Forestry Basics Carey Entz Lycoming County Conservation District Watershed Specialist

Forestry BasicsForestry Basics

Carey EntzCarey Entz

Lycoming County Conservation DistrictLycoming County Conservation District

Watershed SpecialistWatershed Specialist

What a Tree Needs To GrowWhat a Tree Needs To Grow

Parts of the TreeParts of the Tree

Growth of the TreeGrowth of the Tree Each year the tree grows two new layersEach year the tree grows two new layers

Springwood:Springwood: The layer formed in the The layer formed in the spring by the cambium, grows fast and spring by the cambium, grows fast and looks light in color.looks light in color.

SummerwoodSummerwood: The layer formed in the : The layer formed in the summer, grows slower and the cells are summer, grows slower and the cells are smaller so the layer is much darker in color.smaller so the layer is much darker in color.

What the Rings can Tell YouWhat the Rings can Tell You By counting the dark rings you call tell the age By counting the dark rings you call tell the age

of the tree.of the tree.

The annual rings can also tell you what The annual rings can also tell you what happened during the trees life.happened during the trees life.

The size and shapes of the rings indicate:The size and shapes of the rings indicate:

Soil moisture and fertility, weather, fire, Soil moisture and fertility, weather, fire, overcrowding and insect attacksovercrowding and insect attacks

Forest SuccessionForest Succession Forests are always growing and changing!Forests are always growing and changing! Succession: is when some trees replace or Succession: is when some trees replace or

succeed, other trees in the same place.succeed, other trees in the same place. 3 Main Layers within a Forest:3 Main Layers within a Forest:

Canopy or Overstory- Canopy or Overstory- Large Trees above the forest floorLarge Trees above the forest floor

UnderstoryUnderstory- Small Trees and bushes under the Canopy- Small Trees and bushes under the Canopy

Forest Floor-Forest Floor- Shrubs, wildflowers, and shade tolerant plants Shrubs, wildflowers, and shade tolerant plants

This change may come slowly with old age or This change may come slowly with old age or suddenly after fire or windstorm; but suddenly after fire or windstorm; but succession never stops.succession never stops.

Forest CommunitiesForest Communities There are two Principal Forest Types in PAThere are two Principal Forest Types in PA

In the North: In the North: Birch, Beech, Maple, Hemlock ForestsBirch, Beech, Maple, Hemlock Forests

In the South:In the South: Oak, Chestnut and Yellow Poplar ForestsOak, Chestnut and Yellow Poplar Forests

Do You Know What PA State Tree is?Do You Know What PA State Tree is?

Forest ResourcesForest Resources

TreesTrees

WaterWater

WildlifeWildlife

ForageForage

Recreation Recreation

Forest Resources: TreesForest Resources: Trees

Forest Resources: TreesForest Resources: Trees

Common Wood Products:Common Wood Products: Paper, Pencils, Bats, Rackets, and Power polesPaper, Pencils, Bats, Rackets, and Power poles

Not So Common Uses:Not So Common Uses: Film, Tires, Aspirin, Toothpaste, and Cattle Feed.Film, Tires, Aspirin, Toothpaste, and Cattle Feed.

Forest Resources: TreesForest Resources: Trees There are nearly 700 species of trees in the US There are nearly 700 species of trees in the US

Forests, but only 100 species are used in the Forests, but only 100 species are used in the products we use regularly.products we use regularly.

40 are Softwoods (Pine, Hemlock, Cedar)40 are Softwoods (Pine, Hemlock, Cedar) Used for lumber, plywood and paperUsed for lumber, plywood and paper

60 are Hardwoods (Cherry, Oak, Maple)60 are Hardwoods (Cherry, Oak, Maple) Used for furniture, flooring, and panelingUsed for furniture, flooring, and paneling

Forest Resources: WaterForest Resources: Water

Forest lands are prime sources for of water!Forest lands are prime sources for of water! Trees transpire or give water off through their Trees transpire or give water off through their

leaves. Remember the Water Cycle?leaves. Remember the Water Cycle? The forest cover can control the amount of The forest cover can control the amount of

water released and quality of water to the near water released and quality of water to the near by waterways.by waterways.

The forest cover also provides shade to The forest cover also provides shade to streams. Cold water is important to fish.streams. Cold water is important to fish.

Forest Resources: WildlifeForest Resources: Wildlife

Forest and woods are homes to many kinds of Forest and woods are homes to many kinds of animals- Large and Small.animals- Large and Small.

Three basics to habitat: Food, Water, ShelterThree basics to habitat: Food, Water, Shelter Each stage of forest succession favors certain Each stage of forest succession favors certain

animals.animals. Through proper management you can create Through proper management you can create

quality habitat for a large numbers of wildlife quality habitat for a large numbers of wildlife species within the same forest.species within the same forest.

Forest Resources: ForageForest Resources: Forage

Edible plants (forage) are forest resources just Edible plants (forage) are forest resources just as trees are. as trees are.

Forage includes grasses, and buds, shoots, and Forage includes grasses, and buds, shoots, and leaves of woody plants, and herbs that can be leaves of woody plants, and herbs that can be eaten by livestock or wildlife.eaten by livestock or wildlife.

Forest Resources: RecreationForest Resources: Recreation The state forest system was first established in 1898 The state forest system was first established in 1898

for the purpose of providing a continuous supply of for the purpose of providing a continuous supply of wood products, protecting watersheds, and providing wood products, protecting watersheds, and providing opportunities for outdoor recreationopportunities for outdoor recreation

Today, the state forest comprises over 2.1 million Today, the state forest comprises over 2.1 million acres and accounts for 12 percent of the forested area acres and accounts for 12 percent of the forested area in the Commonwealth. in the Commonwealth.

Pennsylvania's state forest represents one of the Pennsylvania's state forest represents one of the largest expanses of public forest land in the eastern largest expanses of public forest land in the eastern United States, making it a truly priceless public asset.United States, making it a truly priceless public asset.

Forest ManagementForest Management

Silviculture and other Silviculture and other

Best Management PracticesBest Management Practices

SilvicultureSilviculture

What is Silviculture? What is Silviculture? Silvicutlture is the planting, growing, Silvicutlture is the planting, growing,

tending, and harvesting stands of trees.tending, and harvesting stands of trees.

Silviculture Systems are methods used to Silviculture Systems are methods used to maintain vigor, desired composition, health maintain vigor, desired composition, health and structure in terms of age, species, and and structure in terms of age, species, and size class.size class.

How to Choose a Silviculture SystemHow to Choose a Silviculture System

When evaluating the site the forester considers When evaluating the site the forester considers all the physical, chemical, climatic, and all the physical, chemical, climatic, and biological features of an area that influence the biological features of an area that influence the forest regeneration and growth.forest regeneration and growth.

Other factors are the sensitivity to an area to Other factors are the sensitivity to an area to soil compaction, erosion, and stream soil compaction, erosion, and stream sedimentation.sedimentation.

Intermediate TreatmentsIntermediate Treatments

Intermediate treatments are done when the Intermediate treatments are done when the forest is still growing to economic and forest is still growing to economic and biological maturitybiological maturity

The residual stand will be able to resond to the The residual stand will be able to resond to the increased light, water and nutrients to reduce increased light, water and nutrients to reduce competetion.competetion.

Examples: Cleanings, Thinning, and Examples: Cleanings, Thinning, and Improvement CutsImprovement Cuts

Regeneration MethodsRegeneration Methods The goal of the regen. methods are to re-establish a The goal of the regen. methods are to re-establish a

healthy forest.healthy forest. Single tree or group method: Mimics blow downs. Single tree or group method: Mimics blow downs.

Utilizes diameter-limited cut or high grade cutting.Utilizes diameter-limited cut or high grade cutting. Shelterwood and Clear-cut: Mimics wildfire or Shelterwood and Clear-cut: Mimics wildfire or

tornados. tornados. Shelterwood: leaves the trees until regeneration is well Shelterwood: leaves the trees until regeneration is well

established.established. Clear-cutting: The best way to for regen. of black cherry, Clear-cutting: The best way to for regen. of black cherry,

aspen and poplar because they need full sunlight their aspen and poplar because they need full sunlight their entire life.entire life.

Other Best Management Other Best Management Practices (BMP)Practices (BMP)

FireFire

FertilizersFertilizers

Planting SeedlingsPlanting Seedlings

Seeding a ForestSeeding a Forest

Gathering SeedsGathering Seeds

Improving TreesImproving Trees

BMP: FireBMP: Fire

Prescribed Burning is sometime used, Prescribed Burning is sometime used, especially in pine forests.especially in pine forests.

The fire exsposes the soil, releases nutients The fire exsposes the soil, releases nutients into the soil, eliminates some insects and into the soil, eliminates some insects and disease and removes undesirable trees and disease and removes undesirable trees and bush.bush.

Fire can be as important to in manageing Fire can be as important to in manageing Wildlife as it is in managing timber and Wildlife as it is in managing timber and controlling other vegetation.controlling other vegetation.

BMP: FertilizersBMP: Fertilizers

Fertilizers can be added to the soil.Fertilizers can be added to the soil.

The nutrients are added to the forest soil and The nutrients are added to the forest soil and picked up through the plant roots.picked up through the plant roots.

These healthy trees grow much faster than These healthy trees grow much faster than others.others.

BMP: Planting SeedlingsBMP: Planting Seedlings After harvesting a forester may deside to After harvesting a forester may deside to

plant seedlings.plant seedlings.

Natural seeding may take several years, Natural seeding may take several years, while planting will speed up the process.while planting will speed up the process.

Attention should be given to the species Attention should be given to the species of seedlings for timber harvest, watershed of seedlings for timber harvest, watershed protection, recreation and wildlife habitat.protection, recreation and wildlife habitat.

BMP: Gathering SeedsBMP: Gathering Seeds

Pine trees are the easiest to gather seed from.Pine trees are the easiest to gather seed from. The pine cones ripen in the fall. The cone The pine cones ripen in the fall. The cone

dries and the seeds will fall out.dries and the seeds will fall out. The seeds need to be kept in a cool, dry place.The seeds need to be kept in a cool, dry place. They go through a dormate period during the They go through a dormate period during the

winter.winter. The seeds are then ready to germinate in the The seeds are then ready to germinate in the

spring.spring.

BMP: Improving TreesBMP: Improving Trees

Foresters are now using genetic Foresters are now using genetic improvement to get better trees.improvement to get better trees.

They gather seed from superior trees.They gather seed from superior trees.

They also may artificially pollinate tree to They also may artificially pollinate tree to develop superior tree families.develop superior tree families.

Enemies of the ForestEnemies of the Forest

Wildfires and InsectsWildfires and Insects

Enemies of the Forest: WildfiresEnemies of the Forest: Wildfires

Nearly 9 out of 10 wildfires are started by Nearly 9 out of 10 wildfires are started by careless people.careless people.

Only 1 of 10 are caused by lightning!Only 1 of 10 are caused by lightning! Crown fires can spread over many miles Crown fires can spread over many miles

with the right weather and topography of with the right weather and topography of the land.the land.

Help Prevent Forest Fires!Help Prevent Forest Fires!

Enemies of the Forest: InsectEnemies of the Forest: Insect

Emerald Ash BorerEmerald Ash Borer


HemlockHemlock

Woolly AdelgidWoolly Adelgid


Gypsy MothsGypsy Moths


Asian Longhorn BeetleAsian Longhorn Beetle

2009 Envirothon 2009 Envirothon Forestry ResourcesForestry Resources

http://www.envirothonpa.org/Forestry-Topics.shtml

Documents

Forestry Basics Carey Entz Lycoming County Conservation District Watershed Specialist