A brief introduction to general terms and concepts

related to the forestry learning objectives

The profession embracing the science, art, and practice of

creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and

associated resources for human benefit and in a

sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and

values.

SAF – The Dictionary of Forestry

Tree Physiology & Identification – 20 pts

Forest Ecology – 20 pts

Sustainable Forest Management – 40 pts

Trees: Renewable Resource – 20 pts

Tree cookie parts: outer bark (protection),

phloem (inner bark), cambium, xylem (sapwood),

heartwood, pith (located in center)

Growth cycle: Diameter & height growth governed by temperature & photoperiod; roots: soil temp 32+

Life cycle: Flower/cone

Seed

Seedling (less than 1” diameter & up to 3-ft tall)

Sapling (small – to 3” diameter and up to 10-ft tall; large – 3 to 5” dbh)

Pole (small – 5 to 8” dbh; large 8 to 12” dbh)

Sawtimber (over 12” dbh)

Old age

Death & decay

CHLOROPHYLL (in sunlight)

6CO216 + 12H2O18 C6H12O6

16 + 6O218 + 6H2016

carbon dioxide + water glucose + oxygen + water

[ 6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2 does not account for the source of the 6O2 ]

Identify common species without a key

Full common name, i.e. White Oak

Spelling counts as per VDOF’s keys

Identify unusual tree & shrub species with a key

VDOF’s Common Native Trees of Virginia

VDOF’s Common Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of

Virginia

Source for trees/shrubs/woody vines to be identified

with and without a key at the Local, District and State

competitions

Canopy crown classes

Dominant/Co-dominant/Intermediate

Understory crown classes

Suppressed (overtopped)

Ground layers

Herbaceous vegetation (including grasses & ferns)

& forest regeneration

Duff

Soil

Abiotic factors (nonliving parts)

Climate: temperature, light, air & moisture

Edaphic: soil texture, structure, depth, moisture-

holding capacity, drainage, chemical/nutrient &

topographic position

Pyric: lightning, wild fires & prescribed burns

Biotic factors (living parts)

Interaction between plants

Animals & birds

Insects & disease

Fungi

Anthropogenic

Influence of humans alone

Approximate percent Forest Acreage for Basic Timber

Types in Virginia by Physiographic Province

Physiographic

Province

White pine-

Hemlock

Loblolly-

Shortleaf

Oak-

Pine

Oak-

Hickory

Oak-

Gum

Elm-

Ash

Beech-

Birch-

Maple

Tidewater

Piedmont

Blue Ridge

Ridge and Valley

Appalachian Plateau

0

0.44

4.14

1.46

0.70

35.72

26.24

8.18

4.00

0.70

16.72

11.66

10.72

7.76

2.95

37.00

57.68

75.97

84.78

87.45

8.18

1.57

0.13

0

0

2.38

2.41

0.59

0.53

0.13

0

0

0.27

1.46

8.07

Silviculture techniques:

Thinning – reduce stand density/improve forest health

Prescribed burning – controlled fire under specified

conditions to achieve planned objectives

Single tree & group selection – uneven-aged stand

Shelterwood – even-aged or two-aged stands

Clear-cutting, with & without seed trees – two-aged

stand or an even-aged stand

Coppice – regeneration from stump sprouts or root

suckers, even-aged stand

Silviculture systems: Clear-cutting – even-aged stand final harvest with

regeneration either natural or planted/seeded

Seed tree method – even-aged or two-aged stands with regeneration that requires little or no shade

Even-aged management – stand with one age class

Uneven-aged management – stand with three or more ages classes

Shelterwood – even-aged or two-aged stands with regeneration that requires partial sunlight or shade

Selection – uneven-aged stand

Silviculture treatments:

Planting – a reforestation method

Weeding – release treatment in stands not past

sapling stage that eliminates or suppresses

undesirable vegetation regardless of crown position

Pre-commercial thinning (PCT) – reduce stocking rate

Commercial thinning – reduce stocking with revenue

Harvesting – final cut in the rotation

Biltmore stick - DBH – 2” class

Merchantable height – minimum 1 log then in half-log increments

See National 4-H Forestry Invitational Handbook for use of Biltmore stick & tree measurement standards

Prism - Basal area: cross-sectional area at DBH

Ex: 10 BAF prism – each tree “countable” represents 10 sq-ft of basal area per acre

Strong linkage between site-index (SI) and BA

Forest health & management Biodiversity

Forest fragmentation

Forest health

Invasive species 2016 - Ailanthus, Autumn Olive, Garlic Mustard,

Japanese Honeysuckle, Japanese Stiltgrass, Multiflora Rose & Oriental Bittersweet

Air quality

Aesthetics

Fire

Global warming

Recreation

Sustainability:

Forest management practices & decisions

Economic

Social

Ecological

Forest policy

Land use zoning

Taxation

Science & technology utilization

Urban forestry

Value, health & survival issues

Forest products

Ecosystem Services (who pays?)

Air quality

Water quality & quantity

Wildlife habitat

Recreation/health

What’s out there in the woods?

VOLUME TABLE - VIRGINIA ENVIROTHON

International 1/4 inch Log Rule - Form Class 78

# logs

DBH 1 1 1/2 2 2 1/2 3 3 1/2 4 4 1/2 5

10 36 48 59 66 73 --- --- --- ---

12 56 74 92 106 120 128 137 --- ---

14 78 105 132 153 174 187 200 --- ---

16 106 143 180 210 241 263 285 --- ---

18 136 184 233 274 314 344 374 --- ---

20 171 234 296 348 401 440 480 511 542

22 211 290 368 434 500 552 603 647 691

24 251 346 441 523 605 664 723 782 840

26 299 414 528 626 725 801 877 949 1021

28 347 482 616 733 850 938 1,027 1,114 1,201

30 403 560 718 854 991 1,094 1,198 1,306 1,415

32 462 644 826 988 1,149 1,274 1,400 1,518 1,637

34 521 728 934 1,119 1,304 1,447 1,590 1,727 1,864

36 589 826 1,063 1,274 1,485 1,650 1,814 1,974 2,135

38 656 921 1,186 1,428 1,670 1,854 2,038 2,224 2,410

40 731 1,030 1,329 1,598 1,868 2,081 2,294 2,494 2,693

Notes:

1) Minimum 10” DBH

2) Top of stump is at top of butt swell – approximately one foot above ground level.

3) Merchantable upper limit – 8” top diameter, a major fork, or serious defect.

4) Total merchantable height to the nearest full half-log with a one log minimum.

5) The current National 4-H Forestry Invitational Handbook is the standard for tree

measurement techniques with a Biltmore stick and volume determination.

Virginia Envirothon Plot Data 1/10 ac fixed radius plot

BAF 10 prism plot data (same plot center as above) # trees counted = 11 # trees counted = 3 (2nd prism plot location) Site index oaks = 60

Tree # Species DBH # Logs FC 78 BF Volume

1 Pignut Hickory 14 1 ½ 105

2 Pignut Hickory 16 2 180

3 White Oak 14 1 78

4 White Oak 18 1 ½ 184

5 White Oak 16 1 ½ 143

6 White Oak 18 1 ½ 184

7 White Oak 16 2 180

8

9

10

# Trees/Ac = 70 Ave DBH = 16 ----- Vol/Ac = 10,540 BF