USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Group Selection Cutting for the Landowner — Education is the Key Roger Monthey USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry Roger Monthey USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Gordon Moore, District Forester for the Maine Forest Service, talks to landowners and foresters. Note the hazard tree in the background, which will be removed as a demonstration of one method to remove the tree safely.

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Why group selection cutting? According to Lamson and Leak (2000)*: 1)Group selection cutting closely mimics natural, small-scale disturbances in eastern forests 2)Most landowners won’t allow clearcutting because of its effect on esthetics, but cutting small groups of trees can improve esthetics and diversify a solid landscape 3) Group selection is an uneven-aged regeneration system that produces a sustainable income every 15–20 years * Lamson and Leak Guidelines for applying group selection harvesting. NA–TP–02–00. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry.

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Why group selection cutting? (cont.)  Light cutting, such as single tree selection, regenerates shade-tolerant species such as beech and sugar maple  Regeneration following clearcutting is composed of predominately shade-intolerant species such as paper birch and aspen  Moderate cutting, such as group selection cuts, can favor intermediately shade tolerant species such as yellow birch, red oak, and white ash  By varying the group size, the amount of light reaching the forest floor is increased or decreased, which influences which species successfully regenerate

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Group Selection Cutting Promotes Development of Intermediately Tolerant Tree Regeneration Northern Red Oak White Ash Yellow Birch

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Where are groups located?  Most hardwood stands are actually composed of natural groups of trees that lend themselves to group selection  Mature trees can be harvested in groups  Groups of diseased trees can be harvested to improve stand composition

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Size of the Opening 1) The typical recommendation is twice the height of adjacent trees. If the adjacent trees are 75 feet tall, the diameter of the opening would be 150 feet. 2) However, Lamson and Leak (2000) state that group selection has been successful when cutting areas as large as 2 acres in size; technically there is no upper limit to the size as long as groups are not recognized, mapped, or retreated as individual stands. 3) The percentage of intolerant species (e.g., paper birch and aspen) and intermediate species (e.g., yellow birch, red oak, and white ash) increases with group size.

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Should small trees be cut?  If the goal is to encourage maximum amounts of regeneration from seed or stump sprouts within groups, then all stems larger than 2 inches in diameter at breast height should be cut.

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Do you thin between the groups?  Thinning the stand between the groups is the normal procedure when applying group selection cutting.  It can provide the volume needed for a commercial timber sale when there is insufficient volume in the group cuts.  It is generally recommended to leave a residual basal area between the groups of about 70 square feet/acre, excluding the new groups. It is also recommended that 40–50 square feet/acre of the residual basal area be left in sawtimber to ensure that there will be adequate volume for future cuts.

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Wildlife Considerations  Group selection cutting creates a range of wildlife habitats, from newly regenerated groups to mature forest. It provides browse, cover, and nesting sites.  Group size and shape can be varied to produce habitats for a wide variety of wildlife species.

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Impact of Group Selection Cutting on Breeding Bird Populations  Group selection cutting has a moderate impact on breeding bird populations.  One study showed that recent clearcuts, early group selection cuts, and mature stands were used by 46, 33, and 30 species, respectively.  Only a few bird species were found in mature, unmanaged stands that were not found in the group selection areas (Costello 1995).

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Two Different Methods to Achieve a Group Selection Cut 1)Use larger, mechanized equipment such as a feller buncher to achieve your result more safely and efficiently, and use a rubber-tired grapple skidder to haul whole trees to the landing for processing 2)Use a chain saw to directionally fell trees where you can more easily remove them using a small forwarder, farm tractor, or horses and oxen

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry I. Use of Feller Buncher to Create Group Selection Openings — Most Efficient Method Using a feller buncher is the most efficient method to create openings when compared to the chainsaw/forwarder method illustrated later in this report.

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Group Selection Opening Created by a Feller Buncher Goals for this opening included improving ruffed grouse habitat and regenerating desired tree species, such as red oak, yellow birch, and white ash.

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Vegetation Development Two Years After a Group Selection Cut Regeneration primarily consists of northern red oak, bigtooth aspen, hazelnut, red maple, American beech, and Rubus sp.

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Trees Moved to a Landing Using a Grapple Skidder A grapple skidder was used to pull whole trees from the group selection opening to the landing on flagged skid trails.

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Best Management Practices Applied to Skid Trails and Stream Crossings Slashings placed on a skid trail to reduce erosion. Temporary bridge installed over a small stream to reduce erosion.

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Log Landing At the log landing, logs were sorted into sawlogs, pulpwood, and biomass chips based on tree species, quality, and markets.

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry II. Use of Chain Saw to Create Opening — Small Equipment or Small-Scale Harvesting  Harvesting individual trees using a chain saw; directional felling into openings  Using a small-tracked forwarder to winch tree-length logs out of the opening or adjacent forest (or you can use a farm tractor, or horse and oxen depending on tree size)  Hoisting tree-length logs to a forwarder with a grapple and hauling them to a landing  Demonstration of removing a hazard tree with a chain saw and loader

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Sizing up the Tree for Directional Falling into the Opening A Certified Professional Logger examines the tree prior to felling to reduce the safety hazard. Falling the tree along the edge of the opening makes it easier for the forwarder to pick it up.

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry The First Two Cuts — Face Cut FACE CUT—a section of wood sawn and removed from a tree's base. Its removal allows the tree to fall and helps direct where it will fall. The face is comprised of two separate cuts that have constant relationships: the horizontal cut must be at least one-third the diameter of the tree, the sloping cut must be angled enough to allow a wide opening, and the two cuts must not cross each other. Photo by Peter Smallidge, Cornell Cooperative Extension

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry The Third Cut

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry After the Fourth Cut — Using the Wedge

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Successful Felling Following the Fifth Cut

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Evaluating the Cut

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry The Hinge

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Equipment to Haul Tree-length Logs to the Landing — Small-tracked Forwarder

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Winching Tree-length Logs (From Trees Growing Adjacent to the Opening) to the Small-tracked Forwarder

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Hoisting Tree-length Logs Onto the Forwarder With a Loader

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Hauling Tree-length Logs to the Landing

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Removing Hazard Trees With a Loader and Chain Saw While the hazard tree is being held by the loader, the certified logger evaluates the breakage point on the stem for his cut. The upper part of the stem, not shown, is wedged into a branching fork of a red oak tree. The hazard tree has been cut and released by the loader. Next, the tree will be grabbed by the loader higher up on the stem and pushed to the ground by the loader.

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Farm Tractor and Winch — Another Method to Haul Logs to the Landing Photo by Merle Ring, Maine Forest Service

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry And Another Method to Haul Logs to the Landing- Horses Photo from Merle Ring, Maine Forest Service

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Contact: USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry 271 Mast Road Durham, NH Or visit: Contact: USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry 271 Mast Road Durham, NH Or visit: The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. All photos by Roger Monthey unless indicated otherwise. Special thanks to Gordon Moore and Merle Ring of the Maine Forest Service, and Maggie Eckardt of the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine.