1 Prepared for Maine Woods Forever - PowerPoint Presentation

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Prepared for

Maine Woods Forever

September 22, 2017

What Does Exemplary Forestry Look Like in the Acadian Forest?Slide2

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In brief –active forest management that is positive for the full suite of forest values2Slide3

In brief – Forestry guided

by a brief set of measurable metrics (don’t worry about the details – more on each of these points later)Exemplary Forestry is management which includes:Considering what the most important contribution management of any individual parcel can make to achieve landscape scale objectives. These include:Maintaining or, if specified conditions do not exist, working toward:

Growing the species best suited to each site

Stocking that fully occupies the sites, this is the “B” line in stocking guides Growing and harvesting wood – an average of 0.5 cords/acre/yearA diverse size class distribution of 5-15% of stands in seedlings, 30-40% in saplings and poles, 40-50% sawtimber (with 10% in large diameter multi-storied stands)Stand conditions which are well suited to the umbrella wildlife species known to be representative of the habitat needs of more than 75% of native speciesMaintaining wildlife trees

– an average of 3-5 live but decaying trees per acre and >18” in diameter

Protecting soils

, riparian and aquatic habitats

Protecting special habitats

including habitats of species identified as having special needs not entirely met by the management outlined above and habitats which are critically important to more common species; including by way of example, deer wintering areas

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mix of management styles

– the “Triad” approach may prove bestSlide4

Exemplary Forestry is about:

Enhancing environmental values from water quality to climate mitigation, most specifically improving wildlife habitat and protect biodiversityProducing more and better quality wood locally

Convincing the public that active forest management can be BENEFICIAL rather than destructive (reflecting a commonly held but patently erroneous view, the Union of Concerned Scientists has written “it is often said that there is no good source of wood”* – what is the alternative as concrete, steel, aluminum and plastic have all been shown to have greater environmental impacts?)

* Elias, P., D. Boucher, C. Cummings, L. Goodman, C. May-Tobin, and K. Mulik. 2012. Wood for good: Solutions for deforestation-free wood products. Cambridge: UCF Publishing. 48 p.4

Big PictureSlide5

Special habitats and ecological reserves are protected

5Eagle Lake Old Growth Forest. Source: MFS

Exemplary Forestry

assumes:Slide6

Management for umbrella wildlife species

6Source: Conservation Foundation

Big Reed. Source: MFS

The kind of habitat needed by American (Pine) martenDen Trees

Closed Crowns

Exemplary Forestry includes:Slide7

Dense spruce/fir regeneration to produce hares

Source: https://pixabay.com/en/lynx-bobcat-wildlife-predator-981708/Management for wildlife species that represent the full range of habitat needs7Source: Maine Forest Service.

Habitat needed by Canada Lynx

Exemplary Forestry includes:Slide8

A stand size class distribution recommended by ecologists

8Saplings & Poles (30-40%)

Sawtimber (40-50%)Source of all photos: Maine Forest Service

Seedlings (5-15%)

Exemplary Forestry includes:Slide9

Management that provides den trees, snags, and downed logs, as well as protects soils, water quality, riparian areas

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Exemplary Forestry includes:Slide10

Growing

and harvesting more wood – a central ideaExemplary Forestry IncludesSlide11

Exemplary Forestry includes increasing timber harvests at the same time that other values are enhancedSlide12

Growing better quality timber

12Source: jeffjosephwoodworker.com.

In terms of stumpage, 2 cords of sugar maple or red oak veneer (approximately 1,000 bd ft) can equal the value of 40 cords of hardwood pulp

Increasing both growth and quality can make management more profitable

Exemplary Forestry includes:Slide13

Exemplary Forestry includes:

13Photo by Fred Field

Stocking that fully occupies the sitesSlide14

Harvesting that respects and other aesthetic values through progressive silviculture

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Exemplary Forestry includes:

This is a key to building public support!

The results of 50 years of selection management on the Penobscot Experimental Forest

This stand was managed selectively with light harvests every 20 years. The financial return from this management (measured as the

net present value of all income and costs

) is approximately $534.

*

(Photo: John Brissette, Northeastern Research Station)

* This is the financial return from what many consider the epitome of excellent forest management. Keep this figure in mindSlide15

Harvesting that respects aesthetic and other values through progressive silviculture

15Before thinningAfter thinning to reduce mortality and increase growth on the most desirable trees

Source of photos: Jake Maier and the Cole Bros

Exemplary Forestry includes:Slide16

Harvesting that respects aesthetic and other values through progressive silviculture

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Exemplary Forestry includes:

Wildlife trees

Woody debrisSlide17

The triad approach to management

17Spruce-fir selection management. Source: MFSPhoto: Lee Burnett

Intensive management: Early commercial thinning in spruce

Reserves (modest proportion)

Intensively managed area (modest proportion)

Ecological forestry (most of the area)

Ecological forestry: Regenerating spruce-fir by shelterwood

Exemplary Forestry could include:

Reserves unmanaged or lightly managed areas

Big Reed Forest Reserve. Slide18

Thus, exemplary forestry can:

Improve wildlife habitatProtect biodiversityProtect other environmental values, e.g., water qualityMinimize adverse impacts to, if not improve, visual qualityWhile producing more and better quality wood – to meet our own needs locally

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Is Exemplary Forestry Needed?

(a portion of sawtimber)* Data on existing conditions from FIA, 2009-2013.**Source: DeGraaf, R. M., M. Yamasaki, W. B. Leak, and A. M. Lester. 2005. Landowner's guide to wildlife habitat: Forest management for the New England region. Vermont: University of Vermont Press. 128 pp.Desirable Stand Size Class Distributions are not being achieved*

Existing

Target – Cross-hatched where there is a range******Slide20

Some of these habitats are globally significantSlide21

Wood Thrush

Some populations of species of concern are decliningSlide22

Canada Warbler

Some populations of species of concern are decliningSlide23

Certain habitats are in short supply, e.g., Deer Wintering Areas

Mature red spruce. Source: Alec Giffen.

Natural opening in mature red spruce. Source: Alec Giffen.Slide24

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Increasing stocking and increasing growth

Stocking is limiting growth and affecting other values

Average stocking in MaineSlide25

An alternative is careless forestry

25This stand was managed using a diameter limit (all trees above a given diameter were harvested). The financial return from this management was $976* (net present value). (Photo: John Brissette, Northeastern Research Station)

The results of 50 years of diameter limit cutting on the Penobscot Experimental Forest* This $976 is the financial return (net present value) from harvesting trees when they become merchantable. Remember the $534 from 20 year selection management? Despite the fact that the selection management is producing superior annual timber returns now (50+ years after management began), standard financial analysis concluded that it is not as profitable as diameter limit cutting. This is a fundamental problem for practicing good forestry – superior annual timber returns are possible, but it requires patience.Slide26

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