Silvicultural Techniques to Manipulate Biomass - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Silvicultural Techniques to Manipulate Biomass

Silviculture

“use of sustainable management practices to establish or guide the development of forest stands in order to fulfill natural resource objectives”

• Differ by:
• Even aged vs. Uneven aged
• Occur at time of establishment as well throughout a stand’s existence

• There is only so much “tree” one can grow on a site
• Manage the site to grow the trees that meet landowner objectives

• Natural regeneration: seeding by existing trees
• Artificial regeneration: applying seeds or planting seedlings

• Seed Tree Method
• Harvest a mature stand except for a few, specifically chosen trees, per acre
• Over the coming years, seeds from those trees will regenerate the stand
• Go back and harvest the seed trees 5-8 years later.

• Shelterwood Method
• Harvest a mature stand leaving a “fair number” of trees per acre
• Over the coming years, shade tolerant species will populate the understory
• Go back and harvest the shelterwood trees once the shade tolerant species are established

• Coppice
• Some species sprout vigorously from roots (aspens) or stumps (oaks and maples)

Advantage: low cost

Disadvantage: relying on nature for seeds/sprouts

might get too many or too few

• Planting
• Use clearcuts to remove existing stand
• Seedlings grown for a couple of years in a nursery before planting (typically in Spring)
• Does require some site preparation work before planting a site

• Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)

http://www.aboutsfi.org/

• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

http://www.fscus.org/

• Natural or Artificial Regeneration
• Open up small areas in existing stands

• Planting
• Advantages:

stand establishment more reliable

tends to lead to prompt reforestation

Better control of species composition

Better control of spacing between trees

Use of genetically improved seedlings possible

• Planting
• Disadvantage:

• Generally occurs on its own
• Managers should ensure the desired species establish and grow