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Forestry Basics

Learn about the growth of trees, forest succession, wildlife habitats, and the importance of forest resources like water, wildlife, and recreation. Explore silviculture practices and best management techniques for sustainable forest management.

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Forestry Basics

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  1. Forestry Basics Carey Entz Lycoming County Conservation District Watershed Specialist

  2. What a Tree Needs To Grow

  3. Parts of the Tree

  4. Growth of the Tree • Each year the tree grows two new layers • Springwood: The layer formed in the spring by the cambium, grows fast and looks light in color. • Summerwood: The layer formed in the summer, grows slower and the cells are smaller so the layer is much darker in color.

  5. What the Rings can Tell You • By counting the dark rings you call tell the age of the tree. • The annual rings can also tell you what happened during the trees life. • The size and shapes of the rings indicate: Soil moisture and fertility, weather, fire, overcrowding and insect attacks

  6. Forest Succession • Forests are always growing and changing! • Succession: is when some trees replace or succeed, other trees in the same place. • 3 Main Layers within a Forest: • Canopy or Overstory- Large Trees above the forest floor • Understory- Small Trees and bushes under the Canopy • Forest Floor- Shrubs, wildflowers, and shade tolerant plants • This change may come slowly with old age or suddenly after fire or windstorm; but succession never stops.

  7. Forest Communities • There are two Principal Forest Types in PA • In the North: • Birch, Beech, Maple, Hemlock Forests • In the South: • Oak, Chestnut and Yellow Poplar Forests Do You Know What PA State Tree is?

  8. Forest Resources Trees Water Wildlife Forage Recreation

  9. Forest Resources: Trees

  10. Forest Resources: Trees • Common Wood Products: • Paper, Pencils, Bats, Rackets, and Power poles • Not So Common Uses: • Film, Tires, Aspirin, Toothpaste, and Cattle Feed.

  11. Forest Resources: Trees • There are nearly 700 species of trees in the US Forests, but only 100 species are used in the products we use regularly. • 40 are Softwoods (Pine, Hemlock, Cedar) • Used for lumber, plywood and paper • 60 are Hardwoods (Cherry, Oak, Maple) • Used for furniture, flooring, and paneling

  12. Forest Resources: Water • Forest lands are prime sources for of water! • Trees transpire or give water off through their leaves. Remember the Water Cycle? • The forest cover can control the amount of water released and quality of water to the near by waterways. • The forest cover also provides shade to streams. Cold water is important to fish.

  13. Forest Resources: Wildlife • Forest and woods are homes to many kinds of animals- Large and Small. • Three basics to habitat: Food, Water, Shelter • Each stage of forest succession favors certain animals. • Through proper management you can create quality habitat for a large numbers of wildlife species within the same forest.

  14. Forest Resources: Forage • Edible plants (forage) are forest resources just as trees are. • Forage includes grasses, and buds, shoots, and leaves of woody plants, and herbs that can be eaten by livestock or wildlife.

  15. Forest Resources: Recreation • The state forest system was first established in 1898 for the purpose of providing a continuous supply of wood products, protecting watersheds, and providing opportunities for outdoor recreation • Today, the state forest comprises over 2.1 million acres and accounts for 12 percent of the forested area in the Commonwealth. • Pennsylvania's state forest represents one of the largest expanses of public forest land in the eastern United States, making it a truly priceless public asset.

  16. Forest Management Silviculture and other Best Management Practices

  17. Silviculture • What is Silviculture? • Silvicutlture is the planting, growing, tending, and harvesting stands of trees. • Silviculture Systems are methods used to maintain vigor, desired composition, health and structure in terms of age, species, and size class.

  18. How to Choose a Silviculture System • When evaluating the site the forester considers all the physical, chemical, climatic, and biological features of an area that influence the forest regeneration and growth. • Other factors are the sensitivity to an area to soil compaction, erosion, and stream sedimentation.

  19. Intermediate Treatments • Intermediate treatments are done when the forest is still growing to economic and biological maturity • The residual stand will be able to resond to the increased light, water and nutrients to reduce competetion. • Examples: Cleanings, Thinning, and Improvement Cuts

  20. Regeneration Methods • The goal of the regen. methods are to re-establish a healthy forest. • Single tree or group method: Mimics blow downs. Utilizes diameter-limited cut or high grade cutting. • Shelterwood and Clear-cut: Mimics wildfire or tornados. • Shelterwood: leaves the trees until regeneration is well established. • Clear-cutting: The best way to for regen. of black cherry, aspen and poplar because they need full sunlight their entire life.

  21. Other Best Management Practices (BMP) Fire Fertilizers Planting Seedlings Seeding a Forest Gathering Seeds Improving Trees

  22. BMP: Fire • Prescribed Burning is sometime used, especially in pine forests. • The fire exsposes the soil, releases nutients into the soil, eliminates some insects and disease and removes undesirable trees and bush. • Fire can be as important to in manageing Wildlife as it is in managing timber and controlling other vegetation.

  23. BMP: Fertilizers • Fertilizers can be added to the soil. • The nutrients are added to the forest soil and picked up through the plant roots. • These healthy trees grow much faster than others.

  24. BMP: Planting Seedlings • After harvesting a forester may deside to plant seedlings. • Natural seeding may take several years, while planting will speed up the process. • Attention should be given to the species of seedlings for timber harvest, watershed protection, recreation and wildlife habitat.

  25. BMP: Gathering Seeds • Pine trees are the easiest to gather seed from. • The pine cones ripen in the fall. The cone dries and the seeds will fall out. • The seeds need to be kept in a cool, dry place. • They go through a dormate period during the winter. • The seeds are then ready to germinate in the spring.

  26. BMP: Improving Trees • Foresters are now using genetic improvement to get better trees. • They gather seed from superior trees. • They also may artificially pollinate tree to develop superior tree families.

  27. Enemies of the Forest Wildfires and Insects

  28. Enemies of the Forest: Wildfires • Nearly 9 out of 10 wildfires are started by careless people. • Only 1 of 10 are caused by lightning! • Crown fires can spread over many miles with the right weather and topography of the land. • Help Prevent Forest Fires!

  29. Enemies of the Forest: Insect Emerald Ash Borer

  30. Enemies of the Forest: Insect Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

  31. Enemies of the Forest: Insect Gypsy Moths

  32. Enemies of the Forest: Insect Asian Longhorn Beetle

  33. 2009 Envirothon Forestry Resources http://www.envirothonpa.org/Forestry-Topics.shtml

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