1. FOR 350 Silviculture

2. What is silviculture?
The art and science of controlling the establishment, composition, structure, and growth of a forest stand to meet the landowners’ objectives on a sustainable basis

3. What is silviculture?
The art and science of controlling the establishment, composition, structure, and growth of a forest stand to meet the landowners’ objectives on a sustainable basis.
Three parts to the definition
Manipulative, objective driven, sustainable
Silviculture builds on many other disciplines
Ecology and silvics, physiology, soils, measurements, economics, social science

4. Silviculturists (not silviculturalists) operate in the realm of the biologically possible
Operate under social and economic constraints
Only solutions that are simultaneously biologically possible, economically feasible, and socially acceptable, will be considered appropriate (and sustainable)

5. To know what is biological possible
One must understand how the forest environment influences individual trees and communities they form

6. To know what is biological possible
One must understand how the forest environment influences individual trees and communities they form
Silvics is the study of the biological characteristics of tree species and communities including how:
1) Trees reproduce, establish, and grow
2) Physical environment influences their physiology and character
3) Tree communities influence their physical environment and the interaction between vegetation and physical environment as forests change through time

7. Silviculture Is Objective Driven
Silviculturists affect the direction of stand development, but there is often the reality of ‘you can’t get there from here’

8. Silviculture Is Objective Driven
Silviculturists affect the direction of stand development, but there is often the reality of ‘you can’t get there from here’
Even if you can get there from here (i.e. biological feasible), you need a roadmap, a start and end point

9. Silviculture Is Objective Driven
Silviculturists affect the direction of stand development, but there is often the reality of ‘you can’t get there from here’
Even if you can get there from here (i.e. biological feasible), you need a roadmap, a start and end point
Objectives and forest inventory data form basis for road map

10. Silviculture Is Objective Driven
Silviculturists affect the direction of stand development, but there is often the reality of ‘you can’t get there from here’
Even if you can get there from here (i.e. biological feasible), you need a roadmap, a start and end point
Objectives and forest inventory data form basis for road map
Inventory data gives you the starting point
Objectives define where you are going

11. The Stand
A stand is a contiguous group of trees sufficiently uniform in age or size class distribution, composition, structure, site quality and/or location to be a distinguishable unit.
Silviculture is practiced at the stand level
Forest management is primarily concerned with the forest (or tract), a collection of stands administered as an integrated unit

12. The Silvicultural System
To meet landowner objectives, silviculturists alter the forest environment by manipulating stand structure
Required environment is influenced by:
Species composition
Silvics of desired species and competitors
Stand structure
Age structure
Health and vigor
Potential damaging agents

13. The Silvicultural System
A silvicultural system encompasses everything that is done throughout a rotation
In theory, it is unique for each stand
The systems are named for their respective regeneration methods (e.g., shelterwood system, single-tree selection system)
Naming convention identifies the structural character of a stand

14. The Silvicultural System
Each silvicultural system should:
Sustain ecosystem health and productivity
Improve tree growth and quality
“Optimize” market and non-market benefits
Shorten investment period and contain costs

15. Categories of Silvicultural Systems
Even-aged System
A planned sequence of treatments designed to maintain and regenerate a stand with one age class.  The range of tree ages is usually less than 20 percent of the rotation. 
Uneven-aged System
A planned sequence of treatments designed to maintain and regenerate a stand with three or more age classes.
Two-aged (Hybrid) System
A planned sequence of treatments designed to maintain and regenerate a stand with two age classes.

16. Silvicultural Systems and Methods
A silvicultural system is named based upon the regeneration method used
Regeneration methods are classified as follows:
Even-aged
Clearcutting, seed-tree, shelterwood
Uneven-aged
Single-tree selection, group selection
Two-aged (hybrid)
Reserve shelterwood, reserve seed-tree, clearcutting with reserves

17. An Example: Phases of an Even-Aged System
Establishment

18. Phases of an Even-Aged System
Intermediate Treatments
Benefits
Reduce density
Improve growth and quality
Favor desired species
Shorten rotation

19. Phases of an Even-Aged System
Site Preparation
Benefits
Improve germination, survival, and growth of desired seedlings
Removal of unwanted vegetation and slash

20. Phases of an Even-Aged System
Regeneration Methods
Benefits
Create conditions require to establish new stand of desired species

21. The Silvicultural System
The choice of a method depends on:
Landowners objective
Existing plant community and silvics
Stand conditions
Range of treatments available for use

22. The Silvicultural System
Modifications of a silvicultural method
Type: apply different kinds of treatments
e.g., burn vs. herbicide
Intensity: change the intensity of application
e.g., light vs. heavy thinning
Timing: alter timing of application
e.g., winter vs. summer burn
Sequence: change the sequence of treatments over time
e.g. control vines before or following harvest

23. The Silvicultural System
Modifications often implemented for non-timber considerations:
Size and distribution of regeneration area
Rotation length
Nature of residual trees
Species left on site
Amount, kind, and frequency of seed production
Amount of light to forest floor
Coarse woody debris left on site (amount, size, and distribution)
Implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs)

24. Biologic and economic factors affecting silviculture
Site quality
Stand character and condition
Nature and requirements of an ownership
Accessibility and terrain
Forest products markets