al., Woodland Stewardship. P. 42.