1. What Does Exemplary Forestry Look Like in the Acadian Forest?
Prepared for
Maine Woods Forever
September 22, 2017 1

2. In brief –active forest management that is positive for the full suite of forest values
link

3. In brief – Forestry guided by a brief set of measurable metrics (don’t worry about the details – more on each of these points later)
Exemplary Forestry is management which includes:
Considering what the most important contribution management of any individual parcel can make to achieve landscape scale objectives. These include:
Maintaining or, if specified conditions do not exist, working toward:
Growing the species best suited to each site
Stocking that fully occupies the sites, this is the “B” line in stocking guides
Growing and harvesting wood – an average of 0.5 cords/acre/year
A diverse size class distribution of 5-15% of stands in seedlings, % in saplings and poles, 40-50% sawtimber (with 10% in large diameter multi-storied stands)
Stand conditions which are well suited to the umbrella wildlife species known to be representative of the habitat needs of more than 75% of native species
Maintaining wildlife trees – an average of 3-5 live but decaying trees per acre and >18” in diameter
Protecting soils, riparian and aquatic habitats
Protecting special habitats including habitats of species identified as having special needs not entirely met by the management outlined above and habitats which are critically important to more common species; including by way of example, deer wintering areas
A mix of management styles – the “Triad” approach may prove best

4. Exemplary Forestry is about:
Big Picture
Exemplary Forestry is about:
Enhancing environmental values from water quality to climate mitigation, most specifically improving wildlife habitat and protect biodiversity
Producing more and better quality wood locally
Convincing the public that active forest management can be BENEFICIAL rather than destructive (reflecting a commonly held but patently erroneous view, the Union of Concerned Scientists has written “it is often said that there is no good source of wood”* – what is the alternative as concrete, steel, aluminum and plastic have all been shown to have greater environmental impacts?)
* Elias, P., D. Boucher, C. Cummings, L. Goodman, C. May-Tobin, and K. Mulik Wood
for good: Solutions for deforestation-free wood products. Cambridge: UCF Publishing. 48 p.

5. Special habitats and ecological reserves are protected
Exemplary Forestry assumes:
Special habitats and ecological reserves are protected
Eagle Lake Old Growth Forest. Source: MFS

6. Management for umbrella wildlife species
Exemplary Forestry includes:
Management for umbrella wildlife species
Den Trees
Closed Crowns
Big Reed. Source: MFS
Source: Conservation Foundation
The kind of habitat needed by American (Pine) marten

7. Exemplary Forestry includes:
Management for wildlife species that represent the full range of habitat needs
Dense spruce/fir regeneration to produce hares
Source:
Source: Maine Forest Service.
Habitat needed by Canada Lynx

8. A stand size class distribution recommended by ecologists
Exemplary Forestry includes:
A stand size class distribution recommended by ecologists
Sawtimber (40-50%)
Seedlings (5-15%)
Saplings & Poles (30-40%)
Source of all photos: Maine Forest Service

9. Exemplary Forestry includes:
Management that provides den trees, snags, and downed logs, as well as protects soils, water quality, riparian areas

10. Growing and harvesting more wood – a central idea
Exemplary Forestry Includes
Growing and harvesting more wood – a central idea

11. Exemplary Forestry includes increasing timber harvests at the same time that other values are enhanced

12. Growing better quality timber
Exemplary Forestry includes:
Growing better quality timber
Source: jeffjosephwoodworker.com.
In terms of stumpage, 2 cords of sugar maple or red oak veneer (approximately 1,000 bd ft) can equal the value of 40 cords of hardwood pulp
Increasing both growth and quality can make management more profitable

13. Exemplary Forestry includes:
Stocking that fully occupies the sites
Photo by Fred Field

14. Exemplary Forestry includes:
The results of 50 years of selection management on the Penobscot Experimental Forest
Harvesting that respects and other aesthetic values through progressive silviculture
This stand was managed selectively with light harvests every 20 years. The financial return from this management (measured as the net present value of all income and costs) is approximately $534.* (Photo: John Brissette, Northeastern Research Station)
* This is the financial return from what many consider the epitome of excellent forest management. Keep this figure in mind
This is a key to building public support!

15. Exemplary Forestry includes:
Harvesting that respects aesthetic and other values through progressive silviculture
Before thinning
After thinning to reduce mortality and increase growth on the most desirable trees
Source of photos: Jake Maier and the Cole Bros

16. Exemplary Forestry includes:
Wildlife trees
Harvesting that respects aesthetic and other values through progressive silviculture
Woody debris

17. The triad approach to management
Exemplary Forestry could include:
The triad approach to management
Reserves (modest proportion)
Intensively managed area (modest proportion)
Ecological forestry (most of the area)
Reserves unmanaged or lightly managed areas
Intensive management: Early commercial thinning in spruce
Ecological forestry: Regenerating spruce-fir by shelterwood
Big Reed Forest Reserve.
Photo: Lee Burnett
Spruce-fir selection management. Source: MFS

18. Thus, exemplary forestry can:
Improve wildlife habitat
Protect biodiversity
Protect other environmental values, e.g., water quality
Minimize adverse impacts to, if not improve, visual quality
While producing more and better quality wood – to meet our own needs locally

19. Is Exemplary Forestry Needed?
Desirable Stand Size Class Distributions are not being achieved*
Existing
Target – Cross-
hatched where there is a range ** ** **
(a portion of sawtimber)
* Data on existing conditions from FIA,
**Source: DeGraaf, R. M., M. Yamasaki, W. B. Leak, and A. M. Lester Landowner's guide to wildlife habitat: Forest management for the New England region. Vermont: University of Vermont Press. 128 pp.

20. Some of these habitats are globally significant

21. Some populations of species of concern are declining
Wood Thrush
Slightly smaller than robin
Prominent black spots on breast
Song flute-like “ee-oh-lay”, goes up, ends with “shattering glass”
Nests relatively low (10-13’)
Forages on the ground
Area sensitive, so forest in landscape around territory important…several birds like this….the more forest there is around them, the better habitat quality…means territories can be smaller, more birds can use a given area, success higher. Less forest in surrounding landscape and territories have to be bigger, quality lower, less successful.
Poster bird for range-wide dramatic declines
Diversity of tree spp.
Tall trees
Moderate mid/shrub
Open forest
Decaying leaf litter
Area-sensitive
Dramatic Range-wide Decline

22. Some populations of species of concern are declining
Canada Warbler
Slightly smaller than robin
Prominent black spots on breast
Song flute-like “ee-oh-lay”, goes up, ends with “shattering glass”
Nests relatively low (10-13’)
Forages on the ground
Area sensitive, so forest in landscape around territory important…several birds like this….the more forest there is around them, the better habitat quality…means territories can be smaller, more birds can use a given area, success higher. Less forest in surrounding landscape and territories have to be bigger, quality lower, less successful.
Poster bird for range-wide dramatic declines
Diversity of tree spp.
Tall trees
Moderate mid/shrub
Open forest
Decaying leaf litter
Area-sensitive
Dramatic Range-wide Decline

23. Certain habitats are in short supply, e.g., Deer Wintering Areas
Mature red spruce.
Source: Alec Giffen.
Natural opening in mature red spruce.
Source: Alec Giffen.

24. Increasing stocking and increasing growth
Stocking is limiting growth and affecting other values
Increasing stocking and increasing growth
Average stocking in Maine

25. An alternative is careless forestry
The results of 50 years of diameter limit cutting on the Penobscot Experimental Forest
This stand was managed using a diameter limit (all trees above a given diameter were harvested). The financial return from this management was $976* (net present value). (Photo: John Brissette, Northeastern Research Station)
* This $976 is the financial return (net present value) from harvesting trees when they become merchantable. Remember the $534 from 20 year selection management? Despite the fact that the selection management is producing superior annual timber returns now (50+ years after management began), standard financial analysis concluded that it is not as profitable as diameter limit cutting. This is a fundamental problem for practicing good forestry – superior annual timber returns are possible, but it requires patience.

26. Help us advance forest conservation in New England!