Silviculture:
How do I get my woods to do
what I want?
Peter J. Smallidge
NYS Extension Forester & Director, Arnot
Teaching and Research Forest
www.ForestConnect.info
Outline
• What is silviculture?
• Applying silviculture on your property
– The landowner’s objective
– The landowner’s responsibility
• Examples of silvicultural practices
• What silviculture is not
What is Silviculture?
• A means to an end
• Tool to “control” forest vegetation
Establishment
Composition
Growth
Quality
What is Silviculture
• Silvi =
Culture =
• The (art and) science of controlling the
Establishment, Composition, Growth,
and Quality of forest stands to achieve
the objectives of ownership.
• Ownership objectives are within a context
of sustainability…..otherwise it’s
exploitation
“Your” Objectives….
Aesthetic, legacy, biodiversity
Utilitarian
Traditional
Your Responsibilities
• Know and discuss
your objectives
• Develop and follow
your plan
• Educate yourself
• Work with competent
foresters and loggers
Getting from Point A to Point B
• Planting
A
Current
Stand
Condition
• Pruning
• Herbicides
• Prescribed fire
• Thinning
• Forest stand
improvement
• Road work
• Regeneration
Harvests
B
Desired
Stand
Condition
Even-aged Forests
Intermediate Treatments
Influence the current forest
Tools
Mechanical
Chemical
What’s wrong
with this
picture?
Answer:
safety gear is
missing.
Biological
Enhance Road and Trail Access
Enhance Road and Trail Access
Favor Certain Species
4-sided release optimizes growth, but
1
2
4
3
Improve Sawlog Value
Reduce Health Problems:
Insects and Disease Eutypella
Fusarium
Maple borer
Nectria
Reduced undesirable species
Reduce Undesirable Species
Improve Tree Growth
Regeneration Treatments
Preparing for the next forest
Uneven-aged: Single Tree
Selection
Uneven-aged: group selection
Two-aged
Even-aged: Shelterwood
Even-aged: Seed tree
Seed tree Appalachian hardwoods 20 sq ft basal area avg dbh 15”
Even-aged: Clearcut
Even-aged: Clearcut
Even- vs. Uneven-aged
Scale of Activity
Frequency of
Activity
Age and size class
diversity
Species Diversity
Even-aged Systems
(stand level)
Uneven-aged
Systems
(stand level)
Stand wide
Patchy, within stand
Variable, 30 – 60
years
Regular, 12 – 15
years
Low at a given point
in time at stand level
High at all times
High, and changes
depending on time
since harvest
Low, constant
Enhance Wildlife Habitat
Protect Water Quality
Aesthetics and Leisure
X
X X
What are the Ecosystem
Consequences of High-Grading?
The non-negative consequences
• Increased “wildlife” trees
• Site productivity (soils) not
necessarily affected
• Still “green”
Negative Consequences to the
Ecosystem
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Reduced diversity
Reduced food sources
Reduced $ value per acre
Increased disease & insect,
risk to storm damage
Reduced volume, stocking,
and quality
Slower growth
Extended time to next harvest
of equal volume
Future options constrained
Your Next Steps
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Review your objectives
Join forest land owner association
Continue to educate yourself
Review work schedule in your plan
Attend woodswalks
Walk and talk with your forester
Take safety precautions
www.ForestConnect.info