Ontario Hardwood Overview Hardwood Tour Oct.19-21
Presentation Objectives Describe Ontario s Hardwood Forest Review Silvicultural Systems Used in Ont. Hardwood Management Practices. Review Basis for Management Strategy Describe Implementation
Tolerant Hardwood Working Group Principal Species Sugar Maple Beech Yellow Birch Basswood White Ash Red Oak Black Cherry Mh Be By Bd Aw Or Cb
Tolerant and Mid Tolerant Hardwood Distribution Map
Actively Managed Hardwood Area
Hardwood Stats Distributed on 3.6 million ha. Gross total volume 562 million m3 Mh 75%, OH 20%, By 5% Annual Hardwood Harvest 07/08-763,400 m3 Annual Pw, Pr Harvest 07/08-827,000 m3 Annual Single Tree Selection 07/08-10,000 ha Annual Uniform Shelterwood 07/08-7,000 ha
Hardwood PCT/Stand Improvement Stats 15 year total treated area 57,600 ha. Total Ont. $ spent $8.4 million Annual Hardwood PCT/Stand 07/08 7,300 ha.
Tolerant Hardwood Working Group Management of the tolerant hardwood forest involves dealing with diverse, variable, and often times complex mixtures of the seven principal species (and other associated species).
Choice of Silvicultural System Based on: understanding of the silvical requirements of desired species mix; light is big one current stand condition as affected by history; management/natural the stand s potential as indicated by ecosite; the management objectives for the forest.
Silvicultural Systems Uneven-aged Systems Even-aged Systems Selection Systems Shelterwood Systems Clearcut Systems
Selection System The Selection System is an: uneven-aged system; of periodic partial cutting; controlled by Basal Area; using vigour and risk characteristics to determine individual tree selection.
Selection System It involves the removal of single trees or small groups of trees (group selection) at intervals of 10 to 25 years.
Selection System Concentrates on removing the defective or diseased trees and trees interfering with the growth of other trees of higher potential value.
UGS tree marked for removal.
AGS trees retained
Stand Quality Improves Following Selection Harvest AGS 30% 70% UGS Pre-harvest
Stand Quality Improves Following Selection Harvest UGS 57% 43% AGS 1st entry Post-harvest
Stand Quality Improves Following Selection Harvest UGS 38% 62% AGS 2nd entry Post-harvest
Logging Damage Impacts Recent central Ont. Study (Woods et al.) Both conventional and mechanical (fellerbunchers) Improvement to AGS from Marking = 13% Actual improvement after harvest = 7% 6% of AGS damaged from logging
Stand Growth and Stocking
Tolerant Hardwood Stand Structure for Selection Management 20 year cutting cycle # of trees/ha 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 dbh (cm)
Recommended Residual BA Levels for Selection Management Poles 10-24 cm DBH Class Small Logs 26-36 cm Medium Logs 38-48 cm Large Logs 50+ cm Total Southern Ontario (m 2 /ha) 4 5 6 5 20 Central Ontario (m 2 /ha) 6 6 5 3 20 Algoma - North Shore (m 2 /ha) 6 6 4 2 18
Tolerant Hardwood 20 year Stand Growth on Good Sites 20 yr change in B.A. - 10 cm dbh and larger Minimum Response 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Maximum Response 5 10 15 20 25 30 Residual Stocking - sq. metres/ha, 10 cm dbh and larger, all quality classes Best response is shown at the 19.8 m 2 /ha residual BA. Response range is 8.7 to 10 m 2 /ha
Theoretical Stocking Development Projection (with residual BA stocking after first cut = 20 m 2 /ha) Basal Area m 2 /ha (trees +10 cm dbh) 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 Growth 10 m 2 /ha 20 yr cut 10 m 2 /ha Growth 10 m 2 /ha 10 20 30 40 50 Years 20 yr cut 10 m 2 /ha Growth 10 m 2 /ha 20 yr cut 10 m 2 /ha 60
Single-tree Selection Stands qualifying for selection management generally have a minimum of 9 m 2 /ha in trees 9 cm DBH and larger (or 7 m 2 /ha in trees 24 cm DBH and larger) of crop quality (AGS).
Single-tree Selection Residual basal area targets for individual stands vary depending upon: species composition stand structure quality distribution As a guideline, researchers recommend that no more than 1/3 of the total basal area be removed during each cutting cycle.
Group Selection
Group Selection to provide more light to allow mid-tolerant species such as white ash, yellow birch, basswood and even black cherry to regenerate and develop in stands where they would normally be lost to suppression in the light-deficient understorey.
Group selection cuts create small openings cleared of all sizes of trees
Size of openings Examples from Table 6.4 (page 155) of Tree Marking Guide Tree Species Canopy Ht. Size of Gap Mh Or/By/Bd Cb/Tt < 1x 1 to 1.5x 1.5 to 2x.01 to.03 ha less than 20 m diameter.04 to.17 ha 22-40 m diameter.1 to.2+ ha 36-50+ m diameter
Other Group Selection Concerns Commitment to follow-up Be aware of non-target species (i.e. hard maple) interfering with midtolerant establishment and growth monitoring tending planting
Shelterwood System
Shelterwood System the shelterwood system is the method of choice where regeneration to mid-tolerant species is a primary objective.
Shelterwood System recommended for hard maple if stand growth and quality are inferior due to: Poor site (e.g., dry moisture regime, shallow soils, imperfectly drained soils, or heavy-textured soils); Bad history - productive sites but overstorey is below quality criteria for selection management.
Shelterwood System even-aged silvicultural system where a stand is harvested in a series of partial cuts. Regeneration occurs naturally under a protective canopy and may be assisted by planting or seeding.
Shelterwood System The Shelterwood System cuts: Preparatory cut Regeneration cut Removal cut(s)
Shelterwood System Preparatory cut (prep cut) Removes undesirable seed-source species and low quality individuals to increase growing space for crown expansion of desirable seed-trees.
Prep Cut Small and medium sized trees are. spaced for crown expansion
Regeneration Cut Leaves a partial canopy evenly distributed to provide seed and the necessary shade to encourage regeneration. Normally cutting from below.
Regeneration cut completed
Shelterwood System Marking is based on the desired percent residual crown cover (crown closure). (Not based on the residual basal area)
Recommended Residual Crown Closure in Shelterwood Regeneration Cuts hard maple 60% red oak 70% (50% with min. competition) yellow birch 50-60% (60-70% on burned sites)
Shelterwood System Removal cut(s) Once the new seedlings are established, the remaining overstorey trees are cut in one or more harvest operations. The new stand is even-aged.
After the removal cut, the stand is even-aged saplings and/or pole size. Removal Cut
Managing Tolerant Hardwoods Ecological concerns: wildlife habitat, environmental quality, social aspects.
Practise good silviculture Protect critical and sensitive habitats stick nests deer & moose habitat fish habitat small streams, seeps, and pools species at risk Maintain special features cavity trees mast trees solitary conifers solitary hardwoods tree species diversity supercanopy trees veterans
Implementation Harvest Prescription Scheduled in the FMP Pre-harvest data collection Change or fine tune prescription provide stand specific details Silvicultural Tree Marking by certified staff Audit of tree marking Careful Logging
Implementation-Tree Marking Silvicultural Tree Marking Certification Program Intense training/testing Certification field audits Conifer/Hwd Level I, Level II Investigate complaints
Summary - Silviculture Systems Shade tolerant species = Single-tree selection Some mid-tolerants = Group + Single tree All mid-tolerants = Shelterwood