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Photo by Matt Lindler |
Should I cut my timber?
Forests and supermodels have two things in common: They are fiercely competitive and have a desire to be thin.
If you are considering a timber harvest, there can be benefits for your wildlife and your wallet. The growth stage of the timber and proper timing are the keys to success.
According to NWTF Forester Gary Burger, nearly all timber harvest methods produce wildlife benefits when applied correctly.
"The main idea is that tree removal allows light to reach the forest floor, and this generates herbaceous growth which is good for wildlife," Burger said.
Whether you are harvesting pine or hardwoods, doing a complete clearcut or single tree removal, consult with a professional forester to ensure you meet your wildlife and financial objectives when harvesting timber.
Plentiful pines or present profits
When foresters look at a stand of timber, they are looking to achieve a target density for tree growth, instead of simply the number of trees to be removed.
"If you are thinning planted pine, the third row thinning method is most common," Burger said. "You take out every third row of pines and select a few trees out of non-cut rows."
The age at which a stand of pines should be thinned is generally 15 to 20 years.
"Thinning should be carried out in pines as soon as the young trees reach a commercially marketable size, and this first thin is almost always used for pulpwood," Burger said. "For pine, the average stem diameter should be at least 6 to 8 inches."
Whether you decide to thin or clearcut depends on the age and health of the stand of trees.
"If the trees are near the end of their natural lifespan or starting to deteriorate due to insect or disease problems, then clearcutting and regenerating the stand would be the best way to go," Burger said. "If the trees have reached their economic maturity or stage of most value, and you are looking at economic return, final harvest and regeneration may be the best way to go."
The bottomline for the landowner is deciding how to balance the financial return of the timber with the current wildlife holding quality of the stand.
"If a landowner's objectives are more wildlife and aesthetics than economically motivated, this may mean that a stand that is economically mature may be a long way from reaching its natural age limit which is 100 years for loblolly pines," Burger explained.
For example, those tall, old pines may have a long history of serving as turkey roost trees, and may hold more value for that purpose compared to the monetary value of harvesting them.
Hardwoods to hang on to
When thinning hardwoods with wildlife in mind, Burger recommends first removing trees that have little benefit for wildlife.
"Sweetgum, red maple and yellow poplar are less desirable for wildlife," Burger said. "You want to leave the trees with higher economic and wildlife value such as oaks and some soft mast such as persimmon."
A problem to avoid when thinning in hardwood forests is epicormic sprouting, which is when forests are thinned and hardwoods begin sprouting branches lower on the trunks.
"Epicormic sprouting can seriously devalue the bole of the tree where your high quality sawtimber or veneer log is produced," he said. "You want to make sure you don't open hardwood stands up too much."
Keep the SMZs
Streamside management zones, or SMZs, act as borders around creeks and streams. In any timber harvesting operation, the zones are left intact to protect the stream from erosion, overheating from additional sunlight, and they provide cover and travel corridors for wildlife.
"Most states have best management practices that must be followed to protect the SMZs," Burger said.
Resources for timber harvesting
A professional forester is your best source of information when harvesting timber with wildlife in mind.
"Your forester can tell you about Natural Resources Conservation Service programs such as the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program or the Environmental Quality Incentives Program," Burger said. "You can also monitor timber prices through a paid service called TimberMart South, or your local forester can help you find a buyer if you are not experienced in selling timber."
If you are planning a timber harvest, create your wildlife and financial objectives well in advance of your cutting date, which gives you the opportunity to follow the timber markets and sell when prices are favorable. — John Howle