Role of Forests in the Environment 28.00 Describe the role of forests and their growth in the environment and society

Forests 28.01 Describe the impact of forests, their products, and processing on our environment, economy, and society.

Forests A mixture of trees, shrubs, plants, and animals A community of sort A balanced ecosystem

Early days… An asset Problem/Enemy Produced wood, which was exported Game, which was used for food Problem/Enemy Many trees had to be removed to grow crops Plains states and Southwest were too dry to support forests. Forestry: Keeping NC Green and Growing

United States Forestry Production of forests has increased though the acreage has not risen. Explain this?

Limitations Types of trees that will grow in an area are affected by: Climate Soil Type Altitude

Forest Regions West Coast Western Central Hardwood Tropical Northern Southern

Forest Regions of the United States Northern Coniferous Forest Softwoods, between Canada and the U.S. borders are soft and hardwoods. Region has swamps, rivers, lakes and marshes. The climate is cold, this is the largest forest in North America. Trees that dominate are evergreens and pulpwood trees. Species of importance include white spruce, Sitka spruce, black spruce, jack pine, black pine, tamarack and western hemlock Northern Hardwoods Forest Region reaches from Southeastern Canada to New England to the northern Appalachian Mountains. It is populated by beech, maple, hemlock and birch trees

Central Broad-leaved forest Located east of the Mississippi river, a farming region mostly owned by private entities. Wood of high quality is produced here, hardwoods such as maple, beech, hickory, oak, poplar, gum, walnut, cherry, ash, cottonwood and sycamore. Southern Forest In the southeast portion of the United States (covers Delaware to Florida and Oklahoma to Texas) It is the forest with the most potential for reaching future lumber needs. Conifers are the most important trees in this forest, including Virginia, long leaf, loblolly, shortleaf and slash pines. Hardwoods included are Oak, Poplar, maple and walnut

Bottomland Hardwoods Forest Found along the Mississippi River, contains mostly hardwood trees, the soil is highly fertile which hardwoods such as oak, tupelo and cypress thrive in. Pacific Coast Forest California, Oregon and Washington also the most productive forest in the United States. Douglas Fir, Ponderosa Pine, hemlock, western red cedar, Sitka Spruce, sugar pine, and noble fir are some of the conifers found in this region. Important hardwoods are Oak, cottonwood, maple and alder

Rocky Mountain Forest Tropical Forest Hawaiian Forest Much less productive than the other forests in North America. Western Pines are the trees of commercial value including western white pine, lodge pole pine and ponderosa pine. Aspen is the only hardwood grown in this area of commercial importance. Tropical Forest Located in Southern Texas and Florida. Major trees in this forest are Mahogany, mangrove and Bay which are all unimportant commercially, but ecologically important. Hawaiian Forest The wet forest region grows ohia, boa, tree fern, kuka, tropical ash, mamani and eucalyptus. These woods are used in the production of furniture and novelties.

Benefits of Forests Transpiration by trees cools the air As much as 8o less than the surrounding area Act as windbreaks Quieten Noise Release oxygen into the air Conserve soil and water Provide homes for wildlife Provide recreation, rest, solace, and nature study for people.

Forest products WOOD! Converted to: Wood Fiber Paper Simulated leather Charcoal Rayon Cellulose Photographic Film Wood Fiber Simulated leather Shatterproof glass Imitation vanilla Artificial hair

Products from commercial trees Nuts and fruits Oils, decorations, extracts Resins, gums, turpentine Mulch, tannin, drugs, oils, dyes Sugar, syrup Veneer, charcoal, pitch, pine oil Poles, posts Paper, paper products, wall boards Lumber, bolts, timber, wastes, ties

Relationship between forests and other natural resources Forests play important roles in the water cycle As water circulates from oceans to rivers to lakes, the forest filters the rain as it falls and serve as storage areas. A forest regulates water flow, making it possible for fish and other animal and plant life to survive Forests filter rain and help reduce the erosion of soils Trees and shrubs are responsible for removing much of the pollutant materials from the air and water run off. They also help reduce the harmful effects of excess fertilizer that enters underground water systems. Forests and living organisms have many relationships Algae, fungi, mosses, and other plants make their homes in the forest. Forests also provide shelter, food, protection and nesting sites for many species of birds and fish. Shade provided by the forest maintains proper water temperatures for the growth and reproduction of aquatic life. Forests and wildlife relationships greatly vary Depending on species, the wildlife in each forest region varies due to climate and harvesting times

Summary Affect our climate Control erosion on our lands Provide wildlife habitats Provide recreational areas for humans Benefit society

Tree Anatomy 28.02 – Describe the parts of a tree and their functions.

Parts of a Tree Root System Trunk Crown

Root System Function of Roots Anchor and support the tree Take in water and nutrients from the soil Help to hold soil in place and improve soil quality Store manufactured food Root hairs take in (absorb) water and nutrients

Trunk Functions Annual rings determine the age of the tree Supports the crown Transports sap (water and nutrients) to the crown through xylem and sapwood Transports food from crown to roots through the phloem Annual rings determine the age of the tree

Mature Trunk Heartwood Sapwood Cambium Inner bark Outer bark Center of trunk, darker in color Sapwood Outside the heartwood, lighter colored Transports water and nutrients upward from the roots Cambium Surrounds the sapwood Inner bark Known as phloem Transports food downward from the leaves to the roots Outer bark Provides protection from drying to the inner bark

Crown Branches, twigs, buds, and leaves of the tree Functions Leaves are chemical factory of the tree Food production is a result of photosynthesis CO2 + H2O + sunlight + chlorophyll = C6H12O6 + O2 Transpiration – evaporation of excess water from stomata Food is manufactured Seeds, fruits, nuts, and berries are produced

Common North Carolina Trees 29.01 Identify common NC trees based on physical characteristics.

American Elm Leaves are oval, long, curved and pointed, sharply toothed margins Bark is dark gray Common on bottomlands 75-100 feet, diameter 2-5 feet

American Holly Leaves are spiny, wavy-edged, 2- 4 inches long, dark green in color Red berries on female trees Bark is light gray, roughened wart-like growths 15-40 feet by 1-2 feet

American Sycamore 3-4 lobed leaves, shallow sinuses, 4-7 inches long and broad, palmate, toothed margins Multi-colored, mottled trunks Fruit is a ball 1” diameter 80-110 feet by 3-8 feet

Bald Cypress Leaves are ½ to3/4 inches long and are arranged in a featherlike fashion along two sides of small branchlets Trunk has a broad, fluted based “knee” Bark is dark reddish brown to silver and is finely divided by longitudinal fissures Swamplands

Black Walnut Leaves are alternate, 12-24 inches long, 15-23 sharply oval, finely toothed, leaflets that are 2 inches long, pinnately compound Bark is thick dark brown to black, deep fissures Lower slopes to bottomlands 50-90 feet by 2-3 feet

Common Persimmon Leaves are broadly oblong, pointed, 4-6 inches long, small dark veins on the underside Fruit is reddish purple, 1-2 inches and only on females Bark is dark and deeply divided in to small, square plates Not found in mountains Used to make clubheads for golf clubs

Eastern Red Cedar Leaves are smooth, dark green, 1/16 inch in length, whorls of three Bark is light reddish-brown, think and separates into long, peeling, fibrous strips Found all over 40-50 feet by 1-2 feet

Eastern White Pine Needles are bluish-green, 3-5 inches, clusters of five, white line on two surfaces of each needle Bark is smooth, greenish on young, dark gray on old Cones are 4-8 inches Does best in mountains 100 feet by 4 feet Largest conifer in East U.S.

Loblolly Pine Needs occur in clusters of three and are 6-9 inches long Oblong cones are 2-6 inches long, with a spine at the tip of each scale Mature bark is thick, bright reddish to brown and is divided by shallow fissures Coastal Plain throughout the eastern Piedmont 90-110 feet by 2-3 feet Most common and commercially important pine

Red Maple Leaves are 3-5 lobed, serrated, 2-6 inches long Samaras are reddish in color, V-shaped Bark is smooth and light gray on young, dark gray on old 40-70 feet by 1-2 feet

River Birch Leaves are oval, pointed, double toothed serrated margins Bark varies from reddish brown to cinnamon red in color and peel back tough papery layers Found on rivers, swamps… not in high mountains 60-80 feet by 1-2 feet

Shagbark Hickory Leaves are 8-14 inches long with five (rarely 7) leaflets that are tapered, oval, smoth, and finely toothed Bark is light gray that separates into thick plates a foot or more long Tree likes damp soil Hickory Nuts 60-80 feet by 1-2 feet

Southern Red Oak Irregularly shaped lobes that are narrow and bristle tipped or pear- shaped with three rounded lobes Leaves are dark green above and tan below, 5-9 inches long Bark is rough light gray on young, dark gray on old 60-80 feet by 2-3 feet Higher ridges of Coastal Plain and throughout Piedmont

Sweetgum Leaves are star shaped, 5 deeply separated lobes Bark is light gray, corky scales 60-80 feet by 2-3 feet Grows in swamps, rivers, and even on drier uplands Large, valuable forest tree

White Oak Leaves are 5-9 inches, 7-9 rounded lobes Acorn is ¾ inche long and chestnut brown when mature Thin bark is light gray and covered in loose scales on broad plates Abundant in the Piedmont and lower mountains, found in Coastal Plains 80-100 feet by 3-4 feet

Yellow Poplar Tulip tree, composed of four large lobes, 5-6 inches long Bark is light gray Flowers are tulip-like 90-110 feet by 2-5 feet Grows best in deep moist soils of streams and lower mountains Greenish yellow heartwood

Measuring the Forest 29.02 Apply tree measurement techniques and skills that are used by professional foresters.

Board foot Standard unit of measurement for lumber Sold in board feet Definition Piece of rough wood one foot long, one foot wide, and one inch thick Volume is equal to 144 cubic inches Formula Length (feet) x width (inches) x thickness (inches) 12 Length x width x thickness (all in inches) 144

Cubic foot Another unit of measure Equal to the amount of wood needed to fill a space one foot wide, one foot thick, and one foot high Formula Length x width x thickness (inches) 1728

Cord Was a common measure for pulpwood Common now for firewood Defined as a stack of wood 4 feet x 4 feet x 8 feet Formula for computing cords in a stack of wood Length x width x height (all in feet) 128

Gross weight Actual weight of the wood Easy to use for selling pulpwood Ensures the buyer fresh wood because green wood is heavier, having more water.

Measuring Tree Diameter Volume is determined by its diameter and length Measured at DBH (diameter at breast height) Thickness across the truck at 4.5’ above the ground. Recorded in 2” increments and rounded to nearest inch 10.9 inch = 10 inches 11.1 inch = 12 inches

Measuring Tree Diameter Dendrometers Biltmore stick Least accurate Common and quick to use Held at 25 inches from one eye against the tree at DBH

Measuring Tree Diameter Tree Calipers One side of caliper is placed against the tree Other side is placed on the other side of the tree Measurement is read from caliper. Diameter Tape Tape is wrapped around the trunk at 4.5’ Read directly.

Measuring Tree Height Only includes the USABLE length of trunk Sawtimber Expressed in 16 foot logs, called merchantable logs Sometimes, 8 or 32 feet lengths may be used. Measured From height of the stump to where the cutoff diameter is either: 6-8 inches for sawtimber 4 inches for pulpwood

Measuring Tree Height Hypsometer Biltmore Stick – most common, older, and least expensive Abney Level Hager altimeter Suunto clinometer

Using the Biltmore Stick Locate log scale, or Merritt Scale, on the stick Step away 66 feet from tree Hold stick 25 inches from the eye Line up base of stick with stump height of tree Without moving the stick or your head, sight upward along the trunk to estimate cutoff diameter point Read the number from the scale.

Estimating Timber Volume Need to know to estimate board feet or pulpwood volume DBH Small-end diameter Number of logs or bolts Rules or Tables used Doyle’s Rule Scribners rule International rule More complex More accurate Used in CDE

Estimating standing timber volume Measuring and calculating come together Forester must be able to make an accurate estimation of the volume of wood in a stand of timber Cruising Could be done by estimating each individual tree selected for use Generally done by using a sampling of trees.

Forest Management Techniques 29.03 Describe cutting and reproducing techniques used in the forestry industry to improve forest quality

Intermediate Cuttings Cuttings made between reproduction and harvest in a forest Different types depending on: Climate Tree Species Owner/manager objectives

Thinning When only some of the trees in the stand are removed Reduces the competition for essential needs from other trees

Liberation Removal of the taller, dominant trees from a stand

Sanitation Cutting that removes the injured, diseased, or insect- infested trees from the stand

Salvage Cutting that involves removal of trees that are dead or damaged by storms, construction, etc.

Removal Removal of undesirable trees involves removing trees that could be compared to weeds Forked trees Crooked trunks Pine trees in a hardwood stand

Prescription Burning Controlled burning of the undergrowth in a forest

Harvest Cuttings Selective Cutting Shelterwood Cutting Seed-tree Cutting Coppice Cutting Clear Cutting

Selective Cutting Individual trees are selected for harvest based on maturity, size, species, etc. Goals are to produce an income and a better timber yield

Shelterwood Cutting Harvesting a mature forest in two or three stages

Seed-tree Cutting The entire stand is removed except for a few of the best trees that are left to produce seeds

Coppice Cutting Similar to seed-tree cutting Rather than remaining trees providing seed, the remaining trees develop root suckers to produce new trees

Clear Cutting All the trees in a stand are harvested at one time Most economical and most controversial

Reproducing the Forest Natural Seeding Direct Seeding Cuttings Plant Seedlings

Natural Seeding Allowing trees to naturally reseed to produce new growth Economical Least amount of control by the forest manager

Direct Seeding Applying tree seeds directly to the desired area Can be done by: Hand Seed spreaders Grain drills Aircraft

Cuttings Cuttings can be taken from existing trees, allowed to root, and then planted

Plant Seedlings Planting a nursery- produced seedling More labor and expensive Allows complete control over reproduction Tends to get results quickly

Plant Seedling Continued Some states offer government rebates to landowners who reforest their land after harvest The most certain and quickest way to reproduce trees