Protecting and Enhancing Your Woodlot Advice for Landowners

Introductions Cornell Cooperative Extension Cornell Cooperative Extension Laurie VanNostrand Laurie VanNostrand Department of Environmental Conservation Department of Environmental Conservation Mark Gooding Mark Gooding New York Forest Owners Association New York Forest Owners Association Mike Seager Mike Seager Dale Schaefer Dale Schaefer Jim Minor Jim Minor March 12, 2011New York Forest Owners Association

Why are we here? Laurie and Jim were getting phone calls: Laurie and Jim were getting phone calls: Timber theft Timber theft Poor logging practices Poor logging practices Invasive species questions Invasive species questions Let’s prevent problems, not fix them Let’s prevent problems, not fix them March 12, 2011New York Forest Owners Association

Agenda Threats to woodlots Threats to woodlots Human practices Human practices Invasive species Invasive species Break Break Developing a management plan Developing a management plan Crop Tree Management Crop Tree Management Getting help Getting help Further topics Further topics What to do when you go home What to do when you go home Q & A Q & A March 12, 2011New York Forest Owners Association

Themes Understand what is going on in your woodlot Understand what is going on in your woodlot Make a plan Make a plan Know when and where to get help Know when and where to get help Keep it fun Keep it fun March 12, 2011New York Forest Owners Association

Threats Facing Woodlots in Western NY History; Human Threats; Invasive Species – Insects and Plants; Deer Issues

Brief History of NY Forests Originally almost 100% forested 1880 – 25% forested – why? 1993 – 62% forested – why?

Land area by use (1993)

Who owns forest land?(1993)

Other highlights for NY forests About half the forestland is sawtimber class About half the forestland is sawtimber class Dominant species are sugar maple, red maple, hemlock, white pine, ash, beech, red oak, black cherry and aspen Dominant species are sugar maple, red maple, hemlock, white pine, ash, beech, red oak, black cherry and aspen Timber growth to removal is about 3 to 1 Timber growth to removal is about 3 to 1

Threats to NYS Forests Parcelization Parcelization 1.Smaller units make management difficult 2.Aging of owners 3.Average ownership of 7 years  Taxation  Invasive insects, diseases and plants  Highgrading  Timber Theft  Deer

Human Threats to NY Forests High Grading High Grading – taking the biggest and best trees and leaving the rest (logger’s choice?) Leaves poor genetic stock Lowers the overall health of a stand and its ability to withstand stresses – insects, diseases, weather etc. Reduces the value of a woodlot over time Huge loss of potential income This is the biggest threat to the long term viability to forests in western NY (my opinion)

Human Threats to NY Forests Timber Theft Illegal taking of trees on another owners property More common than you think New timber trespass law in 2004 Still difficult to prosecute – DA and grand jury issues Deterrents – be an ‘active’ landowner; post your property; walk your property; be aware of adjacent harvests

Invasive Insect Issues Emerald Ash Borer Sirex noctilio – European wood wasp Asian Longhorned Beetle Forest Tent Caterpillar (not invasive and native to NY) Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

Emerald Ash Borer Biology, Detection, Management?

Questions What is Emerald Ash Borer? What is Emerald Ash Borer? What does it do? What does it do? Where is it found? Where is it found? How can I recognize EAB and it’s damage? How can I recognize EAB and it’s damage? What is being done about it? What is being done about it? What can I do to help? What can I do to help? What happens if we find EAB here? What happens if we find EAB here?

What is EAB? Agrilus Planipennis Agrilus Planipennis A wood-boring buprestid beetle native to parts of Asia A wood-boring buprestid beetle native to parts of Asia Since 2003, major invasive tree pest in North America, killing millions of ash trees Since 2003, major invasive tree pest in North America, killing millions of ash trees Readily attacks all species of Fraxinus - ash Readily attacks all species of Fraxinus - ash

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