UniversityCoverts
of Maryland
Title Extension
Supported by:
Maryland Tree Farm
Maryland DNR Forest Service
Woods & Critters
Wildlife Habitat, Recreation,
Forest Products, Beauty,
&
Forest Health
True or False?
• Leaving woodlands alone is
best for wildlife & tree growth.
• Managing woodlands takes a
lot of money and time.
• Many woodlands are too small
for management.
Objectives
Need to manage a woodland
•Forest stewardship principles
•Timber harvest
•Wildlife habitat
•Recreational use
•Environment
•Resources
•Maryland Woodland Stewards
Maryland Physiographic Regions
or “Sites”
Appalachian
Plateau
Piedmont
Ridge&
Valley
Coastal Plain
Great Valley
Blue Ridge
Changing forest ecosystems
Western MD
Central MD
Eastern Shore
Southern MD
Allegany County - Ridge & Valley
Piedmont Region
Coastal Plain – Southern Maryland
Coastal Plain - Eastern Shore
Land Shaped by Human Activity
Cycles of Abuse & Neglect
Land cleared around settlements to grow cash crops.
Agricultural practices resulted in much erosion.
Mid-1800s: agricultural era at its peak. All
land that could be cultivated was.
Steam power
resulted in first
large-scale
exploitation of the
forest resource
Forests are resilient
60 years later
Commercial exploitation of wild game into the
1900s. Wildlife regulations not really enforced until
early 1900s.
At the turn of the 20th century, state forestry agencies
started and universities started developing the science
of forestry.
Chestnut blight in late 1920s. Forests
converted to what species?
Our forests
continue to
mature…
So, this forest
we look at today
has likely been
cleared for
agriculture,
reverted to
forest, and has
been harvested
a number of
times.
More landowners, smaller parcels
Urban sprawl
Urban vs Rural Forestry
Management
• What are the differences?
Is leaving the forest alone the best for wildlife,
forest health, & biodiversity?
300-acre oak forest on Baltimore City Pretty
Boy Resevoir killed by gypsy moth
Deer impact forest ecosystems and
reduce biodiversity
Multiflora Rose
Honeysuckle
Grapevine
Invasive and natural
species can take over
Kudzu
Land Use in Maryland, 1999
Mostly Urban
30%
Timberland
37%
Non forested
3%
Farm
30%
USDA Forest Service, 2001
Fact or Myth?
Most forests are owned by the
government
Forest
Industry
4%
Individuals
51%
Farmers
10%
Public
18%
Corporations
17%
Our Forests Are Maturing
Sapling
12%
Sawtimber
67%
Sapling
Poletimber
USDA Forest Service, 2001
Sawtimber
Poletimber
21%
Stages of Forest
Succession
Forest succession is a progression beginning with
vegetation that love the sun and ends with the ones
that best handle the shade.
Early Successional Species Vary by Region
Old Field Habitat turning to forest
Mixed Saplings
Old field species being overtopped by shade intolerant tree
species (yellow-poplar in this case).
Mature
Forest Stage
Older
Growth
Wildlife & Forest Succession
Deer
Wild Turkey
Bear
Red Fox
Grouse
Quail
Song Sparrow
Robin
Warbler
Cottontail
Meadowlark
Grasses
Shrubs
Saplings
Pole Timber & Pulp
Timber
Mature
Mature Growth with Deer Browse
Forest Management
Timber:
Stand Improvement
Even age
Uneven age
Final Harvesting
Selective clear cut
Clear cut with seed trees
Riparian buffers
Wildlife:
Food
Cover
Space
Water
Arrangement
Tree Planting
Pushing succession ahead
Seed Trees in Field –
Future Meadow in Center
Forest
Harvesting:
Effect on
Succession?
Effect of thinning.
Diameter growth
increases with
crown release
25 years
25 years
Effect of
Thinning
After
thinning
Diameter-Limit Cutting: also known as Selection Harvest or
High-Grading. Involves taking the best and leaving little for
the future.
Twin Sprouts – Proper Cut
Riparian Buffer before
Riparian Buffer
- Planted
Wildlife Habitat Triangle
Food
Space
Arrangement
Cover
Water
Each must be of good quality, in ample supply
and properly situated in relation to each other
w
Effective
Timber Stand
Improvement
i
l
d
t
u
r
k
e
y
s
W
Edge for Wild Turkey and
Other Species
Ruffed
Grouse
beating his
wings
Woodcock &
their preferred
habitat
Other Wildlife of Young Forests
Golden-winged warbler
Common yellowthroat
Yellow-breasted chat
Eastern towhee
White-eyed vireo
Field sparrow
Eastern Cottontail
Wild turkey
White-tailed deer
Blue-winged warbler
Chestnut-sided warbler
Newt
Quail
Good Mammal Habitat
F
o
x
Various Woodland Products
Resources
State foresters
Consulting foresters
University of MD Extension
Environmental organizations
o
r
e
s
t
e
r
&
L
a
n
d
O
w
n
e
r
Consulting &
Industrial
Foresters
Maryland Licensing of
Professional Foresters
- Forestry degree
- Experience
- 8 CFE credits every 2
years
List available online at:
www.extension.umd.edu/woodland
s
t
e
r
m
e
a
s
u
r
i
n
g
F
o
r
e
s
t
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m
a
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k
i
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g
Economics
of Forest Stewardship
• What you have
–
–
–
–
Existing stands
Soils
Water
Aspect
• Forest Management
– Intensity
– Effectiveness of strategies
– Types of timber sale
• Market timing
• Taxes
– Property
– Income
– Estate
Tax Strategies
• Assessing woodlands as agricultural
• Timber as capital gains
• Environmental easements
• Estate planning
• http://www.fnr.purdue.edu/ttax
Forest Stewardship Plan
• Objectives
• Maps
• Inventory by stand
• Timber
• Wildlife
• Endangered species
•....
• Plan for each stand
• Actions
• Timetable
Cost – Share Assistance
Defrays cost of specific projects
Requires Forest Stewardship Plan
Forest Land Enhancement Program
Buffer Incentive Program
Wildlife Habitat Improvement
Conservation Reserve Progrm
State
MD DNR Forest Service & Wildlife Division (DNR)
University of Maryland Extension
Federal
Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
Joint effort of the:
Maryland Woodland
Stewards
• Forest wildlife training for a
select group of opinion
leaders, volunteers.
• Teaches sound forest
management to improve
wildlife habitat and bring
about other benefits.
Maryland Woodland Stewards Class of 2014
Bill
Roosenberg
Tree Farmer
Maryland Woodland
Steward
Reasons for Land Ownership
Wildlife habitat
Scenic enjoyment
Part of home
Forest products for own use
Recreation
Prevent development
Timber production
Investment
74%
69
48
44
35
35
30
18
Private Landowner Survey, Wisconsin
True or False?
• Leaving woodlands alone is best
for wildlife & tree growth.
• Managing woodlands takes a lot
of money and time.
• Careful management is a good
idea, but many woodlands are too
small.
Warm Season Grasses
Maintaining Edge for
Wildlife Diversity
Developing Healthy Woods by Thinning
Enjoying a Walk along a Timber Road
“Branching Out”
Available online or subscribe for a paper copy
www.extension.umd.edu/woodland
“Educating People to
Help Themselves”
Woodland Stewardship Education
www.extension.umd.edu/woodland
The link between you and Maryland’s forestry
and wildlife educational resources
•
•
•
•
Woodland Stewardship
Quarterly Newsletter
Wildlife Management
Maryland Woodland
Stewards Training
• Woods in Your Backyard
• Wood Energy
• Forestry Correspondence
Course
• Natural Resource Income
Opportunities
• Youth Resources
• Calendar of Events
• Publications
• Useful Links