A brief introduction to general terms and concepts related to the forestry learning objectives - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

A brief introduction to general terms and concepts related to the forestry learning objectives and relationship to special topic issue “Agriculture and the Environment” for 2019

Virginia Envirothon

Forestry Study Guide

some thoughts by

Jon Rockett

Old Bear EnterprisesSlide2

The profession embracing the science, art, and practice of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources for human benefit and in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values.

Society of American Foresters –

The Dictionary of Forestry

What is Forestry?Slide3

Tree Physiology & Identification – 20 ptsForest Ecology – 20 ptsSustainable Forest Management – 40 pts

Trees: Renewable Resource – 20 pts

Virginia Envirothon

Learning Objectives Slide4

Tree Physiology

Tree cookie parts:

Outer bark (protection)

Phloem (move sugars from leaves to stems & roots)

Cambium (meristematic cells dividing to form xylem & phloem during growing season)

Xylem (moves water & nutrients to leaves)

Heartwood (nonliving cells providing mechanical support)

Pith (1st year of growth, usually soft tissue)Slide5

Growth cycle:Diameter & height growth governed by temperature & photoperiod

Root growth generally occurs when soil temp 32+

Life cycle:Flower/cone

Seed

Seedling (less than 1” diameter & up to 3-ft tall)

Sapling (small – to 3” diameter and up to 10-ft tall; large – 3 to 5” dbh)

Pole (small – 5 to 8” dbh; large 8 to 12” dbh)

Sawtimber (over 12” dbh)Old ageDeath & decayTree PhysiologySlide6

CHLOROPHYLL (in sunlight)

6CO

2

16

+ 12H

2

O

18  C6H12O

6

16

+ 6O

218 + 6H2016carbon dioxide + water  glucose + oxygen + water[ 6CO2 + 6H2O  C6H12O6 + 6O2 does not account for the source of the 6O2 ]

SIMPLIFIED EQUATION

for

PHOTOSYNTHESISSlide7

Identify common Virginia species without a keyFull common name, i.e. White Oak

Spelling counts as per VDOF’s keys

Identify unusual tree, shrub & woody vine species with a keyVDOF’s

Common Native Trees of Virginia

VDOF’s

Common Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of Virginia

Note: The keys noted above are the source material for test identification questions at the Local, District and State competitions

Tree, Shrub & Woody Vine IdentificationSlide8

1. if not this trait

1. then some other trait

Dichotomous Identification Keys -

Paired ChoicesSlide9

Typical Key to Genera

A. Plants with leaves present

B. Plants with needle-like, scale-like, or awl-shaped leaves

B. Plants with broad leaves

C. Leaves opposite or whorled

D. Leaves simple

D. Leaves compound

C. Leaves alternate

E. Leaves simple

E. Leaves compound

A. Plants with leaves absent

F. Leaf-scars opposite or whorled F. Leaf-scars alternateSlide10

Canopy crown classesDominant – sunlight from above & sides

Co-dominant – sunlight from above

Intermediate – no direct sunlightUnderstory crown class

Suppressed (overtopped by crown canopy)

Ground layers

Herbaceous vegetation (including grasses & ferns) and forest regeneration

Soil

Forest EcologySlide11

Abiotic factors (nonliving parts)Climate: temperature, light, air & moisture

Edaphic: soil texture, structure, depth, moisture-holding capacity, drainage, chemical/nutrient & topographic position

Pyric: lightning, wild fires & prescribed burns

Biotic factors (living parts)

Interaction between plants

Animals & birds

Insects & disease

FungiAnthropogenicInfluence of humans aloneForest EcologySlide12

Approximate percent Forest Acreage for Basic Timber Types in Virginia by Physiographic Province

Forest Ecology

Physiographic Province

White pine-

Hemlock

Loblolly-

Shortleaf

Oak-

Pine

Oak-

Hickory

Oak-

Gum

Elm-

Ash

Beech-

Birch-

Maple

Tidewater

Piedmont

Blue Ridge

Ridge and Valley

Appalachian Plateau

0

0.44

4.14

1.46

0.70

35.72

26.24

8.18

4.00

0.70

16.72

11.66

10.72

7.76

2.95

37.00

57.68

75.97

84.78

87.45

8.18

1.57

0.13

0

0

2.38

2.41

0.59

0.53

0.13

0

0

0.27

1.46

8.07Slide13

Silviculture techniques:Thinning – reduce stand density/improve forest health

Coppice – regeneration from stump sprouts or root suckers in hardwood stands

Seed tree or planting – regeneration in pine stands

Even-aged management – stand with one age class

Uneven-aged management – stand with three or more ages classes

Sustainable Forest ManagementSlide14

Silviculture systems:Clear-cutting – even-aged stand final harvest with regeneration either natural or planted/seeded

Seed tree method – even-aged or two-aged stands with regeneration that requires little or no shade

Shelterwood – even-aged or two-aged stands with regeneration that requires partial sunlight or shade

Selection – uneven-aged stand

Sustainable Forest ManagementSlide15

Silviculture treatments:Planting – a reforestation method

Weeding – release treatment in stands not past sapling stage that eliminates or suppresses undesirable vegetation regardless of crown position

Pre-commercial thinning (PCT) – reduce stocking rate

Commercial thinning – reduce stocking with revenue

Prescribed burning – controlled fire under specified conditions to achieve planned objectives

Harvesting – final cut in the rotation

Sustainable Forest ManagementSlide16

Biltmore stick -DBH – 2” class

Merchantable height – minimum 1 log then in half-log increments to 8” top (DIB) or 1

st major defect

See National 4-H Forestry Invitational Handbook for use of Biltmore stick & tree measurement standards

Prism -

Basal area (BA): cross-sectional area at DBH

Ex: 10 BAF prism – each tree “countable” represents 10 sq-ft of basal area per acre

Strong linkage between site-index (SI) and BARule of thumb: If BA is 20 over SI cut back to 10 under SISustainable Forest ManagementSlide17

Prism Plot: BAF 10Each tree tallied from plot center represents 10 Sq Ft of basal area per acre.Slide18

Forest health & managementBiodiversityForest fragmentation

Forest health

Invasive species –

insects & plants negatively impacting forest land

Air quality

Aesthetics

Fire

Global warmingRecreationSustainable Forest ManagementSlide19

Sustainability:Forest management practices & decisionsEconomic

Social

EcologicalForest policy

Land use zoning

Taxation

Science & technology utilization

Sustainable Forest ManagementSlide20

Sustainable Forest ManagementInventory Plot Data ExampleSlide21

Sustainable Forest ManagementBased on the plot data what is the

stand stocking condition?Slide22

Urban forestryValue, health & survival issuesForest products

Wood, paper & residue reconfiguration

Ecosystem Services (who pays?)Air quality

Water quality & quantity

Wildlife habitat

Recreation/health

Trees – A Renewable ResourceSlide23

Agriculture and the EnvironmentKey concept: Understand the importance of moving toward sustainable farming systems to conserve natural resources, mitigate climate change, reduce erosion and protect water quality and quantity, and promote pollination

Forest stands to supplement environmental remediation in an agriculture setting:

Stream buffers

Silvopastures

Special Topic - 2019Slide24

Now is the time for questions, concerns, comments or anything else you would like to know about the Forestry test. Ask away.

Thanks for your interest!