Woodlands & Wildlife
Where Woodland Management Meets Wildlife Management
The idea of sustainability in forestry has been around for decades. Responsible forest management has been broadened, and it’s a widely accepted practice today when it comes to preserving timber and promoting healthy surrounding wildlife. But how do forests best help sustain the greater ecosystem? This is a commonly asked question, and often answered with uncertainty and even with bias, as each of us have different relationships with land. Whether for conservation of the entire ecosystem as a whole, or maintenance of land for self gain, the bottom line is that how we choose to care for the land around us matters.
Clearcutting
There are three major timber harvest practices: clearcutting, shelterwood, and select harvest. Clearcutting is the most controversial. As the name suggest, clearcutting involves removal of many or most trees from an outlined area, leaving few trees standing. In some cases, this can be the most favorable option. Often used as a solution for forest types whose seedlings require full sunlight, this method completely opens up the canopy that would otherwise shade neighboring vegetation. Although it can prove to be beneficial for certain jobs, there are some downsides to look out for. As opposed to other forms of harvest, this approach gets rid of trees regardless of their age, health, or size. This means that perfectly healthy, thriving trees are removed or injured in the process. Increased erosion is also a common risk, the result of heavy machinery and roads built to get to the site. Some of these problems can be overcome by careful operations and prior planning.
Shelterwood
Shelterwood falls between clearcut and select harvest. This technique involves 2-3 cuts that eventually leads to even-aged timber. The purpose of the first cut is to open up the stand. The second cut is to prepare the seedbed and encourage prompt regeneration. The goal of shelterwood is a fire-resilient forest. For this reason, and because of its less invasive nature, some foresters favor this harvest method.
Select Harvest
By far the most complex, select harvest, most often involves careful inspection of the timber stand and an assessment as to the trees that may pose the greatest threat to the surrounding ecosystem.The process involves many steps, but in comparison to other methods, select harvest is relatively low-intensity. The trees are selected on the basis of size and condition, with smaller and younger trees reserved to grow on to the next harvest and old growth trees left for future species habitat. Removing the higher-risk trees and leaving the trees with higher potential improves the quality and disposition of the forest. By selecting the trees that inhibit growth, it allows optimal sunlight, moisture, and soil nutrients to encourage future growth.
Effects of Woodland Management on Wildlife
The removal of timber, when done sustainably, allows the surrounding ecosystem to flourish. Logging opens up forest floors for new plant growth, which restores health in many ways. Often times, non-native and invasive species are removed in order to allow plants that are better adapted to the area to thrive. Healthy trees and other vegetation attracts biodiversity to a forest, which helps to provide stability to ecosystems. Wildlife is deeply dependent on the success of the forest, and adding or taking away too much can greatly impact animals and plant-life alike. Clearcutting, for example, minimizes wildlife habitat, plain and simple. In order to maintain diversification in forests, logging of any kind, must be approached in a way that ensures balance among the biosphere.
The benefits of a responsible harvest can be great. Depending on the circumstances, each harvest method can result in improved forest health. When the right trees are removed, proper air circulation and sunlight exposure is restored. Safety is increased through removal of dead and decaying trees. Additionally, the right harvest method for a given property can generate income and future harvest opportunities by utilizing methods that foster growth of younger valuable trees.
To learn more or to start the discussion about selling your timber, contact us today.