Where LandVest Comes From

Transcription

1 Adaptive Forest Mgt. for Current & Approaching Threats A Large Land Manager s Perspective NE NESAF Winter Meeting March 26, 2014 Presented by: Richard G. Carbonetti ACF CF VP Timberland LandVest, Inc. Where LandVest Comes From Responsible for Management on +/-1,700,000 acres ME to PA, with 10 offices, 34 foresters & GIS technicians & 13 admin staff Management Offices in ME, NH, VT, NY & PA. Manage over 650,000 acres of FSC certified lands Manage over 500,000 acres of conservation eased lands Just received our Certificate as a FSC Group Certified Manager Have worked on over 260,000 acres of carbon projects 1

2 Outline LandVest view of threats Those we know and those we worry about Our company s and our client s approach Overview Key Principle : Regardless of the threat the first consideration all landowners and managers need to focus on is implementing the right silviculture on the right acre at the right time. Why: It is a simple concept that a healthy & well managed forest will be most capable of addressing biologically and environmental stresses This should address the threats and risks we know exist and those we have yet to recognize. 2

3 Marked High Quality HW CTL Thinning in Vermont Forestry Matters Positive impacts of implementing high order forestry are minimized or considered too expense. Too often we hear: Prescriptions pretty much hit the target Marking doesn t pay LandVest & Our Client s Approach Moving toward only using prescriptions when desired outcome is simple (OSR) or treatment involves few decisions. Don t place the burden of silvicultural decisions on feller operators. This leads to lower quality forestry. It is not even fair to expect compliance. Foresters should make the calls 3

4 Improving Residual Stand Quality Marked NHW Thinning w/ CTL CTL Forwarder improves residual stand quality Climate Change The science is clear it is occurring. Let s not waste time on the whys but instead address the changes we all see: Shorter Winters Wetter summers More ice storms, oddly times frosts, etc. Forest health issues related to weather Species movement, w/ certain bird and insect movements most evident Invasive impacts related to weather changes 4

5 Increased Event Storms Management Strategies/Needs Culvert Sizing and Location: Moving from 12 to15 to now 18 inch min. culverts Decreased drainage spacing & larger structures Shorter intervals for drainage maintenance Move from Summer Roads to Winter Cost savings Less risk of loss of invested dollars However, shorter winters cause potential production shortfalls. 5

6 Forest Health Issues Widespread decline, especially in hardwoods Causal Agents: History on some lands of repeated diameter limit harvests Lack of consistent low grade markets Years of repeated partial entries High levels of residual stand damage What to Do: Understand stand dynamics and growth Increase the intensity of forest management Know when to start over Demand limited residual stand damage, including soil compaction and the minimization of trails Wildlife Impacts & Threats Over browsing, both deer & moose Locally and on large acreages an enormous problem Lack of suitable regeneration Reduction in allowable harvest Recipe for enhancing invasives Reactions: Work with wildlife agencies and legislatures to be forest friendly not necessarily hunter or PETA friendly Work with outfitters and individual hunters to increase take Understand the impacts on forest regeneration, stand composition and biological diversity 6

7 Moose Browse Damage VT Invasives Does anyone not understand this is an enormous and growing problem? Unfortunately, we seem to be accepting that invasives are here, at least plants, and there is little we can do about it. LV & Client Response: Monitor and address ASAP Moving toward equipment cleaning SWAT team approach, identify and remove Educate landowners, loggers and obviously staff so early detection is made Understand impacts on forest productivity 7

8 Invasive Buckthorn in PA Markets & Contractors Nothing New: Low grade markets, in particular biomass markets required HW Improvement thinnings at early age Post Spruce budworm thinnings (early commercial thinnings) Enhance economics of long-term forest ownership Market flexibility required so that all required silviculture to be implemented Contractor Force Expensive to start and maintain Pressure on costs reduce contractor income Climate change shrinks suitable operational days 8

9 Technological Changes 1980 Cable Skidder and Chainsaw Felling 2007 Cut-To-Length Cab w/ GPS Harvest Unit layout & Tracking Planning, Modeling & Silviculture LandVest is reviewing our inventory data collection in an attempt to better model growth. Forests are still growing of course, but in what component Collect more tree health data Institute the installation and monitoring of CFI Improve monitoring of stands pre and post harvest over a longer timeframe Review models and move to less regional assumptions and more tract, strata and tree specific inputs where possible and practical 9

10 In Summary Land Managers need to be: More nimble and responsive Put silviculture first Be able to demonstrate that advanced and more intense silviculture pays Work cooperatively across ownerships to collaborate on invasives, markets and support of contractor force Develop more effective inventory and modeling systems that better reflect the forest we have and not the forest we d like to have Be leaders in bringing important issues to the attention of policy makers Provide solutions, don t just describe problems 10