1. Forestry

2. Forestry Facts 16.7 million acres of forest land consist mostly of mixed-oak (54 percent) and northern hardwoods (32 percent) forest-type groups 58% of state is forest, 70% is privately owned 97% of state’s forest is timberland Overall growth-to-removals public land: 2.7:1; private ownerships: 1.8:1

3. Forest Facts Top species by volume: – Red maple – Black Cherry – Northern Red Oak – Sugar Maple & Chestnut Oak (tied)

4. Forest Facts Top Trees by Number – Red Maple – Black Birch – Black Cherry – Beech – Sugar Maple

5. Forest Facts Stable forest, gains and loses are balanced Main loss (67%) is development (nonreversible los) Aging forest, over 40% is over 80 years Private lands are losing stock, public are stable Regeneration not favorable for oak due to deer, crowding

6. Forest Facts Forest is an acre of land stocked at least 10% by trees Trees are plants that can reach at least 15 ft tall 2.3 billion trees of at least 5 in. dbh in PA Small net increase in forest size since 2004 (1%) Relatively even aged forest of about 80-100 years

7. Forest Facts Comparisons of net growth and removals provide an indicator of sustainability Ratio of average annual net growth to removals (G:R) – 2:1 means forest is growing twice as much as is being harvested All major species in PA have ratios greater than 1:1. – White and red pines, hemlocks, red oaks, hickories, soft (red) maple, and yellow poplar over 2:1

8. PA Forestry 30% of PA economy is based on forestry 16.7 million Acres of forest cover, 58% of the State Produces more than a billion board feet of hardwood and three-quarters of a million cords of pulpwood Most of PA white pine & hemlock forests cut by early 1900s Now even aged mixed hardwoods 90% of PA trees are hardwoods

9. Forest Management Forests change constantly Timbering mimics the natural disturbances that sustained forests in the past Clear cutting and selection cutting are effective for PA forests – Clear cut- produces even aged forest, promotes black cherry and oak which are shade intolerant – Selection cutting- produces uneven aged forest, works best for shade tolerant sugar maple, beech, and hemlock

10. Forest Management Diameter cutting is destructive- Because forests are even aged, smaller ones are of a different species, inferior, or poorly located, so it can’t regenerate Tree planting isn’t necessary in PA- forests naturally regenerate Poor visual impacts are temporary (3-5 years) Good planning reduces poor visuals

11. Forest Management Timbering has little effect on water, does not cause flooding- forest soil is absorbent, (disturbed soil is a concern) Less than 1% of PA land is harvested each year Ecosystem management- ecological approach to resource management

12. State Regulation of Timber Management Must have erosion control and sediment plan Stream crossing requires permits Crossing wetlands requires state and federal permits Fish habitat must be maintained

13. Best Management Practices (BMPs) Scientific tools and methods designed to maintain sustainable forests Represent the minimum management guidelines for planning, forest operations, and forest values Often focus on water and wetland quality

14. Benefits of PA Forests Economic- 30% of PA economy, 4 th largest state industry, produce 1 bill. Board feet per year Environmental- reduce erosion, improve water and air quality, increase biodiversity Aesthetic- beauty and peace

15. Intermediate Forest Treatments Cleanings- similar to weeding, removes undesirable species, not done after sapling stage Thinning and improvement cuts- control stand density, when done in latter stages they produce merchantable volume, removes poor competitors

16. Timber Sizes Cords – measures four feet high by four feet wide by eight feet long (4 ft. x 4 ft. x 8 ft.) and has a volume of 128 cubic feet Board Foot – Measures one square foot one inch thick

17. Tree terms Saw log- 6-8 inches for soft wood, 10-12 inches for hardwoods

18. Cut types

19. More Cut Types Selection cut- promotes uneven aged stands Selective cut- removes oldest, most valuable trees, bad for forest growth Shelterwood retains 30-70% of canopy Clear cutting is good for PA forests because it allows sun loving trees like black cherry and oak to regenerate

20. Stand Types

21. Forest Structures

22. Fires 98% of PA fires ignited by humans, mostly burning debris

24. Forest Affect on Water Incepts & infiltrates water Trees Consume Storm Water Removes Pollutants Phytoremediation – examples trees in parking lots Riparian Buffers

25. Forestry Problems Skidding is the process of dragging logs from the stumps to a central location, called a log landing, where they are loaded onto trucks and transported to the mill. Log landings create large areas of unprotected, exposed soil Roads disturb soil, increase erosion Sewage removal Pesticide use

28. Forest Fragmentation Increases spread of invasives Decreases mobility and habitat size of natives

29. Mixed-oak forests Contain primarily the oaks; including northern red oak, chestnut oak, white oak, scarlet oak; along with the maples, yellow-poplar, ash, hickories, and miscellaneous deciduous species. The understory vegetation is mountain laurel and blueberry.

30. Northern hardwood forests Contain primarily black cherry, the maples, American beech, the birches Understory composition often comprised of ferns, striped maple and beech brush. Hemlock and eastern white pine are common to both forest types and both produce valuable wood products

31. Succession

32. Forest Types Forest Openings- herbaceous rather than woody growth; insects, small mammals Brush stage- small, dense, woody vegetation; browse and fruit, nesting cover Pole timber- less wildlife value, more timber value Mast/Mature timber- (mast is the fruit of woody plants) high protein and fat for animals,

33. Tree Types Large old- nesting cavities, roosting, mast Snags and cavity- dead but standing, perches, cavities Evergreens- cover from cold and snow Vines, shrubs, fruit- form understory Riparian- form fish and wildlife habitats, act as sponges

34. Special Habitats Wetlands- most productive, but least common in PA; greatest biodiversity Seep Springs- Snow free in winter, providing water and food Cliffs- secure nesting and unique habitats Caves- shelter, nesting, and roosting

35. Biodiversity Levels

37. Factors the Increase Extinction Specializers Sought by People Rare Codependent Top of the Food Chain Low Reproduction Rate

38. Tree Anatomy