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Seeing past the green: Structure, composition, and biomass differences in high graded and silviculture-managed forests of similar stand density
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by
Josselyn Lucas
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published
Feb 15, 2023
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last modified
Feb 24, 2023 02:45 PM
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filed under:
East and Central Northern Deciduous Forests,
Mixed-Oak,
Eastern Forests,
WLFW Deciduous Forests in East/Central,
Deciduous forest,
Forest Management,
Golden-Winged Warbler,
Temperate Forest,
Carbon Storage,
GWWA WG,
Forest degradation,
High-Grading
Forests of the eastern United States (US) mostly comprise a mix of stands managed following silvicultural
principles and stands managed with exploitative timber harvesting practices. These stands can have similar stand
densities (e.g., basal area per hectare) but vary vastly in structure, composition, and biomass and carbon storage.
High grading, a prevalent exploitative timber harvesting practice in the eastern US, is of particular concern
because it can negatively affect future forest health and productivity. This study quantifies differences in forest
structure, composition, and biomass and carbon storage between high graded stands and stands that received a
seed/establishment cut of a uniform shelterwood regeneration sequence treatment, which is a comparable and
well-established silvicultural method used to regenerate mixed-oak forests. It focuses on mixed-oak forests
(mixed-Quercus), where the effects of high grading have been understudied, and uses a sample with broader
spatial coverage than previous studies. The sample comprised nine stands that were known to have been high
graded 8–15 years ago and nine stands that received the seed/establishment cut of a uniform shelterwood
regeneration sequence. Stand were systematically sampled using fixed-area plots. Field measurements were
collected and used to calculate metrics describing forest structure and function. The structure of high graded
stands was characterized by a higher proportion of trees with poor health and/or form compared to shelterwood
stands, with 18.3 % less acceptable growing stock and trees with lower crown compaction. Diameter distributions
of high graded stands were characterized by numerous small trees and few large-diameter trees. Spatial
variability of overstory trees was contingent on the tree size range evaluated, with a larger variability of
sawtimber-sized trees (trees ≥ 29.2 cm in diameter at breast height) in high graded stands. High graded stands
also had 2.2 times fewer oak trees (Quercus spp.) in the overstory canopy, 17,897 fewer seedlings per hectare
(ha), and 45 Mg/ha less biomass than shelterwood stands. These results indicate that high grading generally
degrades mixed-oak forests and impairs their long-term capacity to supply vital ecosystem services such as
habitat for specific wildlife species, carbon storage, and high-quality wood products.
Located in
Information Materials
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Research
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WLFW Outcomes: Funded Research
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Southern Group of State Foresters
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by
Web Editor
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published
Jun 30, 2020
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last modified
Apr 16, 2024 03:09 PM
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filed under:
Wildland Fire,
Forest Management,
SE FireMap,
Southern Group of State Foresters
We provide leadership in sustaining the economic, environmental and social benefits of the South's forests, and work to identify and address existing and emerging issues and challenges that are important to southern forests and citizens.
Located in
LP Members
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Organizations Search
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Southwest Georgia PBA
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by
Rosanne Hessmiller
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last modified
Apr 16, 2024 03:05 PM
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filed under:
Prescribed Burn Associations,
Tall Timbers,
Habitat,
Prescribed Burn,
Fire,
Forest Management,
Land Management,
SE FireMap
Our Mission is to provide and support a platform for landowners to share, educate and implement a sound forest and land management practices regarding prescribed burning within Georgia.
Located in
LP Members
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Organizations Search
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Stoleson, Scott
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by
Web Editor
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published
Feb 20, 2012
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last modified
Mar 17, 2016 03:14 PM
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filed under:
Extinction risk,
Federal,
Fracking,
Research,
Conservation,
Salamanders,
Avian abundance,
silviculture,
Riparian systems,
Herbivorous insects,
Species richness,
Range shift,
Natural variability,
Forest Management,
Restoration,
Fire effects,
Habitat quality,
Fragmentation,
Biodiversity,
Pennsylvania,
Beetle,
Songbird migration,
Behavior,
Invasive species,
Bird monitoring,
Habitat,
Natural gas,
Nests,
Long distance migration,
Threatened species,
Endangered Species,
National Forests,
Appalachian forest,
Community assembly ,
Birds
Located in
Expertise Search
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Texas A&M Forest Service
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by
Web Editor
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published
Jun 19, 2020
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last modified
May 31, 2022 09:51 PM
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filed under:
Wildland Fire,
Texas A&M,
Forest Service,
Texas,
Forest Management
Texas A&M Forest Service conserves and protects the resources and lands of the Lone Star State.
Located in
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Organizations Search
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The Benefits of Opening Forest Canopies
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by
Admin
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published
Jul 13, 2021
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last modified
Dec 12, 2023 08:42 PM
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filed under:
Open Forest,
WLFW,
Oklahoma,
Forests,
Forestry,
Forest Management,
Video,
Wildland Fire,
News,
Oak Forests
Learn about the benefits of creating open canopy in oak forested areas -- for livestock, aesthetics, and wildlife -- with Dwayne Elmore from the Oklahoma State University Extension.
Located in
Training
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Videos, podcasts, multimedia
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The Nature Conservancy, Sandhills Office
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by
Rosanne Hessmiller
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last modified
Apr 11, 2024 08:49 PM
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filed under:
Forest Management,
NGO,
Longleaf Pine
Longleaf pine forests once stretched 90 million acres from Virginia to Texas. Harvested for lumber, turpentine, tar and pitch, this vast forest began to decline rapidly in the 19th century, and today a mere 3% of the original range remains. You can see what these ancient woodlands once looked like by visiting Calloway Forest, a longleaf pine forest in the Sandhills. Many wildlife species depend on the openness of longleaf pine forest to forage and raise young.
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Organizations Search
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The Value of Land
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by
Admin
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published
Jul 13, 2021
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filed under:
Historically Underserved Farmers & Ranchers,
Forestry,
Forest Management,
Video,
The Center for Heirs' Property,
Landowner Information,
Landowners,
South
This video shares the stories of low-wealth heirs’ property owners in the South -- and how they are being served by The Center for Heirs' Property to protect rural, family-owned land.
Located in
Training
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Videos and Webinars
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Timber Management and Prescribed Fire
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by
Admin
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published
Dec 30, 2020
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last modified
Apr 18, 2024 01:27 PM
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filed under:
Prescribed Burning,
Training,
WLFW,
USDA,
Forest Management,
Woody Vegetation,
Webinar,
Forestry,
Fire,
Video,
Online Training,
News,
Wildland Fire,
Forest Service,
Timber
Joe Marschall (Oak Woodlands and Forests Fire Science Consortium) moderates a panel of fire professionals and timber management specialists to discuss results from research and personal experience of combining prescribed fire with timber management.
Located in
Training
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Online Training Programs and Materials
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Tree map: Program catalogs every grove in the U.S. forest
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by
Web Editor
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published
Jan 28, 2021
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filed under:
National Fire Mapping,
Forest Management,
News
Karin Riley, a fire researcher at the Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, helped develop Tree Map, a computer program that catalogs data for wooded areas across the Continental United States. The program allows researchers and fire crews to study and react to fire patterns for better mitigation and suppression.
Located in
News & Events
