Hardwood Management Hardwood Management for Timber and Wildlifefor Timber and Wildlife

Daniel RayDaniel Ray

NC Wildlife Resources CommissionNC Wildlife Resources Commission

ResponsibleResponsible Forest ManagementForest Management==

Wildlife ManagementWildlife Management

Poor Forestry Practices Are CommonPoor Forestry Practices Are Common

High graded timberHigh graded timber

LO paid less than timber is worthLO paid less than timber is worth

Logged during wet conditionsLogged during wet conditions

Residual forest damagedResidual forest damaged

Poor close out agreements (e.g., fix roads, unplug Poor close out agreements (e.g., fix roads, unplug ditches, stabilize soil, clean up debris piles)ditches, stabilize soil, clean up debris piles)

Poor adherence to FPGs (e.g., equipment in SMZs, pull Poor adherence to FPGs (e.g., equipment in SMZs, pull debris from streams, divert runoff)debris from streams, divert runoff)

Pollution (e.g., oil, trash)Pollution (e.g., oil, trash)

Opposite extreme = no cutting or forest disturbanceOpposite extreme = no cutting or forest disturbance

Responsible Forestry PracticesResponsible Forestry Practices

Good For:Good For: Forest healthForest health WildlifeWildlife Water qualityWater quality Timber valuesTimber values Recreational goalsRecreational goals AestheticsAesthetics Land valuesLand values SafetySafety

You should always:You should always: Define your forest objectivesDefine your forest objectives Hire a consultantHire a consultant Inventory your forest (i.e., timber, Inventory your forest (i.e., timber,

sensitive areas, fauna & flora)sensitive areas, fauna & flora)

When harvesting:When harvesting: Develop a timber contractDevelop a timber contract Shop around for a loggerShop around for a logger Require a performance bondRequire a performance bond Take photos before harvestTake photos before harvest Monitor logging activitiesMonitor logging activities Inspect job at close outInspect job at close out

Common Hardwood Forest TypesCommon Hardwood Forest Typesin North Carolinain North Carolina

Northern hardwood forestNorthern hardwood forest

Cove hardwood forestCove hardwood forest

Dry upland oakDry upland oak--hickory foresthickory forest

DryDry--mesic oakmesic oak--hickory foresthickory forest

Mesic forestMesic forest

Floodplain forest Floodplain forest

Tidal swamp forest and wetlandsTidal swamp forest and wetlands

Maritime forestMaritime forest

Basic Wildlife NeedsBasic Wildlife Needs

The most basic principle of wildlife management is to provide and maintain The most basic principle of wildlife management is to provide and maintain the appropriate successional stages and cover types in a suitable the appropriate successional stages and cover types in a suitable arrangement for the desired wildlife species.arrangement for the desired wildlife species.

Craig Harper, UT professorCraig Harper, UT professor

FoodFood

WaterWater

CoverCover

SpaceSpace

Habitat Diversity is ImportantHabitat Diversity is Important

Edge Edge –– where 2 or more habitats meetwhere 2 or more habitats meet

Ecotone Ecotone –– transitional zone between 2 cover typestransitional zone between 2 cover types

Juxtaposition Juxtaposition –– proximity and position of cover typesproximity and position of cover types

Interspersion Interspersion –– frequency of different cover typesfrequency of different cover types

An increase in “edge” usually results in an increase in An increase in “edge” usually results in an increase in available resourcesavailable resources

“Edges” contain more species of flora and fauna than “Edges” contain more species of flora and fauna than adjacent singular habitatsadjacent singular habitats

Many predators take advantage of “edge” habitatsMany predators take advantage of “edge” habitats

Hardwood Forests are full of DiversityHardwood Forests are full of Diversity

Species richSpecies rich

MultiMulti--agedaged

Variability in structureVariability in structure

LayeredLayered

CanopyCanopy

MidMid--storystory

Forest floorForest floor

Respond well to Respond well to disturbancedisturbance

Canopy

Mid-story

Forest Floor

Forest ManagementForest Management

Practices For WildlifePractices For Wildlife

Timber Stand ImprovementsTimber Stand Improvements

Manage for crop trees (timber vs. wildlife)Manage for crop trees (timber vs. wildlife)

Reduce crowding in the canopyReduce crowding in the canopy

Remove damaged, diseased, crooked and forked treesRemove damaged, diseased, crooked and forked trees

Protect and enhance the remaining trees in the standProtect and enhance the remaining trees in the stand

Upland Oak-Hickory Stand

HighHigh--graded Forestsgraded Forests

Forest Openings (Canopy Gaps)Forest Openings (Canopy Gaps)

Field and Utility R/W EdgesField and Utility R/W Edges

PersimmonPersimmon

Red cedarRed cedar

Wild plumWild plum

DogwoodDogwood

HollyHolly

Black cherryBlack cherry

Red budRed bud

BlackberryBlackberry

SassafrasSassafras

SumacSumac

BlueberryBlueberry

GrapeGrape

GreenbrierGreenbrier

DaylightingDaylighting

Roads

Fire lines

Opinions of Fire in ForestsOpinions of Fire in Forests

Many people consider fire Many people consider fire to be badto be bad

Wildfires are bad!!Wildfires are bad!!

Precursors to devastating Precursors to devastating wildfires:wildfires:

Lack of understanding fire’s Lack of understanding fire’s place in the forestplace in the forest

Lack of responsible forest Lack of responsible forest management (fuel buildup)management (fuel buildup)

Lack of Rx fire (public Lack of Rx fire (public opinion, regulations)opinion, regulations)

NOAA

Yellowstone

Fire History in the SouthFire History in the South

Fire was common throughout Fire was common throughout southern forestssouthern forests

Causes:Causes: Lightning strikesLightning strikes

Native AmericansNative Americans

Later, Europeans clearing Later, Europeans clearing land and sparks from trainsland and sparks from trains

Burned for days, weeks, Burned for days, weeks, monthsmonths

Burned hot on dry uplands Burned hot on dry uplands and smoldered through and smoldered through bottomlandsbottomlands

Today’s forest composition is Today’s forest composition is changing due to suppressionchanging due to suppression

Rx Fire is a ToolRx Fire is a Tool

Primarily used in pines and upland Primarily used in pines and upland hardwoodshardwoods

Promotes plant diversityPromotes plant diversity

Improves browse quality and Improves browse quality and abundanceabundance

Restores fire dependent Restores fire dependent ecosystemsecosystems

Maintains natural upland forest Maintains natural upland forest community typescommunity types

Improves oak regenerationImproves oak regeneration

Reduces hazardous fuelsReduces hazardous fuels

Releases nutrients to the soilReleases nutrients to the soil

Improves seed germinationImproves seed germination

Exposes soil for seed contactExposes soil for seed contact

Controls “some” invasive plantsControls “some” invasive plants

FirelinesFirelines

Width = at least 10 feetWidth = at least 10 feet

Height = at least 10 feetHeight = at least 10 feet

Remove or cut stumps to Remove or cut stumps to ground levelground level

Soil stabilization = water Soil stabilization = water diversions and vegetationdiversions and vegetation

Prepare with tractor and Prepare with tractor and diskdisk

Maintain annually to Maintain annually to discourage saplingsdiscourage saplings

Linear food plot or natural Linear food plot or natural vegetationvegetation

Successful Wildlife Burns in HardwoodsSuccessful Wildlife Burns in Hardwoods

Burn only in uplandsBurn only in uplands

Execute in dormant seasonExecute in dormant season

Remove debris from Remove debris from around trees and snags around trees and snags

Plan low intensity flames Plan low intensity flames (12(12--18 inches)18 inches)

Use flanking or backing Use flanking or backing firesfires

Allow islands of unburned Allow islands of unburned habitat in the foresthabitat in the forest

Photo by Patrick Brose, U.S. Forest ServicePhoto by Patrick Brose, U.S. Forest Service

High Risk

Low Risk

Photo by Patrick Brose, U.S. Forest ServicePhoto by Patrick Brose, U.S. Forest Service

Rx Fire Effects on Understory Habitat Rx Fire Effects on Understory Habitat in Pine Forestsin Pine Forests

Streamside Management ZonesStreamside Management Zones

Follow FPGsFollow FPGs

Protect water qualityProtect water quality

Critical wildlife habitatCritical wildlife habitat

Habitat connectivityHabitat connectivity

Vernal Pools and Small WetlandsVernal Pools and Small Wetlands

Upland depressionSmall pool

Floodplain wetland Salamander eggs

Snags and Den TreesSnags and Den Trees

SnagsSnags

Attracts beetles, spiders, ants, Attracts beetles, spiders, ants, bees, moths, etcbees, moths, etc

Buffet for insectivoresBuffet for insectivores

Easy excavation for cavity Easy excavation for cavity nestersnesters

Target 1 snag per acreTarget 1 snag per acre

DensDens

Winter coverWinter cover

Nesting coverNesting cover

Predator coverPredator cover

Protect all from harmProtect all from harm

Wildlife Nest BoxesWildlife Nest Boxes

Bat

Wood Duck Screech owl

Bluebird

Promote Native FloraPromote Native Flora

Rough-leaf Viburnum

Wild Grape Sumac

American Beautyberry

Encourage Mast ProducersEncourage Mast Producers

Wild plum

Acorns

Blackberry

Blueberry

Exotic PlantsExotic Plants

Autumn Olive Princess Tree

Chinaberry Tree-of-heaven

Food PlotsFood Plots

Grow it and they will come…Grow it and they will come…

Plant diversityPlant diversity(species, ages, structure)(species, ages, structure)

Seed, browse, and Seed, browse, and bugging opportunities.bugging opportunities.

Fawning, nesting and Fawning, nesting and brooding cover.brooding cover.

Escape cover.Escape cover.

Helpful WebsitesHelpful Websites

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission ((www.ncwildlife.orgwww.ncwildlife.org))

NC Division of Forest Resources NC Division of Forest Resources ((www.dfr.state.nc.us/Managing_your_forest/managing www.dfr.state.nc.us/Managing_your_forest/managing _your_forest.htm_your_forest.htm))

NC Cooperative Extension Service NC Cooperative Extension Service ((www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/wild/wildlife/habitat/indexwww.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/wild/wildlife/habitat/index))

Partners In Flight (Partners In Flight (www.faculty.ncwc.edu/mbrooks/pifwww.faculty.ncwc.edu/mbrooks/pif))

Going Native: Urban Landscaping for Wildlife with Native Going Native: Urban Landscaping for Wildlife with Native Plants (Plants (www.ncsu.edu/goingnative/www.ncsu.edu/goingnative/))

University of TennesseeUniversity of Tennessee((www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/wildlife/default.aspwww.utextension.utk.edu/publications/wildlife/default.asp))

Enjoy the Fruits of your Labor!Enjoy the Fruits of your Labor!