Managing Publicly Owned Forest in a Changing Landscape Aaron Murphy Project Forester J. Strom Thurmond Project April 17 th, 2017 Trusted Partners Delivering Value, Today and Tomorrow CHARLESTON JACKSONVILLE MOBILE SAVANNAH WILMINGTON US Army Corps of Engineers
Background Info. Grew up managing family timberland in the Southeastern United States. Went to Georgia Southern University, received a Bachelor s Degree in Biology Began working for the Corps in 2008 as a Cooperative Education Student. Had a great mentor who introduced me to the field of forestry. Went back to University of Georgia where I received my Master s Degree in Forest Resources. Became Project Forester for J. Strom Thurmond Project in 2015. Oversee the management of publicly owned forest on 75,236 acres that range from limited use to unrestricted (explained later). Provide natural resource management funding through scheduled timber harvest. Work with other Federal, State, and local governments to achieve management objectives.
What Gives YOU The Right? National Environmental Policy Act of 1969- Requires all federal activities to give appropriate consideration to environmental effects in the planning and decision making process. National Historic Preservation Act of 1966- Emphasizes identifying and protecting historical sites. Endangered Species Act of 1973- Requires the protection of endangered species and their critical habitat. Section 404 of Clean Water Act of 1972- This legislation requires the protection and restoration of wetlands, waterways, riparian zones, and estuaries. Forest Cover Act (Public Law 86-717)- Provides a statutory mandate for multiple use forest management and to provide for the continued production and harvest of forest products through sustained yield programs, reforestation, and accepted conservation practices.
Words mean Something! I cannot emphasize enough the use of proper terminology when speaking with other resource managers and especially members of the public about forest management. We work in a field that can become controversial and oftentimes scrutinized heavily by members of the public. Let s discuss the terminology below: *Clear Cut *Sanitation Cut *Even-Aged Management *Coppice Regeneration Method *Seed Tree Regeneration Method *Shelterwood Regeneration Method *Regeneration Cut What do all of these words have in common?
New Life Loblolly Pine Longleaf Pine White Oak Western White Pine
Where to Start? Take a look at your projects Master Plan. There will be guidance on certain key aspects of Forest Management related to your project. Dive into the past. Don t be afraid to ask how things were done before you showed up on the scene. Contact other projects. Sometimes the best advice can be found just right up the road! Become familiar with ER 1130-2-540, Environmental Stewardship Operations and Maintenance- This regulation establishes the administration and management of natural resources activities at Corps Projects. Last but not least, know ER 405-1-12, the Real Estate Handbook well - This regulation will be your best friend when learning the requirements for the disposal of forest products and the management of outgrants. Now the fun can begin!!
He who fails to plan is planning to fail Winston Churchill Developing a Forest Management Plan is probably the most important of all of the steps. It states the objectives you wish to achieve through certain activities. It outlines the direction in which you want to take the resource into the future. Establishes a set of guidelines you plan to go by in order to achieve certain management goals. The most important reason for having a forest management plan is that it shows you are making a conscious effort to manage the resource for the betterment of generations to come. Long term goals. The reality is this, most forester s will never see a forest grow from seed to maturity, our legacy is carried on by the landscape we have shaped and nurtured during our time on earth. How will you be remembered?
Poetry in Motion I was once told by a forester that forestry is a lot like creating a painting. With a few strokes of the brush here and there, before you know it you have a master piece. Forestry is very much an art. You take into consideration things such as topography, soil type, past land use, etc. to outline an area that will be used as your canvas. As you walk across the landscape pay close attention to changes in timber type. What species occupy the site? Are the contours going to allow for harvest capability? Does it even need to be harvested? These are all of the things you will need to take into consideration when laying out timber stands in which you plan to manage.
Timber Stand Delineation
Get your biologist Involved!!! We have delineated our timber stands and are ready to press forward. Hold up!! Have you involved your biologist in any of this? The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has a MOA with the USFWS that outlines the requirements for conducting management activities on government lands. THIS SURVEY IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!! Establish a working relationship with your regional USFW office. Your wildlife biologist is oftentimes the one to establish this relationship. Document EVERYTHING! I can not stress this enough. Make sure every action you take looks into the potential effects it may have on Threatened and Endangered species as well as cultural resources.
Take Inventory Once you have determined an area in which you want focus your management efforts, take an inventory of your forest. Can be conducted in house or contracted out to other forestry professionals. If contracted out, make sure contract clearly specifies inventory requirements!! Entities such as the USFS and state forestry commissions are great folks to look to for basic timber inventory contract requirements. If you plan on conducting timber inventories multiple years then I highly recommend adding option years into your service contract. This will allow for flexibility while also streamlining the contracting process into the future. Your inventory will help you determine your management options.
Just What the Doctor Ordered Determining prescriptions for timber stands. This is where knowing the science and art behind forestry really comes into play. Prescriptions for a forest are much like a doctor s written prescription. Prescriptions layout the harvest requirements as well as any treatments that may take place after a harvest is completed. Having a forester or biologist on staff to assist you with making these decisions is highly recommended. Things to consider- what are the native species? Historically, how was the landscape shaped (fire, wind, water)? Where is the forest in its rotation?
Make it Available!! Time to put together the availability! The availability is what you will prepare to give to real estate for solicitation of a timber sale. Availabilities include the following information: 1. Location of the harvest 2. Acres to be harvested 3. The prescription for those stands 4. The volume of forest products to be harvested 5. Any special recommendations (state BMP requirements, time constraints, sensitive areas, etc.) 6. Statement recognizing any cultural sites or threatened and endangered species located within the harvest area.
Timber Sale Solicitation The timber availability gives real estate the ability to go forward with the solicitation of government property for sale. Timber is considered real property and therefore must be disposed of through the Real Estate Division. The Real Estate Forester will prepare an Invitation For Bid that will be sent to local loggers to let them know the timber is up for bid. A bid closing data will be established and all interested parties will appear the day of the sale as lined out in the Invitation For Bid. Typically the highest bidder will be granted the contract but that may not always be the case.
It s Got to be Worth Something!! Managing publicly owned timber also requires you have an understanding of forest economics. Timber is a commodity. Commodity prices are driven by demand. If demand is high and supply is low, wood delivered prices will typically increase at the mills. If demand is low and supply is high, wood delivered prices will typically decrease at the mills. In the world of government contracts pretty much everything is cut and dry. Not so much in the world of forest products. There are numerous variables that affect timber stumpage prices paid to landowners.
Timber Price Variables Loggability- Can the tract be logged year round or do they have to move out when wet weather comes. Tracts with good access oftentimes bring a premium. Tract Size- The larger a tract, the more cost effective it is for a logging company to move equipment to a site. This will oftentimes bring a higher price. Access to roads- The better the road is and the closer a tract is to a county road or the mill, the more the timber is worth. Timber Quality- Characteristics such as straightness, form, limb diameter, and internal defect all play a part in wood pricing. The better the quality the more the timber will be worth.
Examples of High Value Timber
The Harvest Typical logging contracts can last anywhere from six months to two years in some cases. The average contract length is one year and they can show up at any time! Things to consider during the harvest: - Are they (logging company) giving me a clean job? - Are they causing damage to my residual trees? - Is there rutting that is occurring and if there is, is it excessive? - Are you accounting for every load of timber being hauled? - Is the residual timber stand you are left with of good quality? Take all of these things into consideration as harvesting begins.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Site Restoration After harvest have been conducted, do you plan to replant or manage the residual timber stand that you have been left? Depending upon management objectives you may be doing both. Typically site preparation, herbicide, and replanting are conducted through service contracts carried out through your contracting office or through a CPAF contract if you have one. Prescribed burning can be conducted in house or by contract as well. In many parts of the country, prescribed fire plays a huge part in restoration of native habitats.
It s not about what it is, but what it can become. -Dr. Seuss, The Lorax Understanding Silviculture and Forest Economics is great but there is more to forest management. Creativity and innovation are a huge part of shaping a landscape. As natural resource managers we always want to leave the land in a much better state than we found it. Don t be afraid to collaborate with others on ideas. Don t be afraid to try something different!! There are new advancements made everyday in forestry, stay educated. Can you see the forest for the trees?
QUESTIONS? CONCERNS? If you ever have any questions, you may contact me by: Email: aaron.e.murphy@usace.army.mil Phone: (864) 333-1113 or (864) 333-2177 Mail: 510 Clarks Hill Hwy. Clarks Hill, SC 29821