ATTACHMENT 4: DESCRIPTION OF TREATMENT TYPES MESABI PROJECT

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1 ATTACHMENT 4: DESCRIPTION OF TREATMENT TYPES MESABI PROJECT Treatment Description Photo Example Create young forest with harvest Primary Treatments Two Age Cut Harvest is designed to maintain and regenerate a stand with two age classes. The resulting stand may be two-aged* or trend toward an uneven-aged condition as a consequence of both extended period of regeneration establishment and the retention of reserve trees that may represent one or more age classes. *a growing area with trees of two distinct age classes separated in age by more than ± 20 percent of rotation Clearcut with Reserves An even-aged management technique in which varying numbers of reserve trees are retained to achieve goals other than regeneration. This method produces a two-aged* stand in which varying numbers of reserve trees are not harvested. Regeneration is achieved by natural seeding, artificial (direct) seeding, planting seedlings, stump and root suckering and/or advance reproduction. A varying number of trees or groups of trees are retained to achieve wildlife and tree species diversity goals. *a growing area with trees of two distinct age classes separated in age by more than ± 20 percent of rotation Laurentian Ranger District 1 Attachment 4

2 Treatment Description Photo Example Create young forest with harvest Primary Treatments Shelterwood A method of regenerating an even-aged stand in which a new age class develops beneath the partial shade provided by remaining trees. The remaining trees also serve as seed trees. The sequence of treatment can include three distinct types of cuttings: 1) an optional preparatory harvest (prep cut) to enhance conditions for seed production and/or develop wind firmness, 2) an establishment harvest (seed cut) to prepare the seed bed and to create a new age class, and 3) a removal harvest (final removal cut) to release established regeneration from competition with the overstory trees. Cutting may be done uniformly throughout the stand (uniform shelterwood), in groups or patches (group shelterwood), or in strips (strip shelterwood). Regeneration is usually from natural or artificial seeding or can be supplemented with planted stock. Laurentian Ranger District 2 Attachment 4

3 Improve stand condition with harvest Thinning An intermediate harvest treatment designed to reduce stand density of trees primarily to improve growth, enhance forest health, or recover potential mortality. Types of thinning include: Crown thinning (from above). The removal of trees from the dominant and co-dominant crown classes to favor the best trees of those same crown classes. Low thinning (from below). The removal of trees from the lower crown classes to favor those in the upper crown classes. Mechanical thinning (geometric thinning). The thinning of trees in either even- or uneven-aged stands, involving removal of trees in rows, strips, or by using fixed spacing intervals. Variable Density Thinning (VDT): Thinning that provides for un-thinned areas and heavily thinned patches, along with intermediate levels of thinning and residual density through the bulk of the stand (varying density). The result is much greater spatial variability in stand densities and greater structural complexity. Ecological benefits of VDT include development of large trees, opportunities for release or new establishment of woody and herbaceous species, and creation of spatially variable microclimatic and habitat conditions (Franklin et al. 2007). Laurentian Ranger District 3 Attachment 4

4 Restore stand condition without harvest Non Harvest Restoration Underplant Setting out of young trees or sowing of tree seeds under an existing stand (note: the trees themselves are termed underplanted). Used to restore a stand without necessarily using timber harvest as a primary treatment. Site Preparation Broadcast Burn Prescribed burning activity where fire is applied generally to most or all of an area within well-defined boundaries for reduction of fuel hazard, as a resource management treatment, or both burn intensity varies throughout the treatment unit depending on vegetation, fuels and topography. These burns create a new stand in the young age class. However, unburned areas or lightly burned areas within the unit may be common. Laurentian Ranger District 4 Attachment 4

5 Reduce/remove hazardous fuels Before Fuels Treatment A treatment primarily designed to reduce understory fuels, including dead and down trees and ladder fuels such as small diameter balsam fir. Treatment options may include: cutting of understory trees by hand or mechanical, removal off site of biomass, chipping, crushing or chopping on site, pile burning on site, and potential underburns to maintain the fuels reduction. Fuels treatments may be used in stands where the overstory is being retained or post-harvest (as a secondary treatment). After Laurentian Ranger District 5 Attachment 4

6 Under Burn A low intensity fire that burns beneath the canopy of live trees. The understory materials that would be consumed include small down, dead, woody material and live forbs, shrubs and seedlings. Some live mature trees may be burned, but the intent is to maintain the forest canopy. Underburn can be used in stands where the overstory is being retained or post-harvest (as a secondary treatment). Laurentian Ranger District 6 Attachment 4

7 Secondary Treatments Secondary Treatments and Reforestation Diversity Planting Planting long-lived conifer species in addition to natural regeneration after a regeneration harvest. This planting method increases within stand diversity by utilizing natural regeneration along with the desired planted species. Diversity planting density ranges from trees per acre. The new forest type is the species being regenerated naturally, not the species being interplanted. Pile Burn Piles of operator slash after harvest or piles as a result of hand piling are burned. Laurentian Ranger District 7 Attachment 4

8 Secondary Treatments Secondary Treatments and Reforestation Site Preparation Broadcast Burn A broadcast burn applied across a harvest unit. Harvest slash is consumed to reduce fuel hazards to acceptable levels, while duff and brush competition is reduced to acceptable levels to promote successful regeneration. Regeneration of the stand is through artificial or natural seeding. Site Preparation Using Mechanical Equipment for Natural Regeneration A mechanical treatment that prepares an area for regeneration and reduces competition from brush and undesirable tree species currently on site. The equipment type and operating season depends on the site conditions, such as soil moisture and vegetation present. The treatment can be used in stands with low stocking and undesirable regeneration or post-harvest (as secondary treatment). Regeneration of the stand is through natural seeding. Laurentian Ranger District 8 Attachment 4

9 Secondary Treatments Secondary Treatments and Reforestation Site Preparation Using Mechanical Equipment for Planting/ Seeding A mechanical treatment that prepares an area for regeneration and reduces competition from brush and undesirable tree species currently on site. The equipment type and operating season depends on the site conditions, such as soil moisture and vegetation present. The treatment can be used in stands with low stocking and undesirable regeneration or post-harvest (as secondary treatment). Regeneration of the stand is through artificial planting or seeding. Under Burn A low intensity fire that burns beneath the canopy of live trees. The understory materials that would be consumed include small down, dead, woody material and live forbs, shrubs and seedlings. Some live mature trees may be burned, but the intent is to maintain the forest canopy. Underburn can be used in stands where the overstory is being retained or post-harvest (as a secondary treatment). Laurentian Ranger District 9 Attachment 4

10 Secondary Treatments Secondary Treatments and Reforestation Site Preparation Herbicide A chemical treatment that reduces competition from brush and undesirable species following timber harvest. The application would be broadcast using ground-based equipment with a boom mounted sprayer. Broadcast application of herbicides can be used in stands where the overstory is being retained or post-harvest (as a secondary treatment). A combination of site preparation herbicide and site preparation mechanical may be used on sites indicated for site preparation herbicide. Release An intermediate treatment designed to free young trees from undesirable, usually overtopping, competing vegetation. Includes cleaning and weeding which are done in stands not past the sapling stage. Competing vegetation is cut within 3-5 feet of desired species. Work is accomplished using motor hand tools such as brush saws. Laurentian Ranger District 10 Attachment 4

11 Reforestation Planting Conversion A change from one silvicultural system to another or from one tree species to another. Conversion of a forest type usually occurs in stands established after a clearcut with reserves harvest (see definition on page 1 of this attachment). Conversion could either occur with planting or seeding. Trees are planted at 400 to 800 seedlings per acre to establish a young cohort of desired species. The planted trees are the dominant regeneration on the site and are the new forest type. Seeding rate vary by species and is done by fixed wing aircraft or helicopters. The seeded trees are the dominant regeneration on the site and are the new forest type (see definition on page 12 of this attachment). Planting Laurentian Ranger District 11 Attachment 4

12 Reforestation Diversity Planting Planting long-lived conifer species in addition to natural regeneration after a regeneration harvest. This planting method increases within stand diversity by utilizing natural regeneration along with the desired planted species. Diversity planting density ranges from trees per acre. The new forest type is the species being regenerated naturally, not the species being interplanted. Seeding Seeding rate vary by species and is done by fixed wing aircraft or helicopters. The seeded trees are the dominant regeneration on the site and are the new forest type. SOURCES: The Dictionary of Forestry ( Reforestation Glossary Forest Service Activity Tracking System (FACTS) - Definitions and Business Rules, and Natural Disturbance and Stand Development Principles for Ecological Forestry (Franklin et al 2007). Laurentian Ranger District 12 Attachment 4