Silvicultural Prescriptions Research Articles

Hardwood Species Show Wide Variability in Response to Silviculture during Reclamation of Coal Mine Sites

Coal is a significant energy source for the United States, and reclamation of surface mined lands is required under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. Reforestation of mined lands is challenging due to soil substrate properties including soil compaction, herbaceous competition, and animal browse, necessitating silvicultural treatments to help overcome such limiting factors. We investigated the field performance of black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.), and swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor Willd.) planted on two mine reclamation sites in southern Indiana, USA, and evaluated the interactions of nursery stocktypes (container and bareroot), herbicide application, and tree shelters. Two-year survival averaged 80% across all species and stocktypes. Container stocktype had greater relative height and diameter growth (i.e., relative to initial size at planting), whereas bareroot had greater absolute height and diameter growth corresponding to initial stocktype differences. Shelter use increased height growth and reduced diameter growth across both stocktypes. Swamp white oak (Q. bicolor) had the highest survival rate and field performance regardless of silvicultural treatment, whereas red oak (Q. rubra) and black walnut (J. nigra) showed strong early regeneration responses to silvicultural treatments. Container seedlings showed promise as an alternative to bareroot seedlings to promote early growth on mine reclamation sites. Species-specific responses documented here indicate the need to consider the ecology and stress resistance of target species in developing cost-effective silvicultural prescriptions.

Predictive habitat suitability models for nesting woodpeckers following wildfire in the Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascades of California

AbstractWoodpeckers are often focal species for informing management of recently burned forests. Snags generated by wildfire provide key nesting and foraging resources for woodpeckers, and nest cavities excavated by woodpeckers are subsequently used by many other species. Habitat suitability models applicable in newly burned forest are important management tools for identifying areas likely to be used by nesting woodpeckers. Here we present and test predictive models for mapping woodpecker nest-site habitat across wildfire locations that can be used to inform post-fire planning and salvage logging decisions. From 2009 to 2016, we monitored 313 nest sites of 4 species—Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus), Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus), White-headed Woodpecker (D. albolarvatus), and Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)—from 3 wildfires in the Northern Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascades 1–5 yr after fire. Using these data, we developed habitat suitability index models that compared nest vs. non-nest sites for each species using (1) exclusively remotely sensed covariates, and (2) combinations of remotely sensed and field-collected covariates. We emphasized predictive performance across wildfire locations when selecting models to retain generalizable habitat relationships useful for informing management in newly burned locations. We identified models for all 4 species with strong predictive performance across wildfire locations despite notable variation in conditions among locations, suggesting broad applicability to guide post-fire management in the Sierra Nevada region. Top models for nest-site selection underscored the importance of high burn severity at the local scale, lower burn severity at the 1-km scale, mid-sized nest-tree diameters, and nest trees with broken tops. Models restricted to remotely sensed covariates exhibited similar predictive performance as combination models and are valuable for mapping habitat across entire wildfire locations to help delineate project areas or habitat reserves. Combination models are especially relevant for design of silvicultural prescriptions.

Comparative study of growing stock of Melghat forests under different silvicultural prescriptions

Comparative study of growing stock of Melghat forests under different silvicultural prescriptions

Diameter Increment of Remnant Stands in Logged-Over Forest in Papua

Diameter increment is an important information used to set silvicultural prescription that plays a crucial role in sustainable forest management. Therefore, this research was aimed to analyze diameter increment of remnant stands in selectively logged forest in Papua. The dataset was acquired from permanent sample plots in logging concessions of PT Tunas Timber Lestari (TTL), PT Wapoga Mutiara Timber (WMT) dan PT Manokwari Mandiri Lestari (MML). The diameter measurements were conducted annually for 6 – 9 years on three 1 ha permanent plots. Diameter increment was calculated by measuring a gap between trees diameter in year t+1 and year t. The results showed that the average diameter increment of commercial species groups in those areas were 0.56 cm/yr, 0.59 cm/yrand 0.65 cm/yr, respectively. These increments were smaller than the increment assumption of Indonesian Selective Logging (TPTI) i.e. 1.00 cm/yr. The diameter increment distribution based on diameter classes showed different patterns among sites. The diameter increment distribution in PT MML and WMT increased with the increasing diameter, otherwise those in PT TTL tend to decrease with the increasing diameter class.

Diameter Increment of Remnant Stands in Logged-Over Forest in Papua

Diameter increment is an important information used to set silvicultural prescription that plays a crucial role in sustainable forest management. Therefor e , this research was aimed to analyze diameter increment of remnant stands in selectively logged forest in Papua. The dataset was acquired from permanent sample plots in logging concessions of PT Tunas Timber Lestari (TTL), PT Wapoga Mutiara Timber (WMT) dan PT Manokwari Mandiri Lestari (MML). The diameter measurements were conducted annually for 6 – 9 years on three 1 ha permanent plots. Diameter increment was calculated by measuring a gap between trees diameter in year t+1 and year t. The results showed that the average diameter increment of commercial species groups in those areas were 0.56 cm/ yr , 0.59 cm/ yr and 0.65 cm/ yr , respectively. These increments were smaller than the increment assumption of Indonesian Selective Logging (TPTI) i.e. 1 .00 cm/yr. T he diameter increment distribution based on diameter classes showed different patterns among sites. T he diameter increment distribution in PT MML and WMT increased with the increasing diameter, otherwise those in PT TTL tend to decrease with the increasing diameter class. Keywords: logged-over forest, species group, Papua, diameter increment

Size–Density Trajectory in Regenerated Maritime Pine Stands after Fire

Research Highlights: This study bridges a gap of knowledge about the maximum size–density trajectory for juvenile stands of maritime pine. The continuity of the trajectory along the development stages to maturity is assured with a straightforward approach providing support to determine optimum density along all the revolution periods for the species. Background and Objectives: Forest fire is a significant threat to forests in the Mediterranean regions, but also a natural disturbance that plays a vital role in the perpetuation of forest stands. In recent decades, there has been an increase of burnt area in maritime forests in Portugal, followed by an increased interest in managing the natural and usually abundant regeneration occurring after the fires. The gap in the knowledge of growth dynamics for juvenile stages, for these forest systems, currently constrains their correct management, for forest planning, particularly in determining the optimal densities. The study aims to identify the maximum attainable density trajectory at the early stages of development of the species that could support a non-empirical definition of silvicultural prescriptions and thinning decisions, along the revolution. Materials and Methods: A representative data set collected in stands regenerated after fire supports the analysis of the maximum size–density trajectory for the species. Results: The maximum size–density trajectory for the juvenile stands deviates from the expected trajectory defined in the self-thinning line published for the species. Significant deviation occurs at the lower end of the line, indicating the need for a reevaluation of the existing self-thinning line. We propose a new self-thinning model for the species that explicitly considers the behavior of size–density for juvenile stands. The new model assures a logical continuity for the trajectory from the young stages of development to maturity. Conclusions: The proposed model based on the maximum attainable size–density trajectory provides ecological-based support to define silvicultural guidelines for management of the species.

Barred Owl Effects on Spotted Owl Resource Selection: A Meta‐Analysis

ABSTRACTWe quantified the effects of barred owls (Strix varia) on fine‐scale (~2 ha), spatially explicit selection of putative foraging habitat by 175 radio‐tagged northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) from 1998 to 2012 in western Oregon and northern California, USA. We constructed annual nighttime discrete‐choice resource selection functions (RSFs) for northern spotted owls in 8 study areas. We compared RSFs from pooled data from 4 study areas where barred owls were absent or rare (≤14% of spotted owl territories potentially influenced by barred owls) with RSFs from 4 study areas where barred owls were abundant (≥89% of spotted owl territories potentially influenced by barred owls), and we conducted a meta‐analysis of all 8 study areas. Top‐ranked RSFs for individual study areas indicated that the relative probability a forest patch was selected by northern spotted owls for foraging was most strongly associated with basal area of large coniferous trees (≥66 cm diameter at breast height [dbh]) or quadratic mean diameter (QMD, the diameter of trees of average basal area) of all coniferous trees. The influence of such trees was non‐linear, usually quadratic, in 7 study areas, suggesting that an optimal basal area of large‐diameter trees or QMD may be associated with selection of foraging patches. The relative probability of selection of such trees decreased nonlinearly with increasing distance from nest sites in ≥4 study areas. Basal area of all or specific hardwood tree species was linearly associated with increases in the relative probability of a patch being used for foraging in 7 of 8 study areas. The relative probability of selection was also positively associated with densities of large snags (>50 cm dbh), coarse woody debris, and undergrowth shrubs in most study areas where we estimated those covariates. The relative probability that a patch was selected decreased nonlinearly with increasing distance from streams (7 study areas), increasing elevation (5 study areas), and decreasing slope (5 study areas). Barred owls exerted strong effects on habitat selection by spotted owls, which may have attempted to minimize interference competition via spatial segregation. Spotted owls occupying study areas where barred owls were abundant used foraging patches at greater distances from streams, at greater distances from nest sites, and on steeper and warmer slopes than those occupying areas with few or no barred owls. In addition, northern spotted owls in areas where barred owls were abundant exhibited reduced selection for large‐diameter trees close to nest sites but may have compensated by increasing use of large trees in home‐range locations distant from nest sites. Programs that seek to improve the link between spotted owl demographic performance or occupancy rate and habitat conditions should account for the influences of fine‐scale variation in vegetation composition and structure and physiographic conditions. Forest managers may contribute to spotted owl conservation via silvicultural prescriptions that retain coarse woody debris and large snags, promote undergrowth shrubs, and retain intermediate to high densities of large, old shade‐intolerant early‐seral trees and riparian hardwoods within and beyond core areas surrounding nest sites. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

Radial growth responses to thinning and climate in native Nothofagus betuloides forests in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Silvicultural treatments based on natural stand dynamics are crucial to the design and improvement of forest management. Dendrochronological methods can be used to evaluate the effect of silvicultural treatments, providing precise data concerning growth rates, releases and suppressions. This information is essential to predict forest stand attributes and yields under different silvicultural management protocols. Sustainable silvicultural prescriptions are scarce for the evergreen Nothofagus betuloides forests in southern Patagonia. Therefore, accurate and detailed analyses of the response of N. betuloides to silvicultural trials could contribute to the development of the fundamentals of sustainable forestry. The objective of this study was to determine the radial growth response of N. betuloides to different thinning intensity levels using dendrochronological techniques and to assess the climatic influences on the thinning response. Thinnings from below were conducted in 1993 and 2000 in a young secondary forest that originated after a high-severity fire in 1949. Growth differences were evaluated considering ring widths, basal area increments, percentage of growth change and periodic annual increments. Growth-climate correlations were also explored. Thinning intensities showed differential effects on radial growth: heavy thinning treatments resulted in higher individual growth rates than the control treatment. Low density plots showed higher growth increments regardless of thinning intensity, suggesting that thinning intensity alone does not dictate the magnitude of growth releases. Radial growth rates were positively associated with warmer and less rainy summers, highlighting climatic conditions are an important driver of the thinning response. The effect of the first thinning was masked by the second intervention, indicating that this species reacts to intense interventions. These results indicate that it is possible to reduce the number of non-commercial thinnings and, consequently, the costs of the silvicultural system for this species. Moreover, this study highlights the usefulness of dendrochronological methods in providing accurate information for silvicultural purposes.

A New Site Index Model for Intensively Managed Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) Plantations in the West Gulf Coastal Plain

AbstractSite index (SI) estimation for loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations is important for the successful management of this important commercial tree species in the West Gulf Coastal Plain of the United States. This study evaluated various SI models for intensively managed loblolly plantations in the West Gulf Coastal Plain using data collected from permanent plots installed in intensively managed loblolly pine plantations across east Texas and western Louisiana. Six commonly used SI models (Cieszewski GADA model, both Chapman-Richards ADA and GADA models, both Schumacher ADA and GADA models, and McDill-Amateis GADA model) were fit to the data and compared. The Chapman-Richards GADA model and the McDill-Amateis GADA model were similar and best in their fit statistics. These two models were further compared to the existing models (Diéguez-Aranda et al. 2006 (DA2006), Coble and Lee 2010 (CL2010)) commonly used in the region. Both the Chapman-Richards GADA and the McDill-Amateis GADA models consistently predicted greater heights up to age 25 than the models of DA2006 and CL2010, with larger height differences for the higher quality sites, but predicted shorter heights thereafter. Ultimately, the McDill-Amateis GADA model was chosen as the best model for its consistency in predicting reasonable heights extrapolated beyond the range of the data. Foresters can use this model to make more informed silvicultural prescriptions for intensively managed loblolly pine plantations in the West Gulf Coastal Plain.

Evaluation of sites for the reestablishment of the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) in northeast Georgia, USA

The American chestnut (Castanea dentata, hereafter called chestnut), a valuable tree species that was once common in the last century in the eastern USA, is currently nearly extinct due to blight. Many efforts have been made to develop blight-resilient seedlings of this species, and an associated challenge is to identify the most suitable sites for its restoration. Our objectives were to identify the suitable sites for planting blight-resistant chestnut seedlings and the environmental parameters associated with the suitability assessment. Furthermore, we considered land ownership due to practical planning and management implications. Our study area is located in northeast Georgia, USA. We used global sensitivity and uncertainty analysis to select four environmental factors, as criteria in multi-criteria decision analysis, to create suitability maps for chestnut reestablishment. The results indicate that chestnut is sensitive to elevation, precipitation during the driest month (PDM), normalized difference of water index (NDWI), ground slope, and topographic aspect. Soil attributes did not play a significant role in determining the site suitability. Deciduous forests were the most suitable sites for chestnut reestablishment, while over 99% of the suitable sites fall within the federal lands. The occurrence of chestnut may be expected to increase in areas with high elevations and steep slopes. This study identifies the most critical environmental variables in northern Georgia for assuring a successful reestablishment of chestnut with the new blight-resistant strains of this species. It also identifies silvicultural prescriptions that may help landowners with the reestablishment process and its success.

Impacts of silvicultural prescriptions and implementation of best management practices on timber harvesting costs

ABSTRACTRising costs of forest operations and decreasing revenue generated from harvesting are becoming critical challenges in forest management throughout the Northeastern US. Along with this, the low markets for comminuted forest residues and stricter policies on environmental protection have prompted utilization of these materials as slash mats on skid trails for minimizing soil disturbances. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost of different silvicultural treatments and utilization of forest residues generated from a mechanized timber harvesting operation for implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs). The field-based experiment was done in central Maine, where four forest stands were managed at varying intensities following silvicultural prescriptions common to the region (partial harvest (PH) and clear-cut (CC) treatments). Variables measured included delay-free cycle times of various timber harvesting machines, predictor variables, and stand features. The total cost of PH was higher than that of CC ($22.94 m−3 versus $14.88 m−3). Of the various operational phases, the costs associated with skidding was the highest and ranged from 52 to 70% of the total cost for PH and CC, respectively. The cost of BMP implementation was estimated to be between $10 and $52 PMH−1 or $1.0 and $3.7 m−3, and was influenced by several factors, including machine maneuverability and the extent of area which demanded BMP implementation. This information on the cost and productivity for timber harvesting operations, along with BMP implementation, will support the development of economic and environmentally sustainable harvesting strategies.

"Banka semena" graba (Carpinus betulus L.) u šumskoj prostirci u srednjedobnoj sastojini za rekonstrukciju na području Morovića

In a high, middle-aged stand of European hornbeam, on a site of mesophilous pedunculate oak, European hornbeam and narrow-leaved ash in the unflooded part of Ravni Srem (Carpino betuli-Quercetum roboris (Anić, 1959) Rauš 1971. subass. Fraxinetosum angustifoliae Tomić, 2007), the following tree species from the natural forest community were present: narrow-leaved ash, field maple and field elm. Pedunculate oak, a primary edificator of the community and economically the most important species was absent. The stand is 55 years old and originates from a failed regeneration of pedunculate oak. Thus, the silvicultural prescription is restoration. The number of trees in the unthinned part of the stand (EP 1) was 1217 trees per hectare and in the thinned part (EP 2) 530 trees per hectare. In the thinned part of the stand, 43.5% of the total number of trees and 40% of the total number of trees of European hornbeam were counted, compared to the unthinned part of the stand. The quadratic mean diameter (dg) and dominant trees diameter (Dg20) in the unthinned part of the stand were 17.4 and 23.6 cm and in the thinned part of the stand 19.0 and 27.6 cm. The Lorey's mean height and the dominant heights were between 22.2 and 23.9 m on EP 1 and 20.5 to 22.2 on EP 2. The amount of European hornbeam seed on the soil surface in different stands is similar. In the unthinned part of the stand, the mean number of European hornbeam seeds was 1195 pcs m-2 (100%) and in the thinned part 1177 pcs m-2 (98.5%). The mean number of healthy seeds on the soil surface in the thinned and unthinned stands was 1117-1142 pcs m-2. The seeds from previous years participate with 12.2-15.0% (136-171 pcs m-2) and the seeds from the 2018 mast year 85.0-87.8% (971-981 pcs m-2), with 95% of the seeds being healthy (971-981 pcs m-2). Due to the effect of thinnings, the stands that were dominated by European hornbeam become more mixed, which is a new element that defines the process of the restoration in the future. Seedbank in the middle-aged stand designated for restoration under different managing strategies is made up of 85-88% of healthy seeds from 2018, with 12-15% from previous years.

A comparison between two alternative harvesting systems in the thinning of fast-growing pine plantations under the conditions of low labour cost

A comparative study was conducted in the second commercial thinning of a 12-year-old slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) plantation in South Africa. The goal of the study was to compare semi-mechanized tree-length harvesting with fully mechanized cut-to-length (CTL harvesting) in terms of: compliance with silvicultural prescriptions, value and volume recovery, productivity, cost and residual stand damage. The two systems were tested on 32 adjacent plots with a mean surface of 4000 m2 each. Plots were randomly allocated to the two treatments, so that each treatment was replicated 16 times. The experiment consisted of a classic time study, followed by the visual inspection of all plots for determining damage frequency and severity. While mechanization allowed a dramatic (tenfold) increase in worker productivity, it also resulted in a proportional increase in team cost, which offset the large efficiency benefit and ended up with both methods incurring similar production cost (180–200 ZAR m3). However, mechanized CTL harvesting resulted in a significant reduction in residual stand damage frequency (from 5.2 to 2.9%) and severity (28% smaller wounds). Mechanized CTL is preferable, because it can reduce the frequency and severity of residual stand damage. In social terms, however, mechanization reduces employment potential but promotes job quality, while conventional harvesting solutions can employ many more people, but offer low-paid, tiresome and potentially hazardous jobs.

Influence of stand density and canopy structure on the germination and growth of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings.

Since the natural regeneration of Scots pine forests is known to be difficult, the effects of canopy structure and environmental variables such as light on germination, seedling growth, and mortality need to be well understood. The knowledge on the relationships between canopy structure, environmental variables, and seedling growth have been helpful for forest managers to formulate silvicultural prescriptions that enhance seedling recruitment. In this study, the influences of stand basal area (BA) (m2ha-1), leaf area index (LAI), light transmittance (LT), and height-to-crown base (HCB) on germination and seedling growth were explored in a naturally regenerated Scots pine forest in Kastamonu, Turkey. The number of germinants was observed following germination, and total root-collar diameter (RCD) and height of seedlings were monitored after five growing seasons following germination. BA, LAI, LT, and HCB were also examined to determine which variable has more influence on Scots pine seedlings. All variables (i.e., BA, LAI, LT, and HCB) had significant influence on the total seedling growth over a 5-year period. LT was the most significant predictor for total RCD growth and height growth of Scots pine seedlings. The data support the importance of light transmittance through the canopy, along with vertical canopy structure (i.e., HCB) when considering seedling development under a stand canopy.

Managing conservation values and tree performance: Lessons learned from 10 year experiments in regenerating eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.)

Multiple-use land management is an important aspect of sustainable forest management and requires strategies that both promote sustainable fiber production and conserve biodiversity. Studies formally integrating these two aspects of forest management are needed to develop silviculture prescriptions capable of maintaining the delivery of multiple ecosystem goods and services. Techniques used to suppress vegetation that competes with young pine seedlings have become standard practice in the regeneration of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.), but they can cause changes in plant community composition. We compared white pine performance to understory development under five vegetation suppression treatments within three experimental white pine plantations. White pine performance was assessed in terms of basal stem diameter and the percentage of trees reaching an age 10 height target. Understory development was characterized in terms of understory plant functional composition using a complementary set of functional and taxonomic diversity metrics. Plantations included one clearcut site and two sites managed under a uniform shelterwood system. Our results show that after 10 years, plots treated with a single, second-season application of herbicide that temporarily suppressed both woody and herbaceous vegetation favoured rapid white pine growth, increased pine canopy cover, and allowed the understory community to recover towards a mature functional and taxonomic composition. Repetitive suppression of either only herbaceous or woody vegetation caused major shifts in community composition that were still evident after 10 years. These shifts were due to the prevalence of competitive species that formed dominant layers in these treatments. Impacts of treatments on tree performance and understory development observed in this study have important implications for forest management. Some treatments might create problems in the long-term by delaying understory maturation, while others appear capable of balancing multiple management objectives.

Do biological legacies moderate the effects of forest harvesting on soil microbial community composition and soil respiration

Ecological forestry is a management approach that uses natural disturbance processes as models for designing silvicultural prescriptions that restore or sustain ecosystem biodiversity and function in actively managed forests. We evaluated how a novel ecologically-based multi-cohort silvicultural treatment affects the soil microbial community (SMC) and tested whether supplemental dead wood in the form of girdled trees alters these effects. We also tested SMC function by measuring soil CO2 flux over multiple growing seasons, and examined if these patterns were related to soil microbial groups. Our experimental harvests were conducted in second-growth northern hardwood forests in northern Wisconsin, USA. Treatments included a modified shelterwood harvest (SH), a shelterwood harvest plus dead wood supplementation (SH + CWD), and an unharvested control; here we report responses three to five years post-treatment. The SMC composition (determined using PLFA) in both harvests was significantly different from the control, a difference driven by greater bacterial abundance in the harvested areas, and particularly by gram negative bacteria in SH. Microbial community composition was not significantly different between the two harvests (SH and SH + CWD). Total soil respiration was significantly lower in SH than in the control and SH + CWD treatments, a difference most likely driven by a reduction of the autotrophic respiration component in SH treatments due to harvesting, while in the SH + CWD treatment roots from living girdled trees contributed to autotrophic soil respiration. The relationship between the SMC and soil respiration varied with treatment and season. In general, soil respiration in the unharvested controls was most significantly correlated with microbes that relate to autotrophic respiration sources, while respiration in SH + CWD was most significantly correlated with heterotrophic microbes. These results indicate that, although the SMC composition was affected by forest harvesting practices incorporating live and dead biological legacies, supplementing the number of standing dead trees through girdling and felling maintained SMC function, as measured through total soil respiration, an indicator of some important aspects of ecosystem function.

Quantifying impacts of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmerman) browse using forest inventory and socio-environmental datasets.

Elevated population levels of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmerman) can drastically alter forest ecosystems and negatively impact society through human interactions such as deer vehicle collisions. It is currently difficult to estimate deer populations at multiple scales ranging from stand, county, state, and regional levels. This presents a challenge as natural resource managers develop silvicultural prescriptions and forest management practices aimed at successfully regenerating tree species in the face of deer browsing. This study utilized measurements of deer browse impact from the new tree regeneration indicator developed by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program. Seedling and sapling abundance and other plot-level characteristics were analyzed across three states (Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) in the Great Lakes Region of the United States. Socio-environmental datasets (Lyme disease cases, deer vehicle collisions, and deer density estimates) were used in conjunction with FIA data to determine their predictive power in estimating deer browse impacts by county. Predictions from random forests models indicate that using Lyme disease case reports, the number of deer-vehicle collisions, deer density estimates, and forest inventory information correctly predicted deer browse impact 70–90% of the time. Deer-vehicle collisions per county ranked highly important in the random forests for predicting deer browse impacts in all three states. Lyme disease cases ranked high in importance for the Lake States combined and for Minnesota and Wisconsin, separately. Results show the effectiveness of predicting deer browse impacts using a suite of freely available forest inventory and other socio-environmental information.

Silvicultural madness: a case from the “Scientific Forestry” initiative in the community forests of Nepal

Following a case study approach, this paper explains how scientific forest management plans were developed and implemented in community forests of a mid-hill district in Nepal. Field observations were carried over a period of two years (December 2014 to December 2016) in two community forests. User group members, forest officials, forest technicians and executive committee members were consulted. The plans were prepared simply by compiling the administrative requirements where management prescriptions were defined either based on forest technicians’ knowledge or taken directly from the guidelines with little reference to the actual site quality, management objectives, and forest stand conditions. Apart from harvesting of trees, users hardly implemented the plans’ silvicultural prescriptions and forest restoration activities. Moreover, forest officials administratively reduced the number of trees that users could harvest to around half of what the plans allow. Accordingly, forest user groups face a paradoxical forest administration that promotes timber harvesting according to so-called scientific principles, which it then brushes aside to satisfy bureaucratic demands. The study concludes that the concept of scientific forestry is merely used as a “brand” or a seemingly sound “narrative” in community forestry, while it is of little practical relevance because administrative decisions are more powerful in guiding forest management decisions. Hence, the study suggests a replacement of the current schizophrenic mix of so-called “scientific forest management” and sweeping administrative orders with adaptive management practices in community forests. Banko JanakariA Journal of Forestry Information for Nepal Special Issue No. 4, 2018, Page : 54-64

Fuel Treatments and Potential Fire Behavior in Peri-Urban Forests in Northern Greece

The peri-urban and urban forests in Greece occupy a total area of 105.353 ha. In these vulnerable ecosystems, fire constitutes a natural disaster presenting particular challenges and specific difficulties. These include the high number of visitors as well as the forest characteristics, such as the presence of particularly flammable tree species and the high accumulation of combustible biomass, that make the on-start of fires more likely. The main purpose of the current research is to identify the optimum combination of silvicultural treatments to efficiently reduce potential severity of forest fires and to facilitate their successful suppression by firefighting crews. In order to simulate the basic fire environment of urban forests, two main experimental plots were established and several tree and topographical characteristics were measured. Additionally, a crown fire hazard modelling system (NEXUS) was used to simulate forest fire potential behavior before and after the adoption of the silvicultural treatments that altered critical characteristics of the forest fire environment. The results clearly show that specific silvicultural prescriptions altered the type of forest fire spreading potential, revealing the overall efficiency of preventing actions during forest management.

Partial harvesting effects on seedling growth and physiology of three hardwood species in mature pine (Pinusspp., Pinaceae)-hardwood mixtures1

Nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners own a substantial amount of acreage within the southern USA. The NIPF landowners are usually less financially motivated and implement relatively less-intensive management options, such as partial harvesting, to pursue a variety of multiuse objectives. Understanding how developmental processes are influenced by partial harvesting is vital to constructing viable silvicultural prescriptions. Liquidambar styraciflua L., Quercus alba L., and Ostrya virginia (Mill.) K. Koch seedling (10–105 cm tall) growth and physiology were investigated in relation to different gap sizes and within-gap positions in a mixed Pinus L.–hardwood forest. The levels of photosynthetically active radiation that penetrated the overstory conditions allowed shade-intolerant Liquidambar styraciflua to produce greater (mean ± SE) monthly height and groundline diameter growth (12 ± 0.94 cm and 0.2 ± 0.02 cm, respectively) than Ostrya virginia (8 ± 0.87 cm and 0.1 ± 0.02 cm, respectively) and Quercus alba (4 ± 0.51 cm and 0.1 ± 0.01 cm, respectively), which was facilitated, in part, by significantly higher photosynthetic rates (P < 0.01). Solely manipulating the overstory conditions within mature, Pinus-hardwood mixtures may not be adequate for Quercus regeneration in those mixtures and is conducive to Liquidambar styraciflua obtaining a more-dominant canopy position in the future.