ForestryIAFNR MODULE 4NATURAL RESOURCES

Our Forests

• What is a Forest?– Community of associated trees, shrubs, other plants, and animals

that interact and play a part in the ecosystem

• Historic thoughts of forests– Enemy

• Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement– Trees were a barrier for expansion and survival and had to be cleared

– Friend• Valuable products to build wood homes and furniture• Provided summer cooling (shade), and heat for winter (fuel)• European shipping industry depended on America’s Forests

Today’s Forests

• How much is there?– 33% of total US Land Area is covered by forests

• 1/3 of US forest and woodland is considered non-commercial forestland– Not suitable for tree production (Ex: swamps, mountainous land, parks, and

preservation areas)

• Other 2/3 are commercial forests– Capable of producing useful forest, but not all being used for this purpose

• Forest Regions– In US, there are 860 species of trees– Six major forest regions

West Coast Forests

Central Hardwoods

Western Forests

Northern Forests

Tropical Forests

Southern Forests

• Pacific coast from central California to Canada• Major Species: Douglas Fir, coast redwood,

Western red cedar, Sitka spruce, Sugar pine• Most lumber, softwood, polywood comes from

this region

• Mountainous regions from SW Texas to Wyoming

• Major Species: Ponderosa pine, Idaho White pine, Sugar Pine, White fir, Western larch

• From New York State to N. Georgia to W. Texas, to N Minnesota

• Major Species: Shortleaf pine, Virginia pine, Eastern White Pine, Red Cedar, Birch, White Oak, Hickory, Elm, White Ash, Red Maple

• Southern Tips of Florida and Texas• Major Species: Mahogany, Mangrove, Bay Tree

• Maine south along the mountains to Georgia, also northern Michigan and Minnesota

• Major Species: Many Pines, Spruces, and Oaks, White Cedar, Black Cherry, Walnut, and Birches

• Coast of Virginia to Eastern Texas and Missouri• Major Species: Lobolly pine, Longleaf pine,

Shortleaf pine, Slash pine, Bald Cypress, Oaks, Willow, Cottonwood

Forest Regions

Key

• West Coast

Forests

• Western Forests

• Central

Hardwoods

• Tropical Forests

• Northern Forests

• Southern

Forests

Morgan-Monroe State Forest

• Indiana has 4.7 million acres of forestland

• 95% of Indiana’s Forests are classified as hardwood forest types• Oak, Hickory, Elm, Ash,

Cottonwood

• Rankings • 9th nationally in total

lumber production

• 3rd in hardwood lumber production

http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/4816.htm

Indiana’s Forestland

Forest Products and Benefits• Wood

– Different grades of lumber• Shop and Factory grade:

Furniture, barrels, cabinets, etc.• Structural grade: Joists, planks,

laminated wood• Yard wood grade: Boards and

finish lumber

• Converted Wood– Products like paper, charcoal,

sponges, artificial hair, and imitation vanilla

– Almost impossible to spend a day and not work with a wood product

• Benefits– Climate Moderation

• Temperature can be almost 8 degrees cooler in a forest

• Provides shade in sun and break from harsh winds

– Water and Soil Conservation• Forests are most effective

vegetative cover for soil and water control

– Wildlife Habitats and Recreation

Forest Management• Measurements

– Special units of measure in forest management– Monitoring Tree diameters, Heights, and Timber Volume

• Cuttings– Intermediate Cuttings

• Harvests taken from trees before planned maturity– Most likely for tree improvement, sanitation, or salvage

– Harvest Cuttings• Cuttings for production

– Whole or partial removal of trees for production and seeding

Forest Management• Reproducing Forests

– Seeding• Natural

– Allow trees to reseed themselves in area naturally

• Direct– Apply tree seeds to the desired area by hand, spreaders, or planes and

helicopters

– Cuttings• Replanting cuttings of certain tree species that grow readily by this

method

– Seedlings• Planting nursery produced seedlings

– Quickest method, but also requires the most labor

Forest Enemies

Our Forests are fighting to grow and stay alive!!

Image retrieved from: http://www.fs.fed.us/projects/hfi/field-guide/web/page09.php

Forest Enemies

Insects

• Insects have been known to kill more trees than any other forest enemy– Common Insect Enemies

• Bark Borers• Defoliators• Wood Borers (Termites)• Tip Feeders• Sap Suckers• Root Feeders

Disease

• Forest Pathology is the study of tree diseases– Non-infectious diseases

• Caused by environmental problems

– Infectious diseases• Caused by parasites

– Fungus Caused Disease• Spores spread disease through

large areas– Stem and Root diseases cause the

most damage

Forest Enemies

Wildlife

• Any animal living in the forest gets its food from the forest– Wildlife population determines

the damage on the forest• When population is great not only

does the forest suffer, but so do animals

Environment

• Can range from minor to extreme– Extreme Example

• A whole forest is wiped out from a tornado

– Minor Example• Tree limbs have broken off from

ice storm effects

• Good Forest management is the only way to minimize this kind of damage

FIRE!!A Forest’s greatest enemy!

Image retrieved from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/10/17/report-western-wildfires-growing-more-intense-insurers-deeply-concerned/

As a Management Tool• Prescribed Fire

– Planned fire used as a part of forest management plan

– Produces many benefits for the forest, wildlife, and people• Reduces wildfire hazard• Removes undesirable trees• Controls forest diseases

• How does it work?– Trained foresters start and

control these fires• Small areas at a time• Only performed in specific

humidity and temperature levels

Image retrieved from: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/conf/landmanagement/planning/?cid=fsm9_029220

Wildfires

• Causes– The Fire Triangle

• Types of wildfires– Ground Fire

• Common in wet, bog type areas

– Surface Fire• Most common type of fire

– Crown Fire• Most violent and dangerous

• Prevention– Smokey Bear Campaign

Image retrieved from: http://www.elitefire.co.uk/news/basics-fire-triangle/

Image retrieved from: http://www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot/

2013 Colorado Wildfires

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFcZ_RsZtgE

References

• Camp, W., & Heath-Camp, B. (2009) Managing our Natural Resources. New York: Delmar.

• 7 News– Denver Channel. (June 12, 2013). Black Forest Fire burns 7500-8000 acres. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFcZ_RsZtgE