lorax forestry services management plan

7/29/2019 Lorax Forestry Services Management Plan

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Lorax

ForestryServices

Landowner:

Mr. Phillip Phun

Amy Blood, Theo Diehl, and

Alissa Gregory


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INTRODUCTION

The following management plan has been developed to meet the goals of landowner Mr.

Phillup Phun, an internet entrepreneur. He has recently purchased a 69.26 acre parcel in

Galloway, New Jersey. Mr. Phun wants to use this newly acquired land for recreational

purposes; hunting, hiking, camping, and generally enjoying the outdoors with friends. Since Mr.

Phun is such a successful internet businessman, he is less interested in the profitability of his

land than he is in the health, aesthetics, and overall potential for outdoor recreation. In the

process of creating a 'Phun Forest', Mr. Phun would also like to qualify for farmland tax

assessment on his land in order to save some money on property taxes. Lorax Forestry Services

aims to produce a creative, unique management plan to suit the desires of the landowner while

also improving overall forest health.

OBJECTIVES

Lorax Forestry Services has developed this management plan to meet the specific goals

of landowner Mr. Phillip Phun. In utilizing the silvicultural and forest management techniques

outlined in the following plan, the forest will be left healthier and with improved potential for all

outdoor recreational activities. An ecological forestry approach will be used to restore the

historical state of the forest, which will in turn increase biodiversity and improve habitat for

game species, reduce fire risk, and improve resilience to diseases and pests. This ecological

approach will also minimize cutting of trees while improving accessibility to the forest by

producing an open, uneven aged stand of varied habitat types. A simple agricultural plan has also

been incorporated to meet the requirements necessary to qualify for Farmland Tax Assessment.


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MANAGEMENT/STEWARDSHIP PLAN

OVERALL LANDSCAPE PLAN

Lorax Forestry Services has determined the best overall management technique for this

forest parcel is one modeled after the Stoddard-Neel ecological approach. The Stoddard-Neel

approach utilizes an ecological method of forest management that is not intended to favor one

component of the ecosystem over another, but rather to manage for all as equally as possible.

Traditionally, forests are managed for timber production or for the benefit of one particular

species of animal or plant. "Ecological forestry uses patterns of natural disturbanceand

ecological processes to guide management decisions and silvicultural prescriptions for forests. It

incorporates natural patterns of mortality, longevity, age structure and regenerationas well as

processes such as fire and nutrient cycling" (McIntyre). This form of ecological forestry aims to

maintain the historical natural state of a particular forest by mimicking its natural processes and

using minimal cutting.

This approach is most widely used in longleaf pine stands, but the benefit to Stoddard-

Neel is that there is no exact formula as to what management methods should be used

(McIntyre). Since pitch-pine ecosystems are similarly adapted to regular fire disturbance like

longleaf, it should work quite well in this type of ecosystem as well.

The New Jersey Pine Barrens have historically been exposed to frequent fires that

favored forests of primarily pitch pine mixed with mature oaks. In the absence of fire, oak is

allowed to regenerate and eventually out-compete the pitch pines, creating a significant

ecosystem change. Our overall proposal is to utilize principles of the Stoddard-Neel ecological

forestry approach to restore this forest to its natural historical state, and possibly even re-


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introduce species that have been extirpated due to habitat loss and ecosystem change. In doing

so, this plan will allow the landowner to satisfy the requirements of Farmland Tax Assessment

and reduce the risk of wildfires and common forest pests. Not only will the forest be healthier

overall, but it will provide a more open and biodiverse environment in which to recreate, hunt,

and enjoy the outdoors.

Because the landowner, Mr. Phillip Phun, wants to use his land primarily for recreation,

we as managers will create and maximize available habitat for wildlife and game species in our

forest. To achieve this, we will use a mixture of methods influenced by those used in the

Stoddard-Neel approach, including prescribed burns, thinning, and natural regeneration of trees.

By emulating natural disturbance, we will help the forest maintain a healthy system of

regeneration, rather than the degraded, unmanaged state in which it currently seems to be. These

processes will result in several uneven-aged stands, each with their own unique characteristics.

These will be much more aesthetically pleasing than the forests present state, or a monocultural

even-aged management plan. Because economic return is not our goal, we have considerable

room to manage the forest in an ecologically beneficial manner. Also, because we will only be

harvesting single trees at a time to meet the Farmland Tax Assessment, any negative impacts on

the forest ecosystem will be minimized.

In order to increase the available game species for Mr. Phun to hunt, we will employ

management practices conducive to each species success. Our management plan focuses on

white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), and bobwhite

quail (Colinus virginianus). All three require open land to allow effective travel and foraging, but

covered areas to seek shelter from predators, weather, and the elements. All three also have a

primarily herbivorous and slightly omnivorous diet (Snyder 1992). Our management plan is


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optimum for these general requirements since the prescribed burns and thinning will result in an

increase in open land with a less dense canopy cover, as well as stimulation in plant growth and

fruit production on the forest floor. Stands 2 and 3 will be especially open areas that will

facilitate optimum feeding and traveling capabilities, while Stands 1 and 4 will be densely

forested areas for shelter and cover. By burning in patches across the forest, we can guarantee a

mixture of forest age classes and habitat types. In addition, the presence of hard mast (acorns in

our case) is important in the fall and winter to many wildlife species. The presence of fire will

also reduce the amount of parasites such as ticks and lice present in the forest, which will

increase the overall health of our game species. To ensure a steady presence of mast, we will

select large oak trees with highly vigorous crowns to remain and set seed (Rodewald 2001).

Despite these broad prescriptions, there are individual considerations for the management

of each species. Because white-tailed deer lack the benefit of wings, they can be easily

confused, trapped, and subsequently killed by a forest fire (Snyder 1992). To reduce the chances

of deer loss, we will spread the location of our burns far enough apart that deer within the burn

range have enough time and space to escape an impending fire. In addition, Stand 1, primarily an

Atlantic White Cedar swamp, will constantly serve as an area for cover not only from fire but

harsh weather.Both wild turkey and bobwhite quail require dense cover to serve as nesting area,

so our patch burning will result in a varied density and composition throughout the forest.

Our approach will increase general biodiversity within the forest. Because a natural forest

has multiple age classes as well as a mixture of canopy covers, understory densities, and vertical

stratification, there is a large amount of variation in the wildlife species encountered when one

moves from one place in the forest to another. Primarily, our use of prescribed burns and

thinning will help us achieve these characteristics of a natural forest. By using a single tree


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selection method of harvesting, we will effectively be creating multiple age classes in the forest.

This is especially beneficial for increasing the variety of bird species seen in a forest, since

different birds require different vertical strata of the forest. In addition, we will not only retain

biological legacies such as snags, but create them through girdling in order to create suitable

habitat for cavity-nesting birds. Because 12 snags per acre is the preferable amount for a

population of cavity-nesting birds, we will try to meet this requirement through supplemental

girdling. According to data in Appendix E, there exist about 8 dead trees per acre already.

Consequently, only 4 more trees per acre need to be girdled. Fallen logs and plant material will

decompose and serve as habitat for insects and fungi. Although plant life will be damaged and

removed during the burns themselves, the subsequent regeneration will be much higher in

nutrient content and vigor than before (Snyder 1992).

Because the visual component of the forest is important to a recreational goal, we want to

allow Mr. Phun to roam through the forest with relative ease. To facilitate this movement, we

will use the fire breaks created for prescribed burns as trails. Not only do they provide significant

coverage of the forest, but they will offer a look at forest succession after a fire, since they will

flank the burn patches. Because the trails have previously been put in place, there will be no

further disturbance to the forest. In addition, Mr. Phuns low frequency of visitation will

minimize any direct impacts on the wildlife that surrounds the trails.

In order to meet the amount of economic income required to continually qualify for the

Farmland Tax Assessment, we will be thinning poles from the AWC stand and selling them,

creating small plantations of gingko (Ginkgo biloba) and American ginseng (Panax

quinquefolius), and placing logs inoculated with shiitake mushrooms throughout the forest. The

gingko plantation will occupy an acre of the stand, and the ginseng will be planted in patches in


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the Atsion sand area along Stand 1. Although a gingko plantation may appear out of place in a

forest (especially in the Pine Barrens), the trees themselves are considered to be aesthetically

pleasing and we believe Mr. Phun will appreciate them for their economic potential as well as

their beauty. In addition, the ginkgo itself is extremely resistant to damage from pests, fungi, and

bacteria, and apparently lacks any faunal predators in North America, making it much less

difficult to manage than many other plants (Beek 2000). In ecological terms, the seeds which are

dispersed from the tree every year may be transported by birds as far as 150 meters from the

planting site, although the chances of it surviving or even germinating in this Pine Barrens forest

are virtually none (Franklin 1959). The ginseng plantings will be placed in patches among the

swamp-hardwood area flanking Stand 1 to the west. The soils here are moist, well-drained and

high in organic matterperfect for growing wild ginseng (Vaughan). The wild-grown root has a

much higher value in the herbal market, despite a more difficult propagation process than farm-

grown ginseng. The main concerns of raising ginseng in a forest are herbivory by animals like

rodents and deer, fungus and disease outbreaks spread by disturbance, and poaching. To avoid

disease from annihilating the ginseng plantings, we will spread the plants far enough from each

other to allow air movement around the leaves and prevent the plants from constantly coming

contact with one another in case a plant is struck with disease (Vaughan). In order to keep the

plants from being poached, we will keep our plans to place a ginseng population in the forest

relatively secret, and encourage Mr. Phun to do the same. To inoculate the shiitake mushrooms,

we will plant them in oak logs we retain from thinning across the stand. These require little

maintenance as the fungus requires moisture and cool temperatures, which is easily achievable

by simply stacking the logs together (Anderson 2007).


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SILVICULTURAL PRESCRIPTIONS BY STAND

**Specific locations of all silvicultural prescriptions are shown in Appendix A, Map 6**

STAND 1

- Thin for small poles (diameter 4-6 inches) in year 4 at $1000/acre

- Monitor annually for diseases and pests

STANDS 2 and 3

- Thin in year 1, favoring small oaks (diameter 4-6 inches)

- 33 white oak trees to be cut into 3 foot logs for mushroom inoculation, harvested annually after

year 2

- Prescribed burn entire stand after thinning in year 1, then burn established patches according to

5-year fire return interval planning

- Girdle mature trees (excluding pines) to create snags for cavity nesting birds at 12 snags per

acre

- Use single-tree selection as needed to manage for quail/turkey habitat and create patches of

open field-like environments as well as denser areas

- Introduce quail in year 5 into most recently burned patch with optimal habitat


STAND 4

- Thin in year 1 to reduce ladder fuels and harvest firewood. Reduce basal area of stand by 40%.

- Prescribed burn entire stand in year 1, then burn established patches according to 5-year return

interval planning


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- Clearcut 1 acre (see map) in year 3 and establish ginkgo seedlings, to be harvested annually

after year 10

- Plant ginseng in year 1, scattering plants throughout downer loamy sand areas bordering ginkgo

plot (see Map 4). These areas are to be excluded from all prescribed burns, except for the initial

burn in year 1. If understory becomes too dense, the area may be reburned between harvest and

reseeding of ginseng.


TIMETABLE

Year 1:

1.) Thin Stands 2 and 3, selecting for small oaks

2.) Harvest 33 white oaks of diameter 4-6 inches for mushroom logs

3.) Thin Stand 4 to remove ladder fuels and reduce fire risk by removing 40% of basal

area; harvest and sell firewood

4.) Cut new plow lines, establishing 10 patches of approximately 5 acres each. All

patches to be divided by plow lines at 200 foot spacing. All patches to be burned in year

1; successive years will burn 2 patches only so that each has a fire return interval of 5

years.

5.) Allow for natural regeneration of pitch pine by removing competing oaks and burning

6.) Test soil in ginseng plot area

7.) Plant ginseng in Stand 4; plant in downer loamy sand in shady areas bordering ginkgo

plot

8.) Inoculate mushroom logs with shiitake mushroom spores


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Year 2:

1.) Harvest shiitake mushrooms and inoculate logs

2.) Utilize single-tree selection as necessary in Stands 2 and 3 to create a mixed-age

forest environment

3.) Girdle mature trees of at least 12 inch diameter in Stands 2 and 3 to create snags for

cavity nesting birds

4.) Ensure enough mature oaks are left behind to provide food sources to deer and other

wildlife

5.) Prescribed burn 2 patches (~10 acres)

6.) Monitor for diseases and pests in late spring/early summer

Year 3:



3.) Clearcut 1 acre in Stand 4 (see map) and establish gingko seedlings

4.) Monitor for dieseases and pests in late spring/early summer

5.) First year of Farmland Tax Assessment tax breaks in effect

Year 4:

1.) Thin Stand 1 for small Atlantic white cedar poles (4-6 in. diameter)




Year 5:

1.) Single-tree selection in Stands 2, 3, and 4


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2.) Prescribed burn 2 patches (~10 acres) within Stands 2 and/or 3 and introduce quail

into most recently burned areas with optimal habitat. This ensures that the quail will have

enough time to establish themselves before the next burn.



Year 6:




Year 7:




Year 8:

1.) Harvest ginseng from Stand 4 and collect seed. Then test soil and re-seed. Burn area if

underbrush has become too dense.




Year 9:





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Year 10:

1.) Prescribed burn 2 patches, selecting for areas with quail populations to maintain

patchy field and forest habitat

2.) Single-tree selection as needed in Stands 2, 3, and 4

3.) Harvest gingko leaves from plantation plot



SILVICULTURAL OUTLINE OF FOLLOWING 10 YEARS:

1.) Continue with prescribed burning patterns of (2) ~5 acre patches annually

2.) Inoculate logs and harvest shiitake mushrooms annually

3.) New mushroom logs will need to be cut every 10 years

4.) Ginkgo leaves can be harvested annually

5.) Ginseng can be harvested for the second time in year 16, and at 7-8 year intervals

successively after that

6.) Continue single-tree selection method in Stands 2, 3, and 4 as necessary to mimic

natural disturbances and create uneven-aged forest (harvest to be done every 3-5 years)

7.) Monitor for disease/pest infestations annually and treat as needed according to

Disease/Pathogen Contingency Plan


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ECONOMICS

Philip Phun owns 69.26 acres of land. In order to qualify for the Farmland Tax

Assessment, his land must make $532.13 a year on timber or non-timber forest products ($500

plus $0.50 an acre after five acres). Mr. Phun does not wish to cut down many trees, so the

income from the land will come mostly from non-timber forest products. Non-timber forest

products are items that are grown or produced in the forest, but are not being cultivated for

timber. Products of this type include ginkgo, honey, vines (which could be sold for wreaths),

ginseng, mushrooms, herbs, pine needles (which could be sold for mulch), etc. When producing

non-timber forest products, the possibilities are endless (Reichenbach).

It was determined that low maintenance cost-effective products would be ideal for Mr.

Phuns land. Non-timber forest products which have been determined to be aphrodisiacs were

given additional consideration because of Mr. Phuns businessa marital aids website. The non-

timber forest products to be grown are ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), American ginseng (Panax

quinquefolium), and shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes). Both ginkgo and ginseng are

known to be aphrodisiacs and shiitake mushrooms are simple to grow yet profitable. All three

products have medicinal value. The landowner would have little to no trouble finding willing

buyers of these particular forest products. Not only is he an internet entrepreneur, he is especially

familiar with the market for aphrodisiacs.

Ginkgo is commonly known as a fossil tree. It has no known ancestors and has been

determined to be one of the two oldest trees in existence. It is dioeciousa ginkgo tree is male

or female, not both. It is beautiful and coveted for its ornamental appeal. It is well adapted to

grow in all types of soils. It is also very resistant to pests, diseases, and fire. Ginkgo can be

harvested for its leaves, bark, and nuts. All parts of the tree have strong antioxidant properties.


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Ginkgo extract is a well known aphrodisiac because it gets blood flowing. Ginkgo is easily

outcompeted, which will not pose a problem because it is to be planted alongside other ginkgos

in a plantation area along the roadside. The benefit of its poor competition skills is that Mr. Phun

will not need to worry about his ginkgo plantation becoming an issue for the other species in his

forestit is not invasive (Gilman).

Although all parts of the tree couldbe harvested, Lorax Forestry Services recommends

that this section of land (one acre, as seen in Appendix A, Map 6) be used solely for the

harvesting of ginkgo leaves. The nuts, although profitable, also come with a pungent smelling

fruit, which would lessen the fun value of the property for Mr. Phun. In order to keep the

plantation smelling of trees and not decay, male trees which have been grown from cuttings will

be planted. Only the female trees have fruit. It is not uncommon for purchased male trees to

truly be female. Gender cannot be determined with certainty until sexual maturity, which is at

about 20 years of age. In realizing this, it is the recommendation that unexpected female trees be

harvested for their fruit as soon as it is noticed. Only a very small portion of the male trees will

be female in reality (they will be bought from reputable tree farms). With such a small amount of

female trees, the stench will be kept at a tolerable level. Also, the smell begins as the fruit ripens,

so fruit picked early does not emit nearly as strong as a smell. The nuts can be sold for

approximately $20 a pound. This income will go toward offsetting any costs for harvesting and

maintenance of the rest of the ginkgo plantation.

One acre of land is to be dedicated to a ginkgo plantation. Plants should be spread about

15 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart. 25,000 plants will grow in one hectare, which means about

10,000 trees can be grown in an acre. In order to increase the survival rate of the trees, they will


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be planted further apartwith only 5,000 in one acre. At about $6 a tree, the initial planting cost

(without any interest calculations) will be $30,000.

The leaves can be harvested yearly. They are dried directly after harvest (within 12

hours) and pressed into balls. Ginkgo extract is produced from the balls (Strategic Reports).

Dried leaves sell for between $4 and $6 a pound. It is recommended to wait for a tree to be about

eight years of age before a harvest takes place. Lorax Forestry Services has determined that the

ginkgo plantation should be implemented in the third year of management, with two year old

saplings. By the tenth year of management, harvesting may take place. The trees, at this time,

will be about nine years old and are mature enough for leaf harvesting.

After taking into account harvesting, fertilizing, and pruning costs, each tree will straight

profit at least one pound of dried leaves a year. Using the lower end of the market value estimate,

each tree will bring in $4 a pound. With a 95% survival rate, there will be 4750 trees to be

harvested. $4 per tree with 4750 trees will bring in $19000 on the tenth management year

(without interest determinations). Because leaves may be harvested every year, there will be a

yearly income from the plantation of about $19000. The remaining pounds of ginkgo harvested

will go to offset the costs of harvesting, pruning, and the occasional fertilizing for all years past

Year 9. If the ginkgo plantation were to remain in place indefinitely, the total sustainable yield

would be approximately $765424. This number may change due to the market, but the market

for ginkgo has been steady and is projected to remain as so. It was obtained by assuming a net

profit of $19000 during years in which there is a yield (all years, 10 and beyond). The compound

interest formula relating to the capital value of a permanent periodic income was used. Once that

value was obtained ($950000), the equation for the present value of a series of terminable equal

payments was usedwith 9 as the number of interest-bearing payments. The second value


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($155082) was subtracted from the first value, because the equations assume that interest is

accrued and payments are made starting at year one. The new value becomes $794918. The cost,

at Year 3 (Year 2 economically, because Year 1 is V0) was $30000when brought back to V0,

the cost comes to $28835. Between Years 3 and 9, there is a yearly allotment of $50 for pruning,

watering, and fertilizing. The cost of pruning for those years is $389. This was determined using

terminable equal annual payments and then subtracting $50 and then $49 dollars to account for

the lack of this payment in Years 1 and 2. Once the ginkgo is harvested, the $50 value becomes

negligible and is counted against the income. The total costs were subtracted from the

sustainable yield values and the total sustainable yield was determined.

Ginseng is a perennial ivy-like plant with fleshy roots. Although root herbs (such as

ginseng and ginger) are becoming increasingly popular in the United States, the primary market

for American ginseng is in China. It is commonly used in folk medicine, but research seems to

be showing that it has legitimate medicinal properties. In folk-medicine, it has been said to fix

sexual (and erectile) dysfunction and reduce stress. It is reported to act as a stimulant. It also has

been seen to reduce stress and boost the immune system. American ginseng was once

widespread in the United States, but now it is rarely seen wild. This is mostly due to human

interferencewild populations have been decimated by humans because of the money they are

worth. They are slow to grow and continual careless disturbance of the roots by poachers makes

it difficult for these plants to survive uncared for. Also, habitat loss negatively affects this

species.

Ginseng requires a dense canopy (over 75% shaded) and soils that are well-drained,

moist, sandy, and acidic. Downer Loamy sand, which is found in stands 2, 3, and 4, would be

ideal for American ginseng growth. Stand 4 is very dense, so areas with downer loamy sand are


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deemed completely suitable for ginseng plantings. As the roots have more time to age, their

worth increases. The roots are highly valuable economically and have been known to bring in

$300-600 a pound. The closer to wild in appearance the ginseng is, the more it is worth.

Lorax Forestry Services recommends that ginseng be planted in small patches within the

areas of Stand 4 with Downer Loamy Soil. High quality seeds should be bought in order to

improve the chances of the ginseng reaching maturity. To make the planting process simpler,

stratified seeds will be bought. These are already on their way to germination. A quarter of a

pound of ginseng seeds cost about $25, and contains approximately 1650 seeds. Four seeds may

be planted within a square foot. Some patches of ginseng will have deer fences (approximately

10 patches, 5 foot by 5 foot in size), while many will not. It is estimated that approximately one

half of the ginseng plants will grow to maturity. Therefore about 800 roots may be harvested.

This will result in 8 dry pounds of ginseng. If market value is at $200 a dry pound, $1600 is

made in six years without discounting.

Deer fence costs $4 a running foot, so deer fence installation during year one will cost

about $800 for 10 patches with 20 foot perimeters each. Deer fence, along with seed, is a one-

time cost. After roots are harvested initially, seeds produced may be used for further plantings.

Research has shown that calcium and phosphorous-rich soils result in better shaped and larger

ginseng plants. Every year, the ginseng will cost about $10 for calcium and phosphorous to be

added to the soil, along with other maintenance. If all costs and incomes are brought to present

for the first ten years, ginseng profits are about $485. On a sustainable yield basis, ginseng will

bring in about $9436.

Shiitake mushrooms are flavorful and medicinal fungi which grow on logs. For many

centuries, it has been used in Asian cuisine and in Asian medicines. Currently, it is being


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researched for the purpose of preventing cancer. It is grown by many foresters as a non-timber

forest product due to how easy it is to cultivate. Starting a forest shiitake grow operation requires

oak logs, wax, mushroom spores, a drill, and not much else. Two methods are used primarily for

inoculationthe dowel method and the sawdust method. Both methods have pros and cons.

Instead of purchasing logs for inoculation, thinned oak from stands 2 and 3 will be used. Ideally,

the logs will be about 3-5 inches in diameter about between 36-48 inches long. Oak trees in the

stand are estimated to be about 60 feet tall, so it was determined that one tree could create about

15 logs. In order to harvest 500 logs, at least 34 trees must be thinned out of the stands.

Inoculated logs take a year before they produce viable fungus. After about the fourth

year, the fungus grown on them begins to deplete. A successful growing operation would have

logs on a rotating basis. A 500 log operation would be ideal for Mr. Phuns land. Approximately

133 logs will be added to the operation at a time until there are 500 logs, and then the first 130

logs will be inoculated once again. The first year will yield no mushrooms, because the 133 logs

are all newly inoculated. The second year will yield about 123 logs with mushrooms, and 133

new logs will be inoculated. The third year will yield about 246 logs with mushrooms, and 133

new logs will be inoculated. The fourth year will yield about 370 fruiting logs, and 133 new logs

will be inoculated. After the fourth year, the first 133 logs will be re-inoculated. The next year,

year twos logs will be re-inoculated, and so on. It is possible to force the mushrooms to fruit 3

times a year, but in order to make it easier for Mr. Phun, there will be only one fruiting a year of

the mushroomsthis requires less work because mushrooms naturally only fruit once a year.

When mushrooms are forced to fruit 3 times a year, each log produces about two pounds of

mushrooms in a year. If they fruited only once, a log would produce about 0.7 pounds of


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mushrooms in a year. About 370 logs will fruit at any given time after the third year of

production.

Yearly inoculation will cost about $250. This includes the cost of spores and wax. The

dowel method will be used instead of the sawdust method because although it is more costly, it

has been determined to be more problem-resistant. The initial thinning for logs has a negligible

price and will be offset by profit made from selling additional logs thinned but not needed for

mushrooms as firewood. Market Price for shiitake mushrooms ranged from $4.50-$10.50 a

pound in 2012. It is safest to assume that the mushrooms from the property bring in at least $4.50

a pound. During the fourth year and every year after that, the mushroom grow operation will

produce approximately 259 pounds of mushrooms in a year. At $4.50 a pound, the mushrooms

will bring in $1165.50 a year. For the sake of being conservative in estimates, it will be assumed

that drying, harvesting, and marketing costs $0.50 a pound. Therefore, the mushrooms make

$1036 a year, before discounting and the subtraction of earlier costs. When the cost of yearly

inoculation is subtracted from the values, the mushrooms bring in approximately $786 a year. On

a sustainable yield basis, they would bring in about $38,000. All costs and all profits were

brought to V0 and calculations were made to account for the lesser production during the first

three years.

Prescribed burns have an estimated cost of $10 an acre. Lorax Forestry Services

recommends that Stands 2, 3, and 4 be fully burned within the first year. The three stands amount

to about 61 acres. For the first year, the burn cost will be $610. Every year after that,

approximately 11 acres are to be burned systematically; therefore, years 2-20 (at least) will have

a burn cost of $110 without discounting. If this burn cycle were to go on indefinitely, it would


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cost $6000. This is the capital value of an interminable periodic income plus $500 ($610 minus

$110, because the first $55 dollars is accounted for in the interminable period income equation).

Every year, a certified forest pest manager is to visit the property in order to assess the

forests health. The professional will monitor for diseases and pests. It is estimated that this

evaluation would cost about $75 each time. Right before ginseng is planted/replanted, there is to

be a soil test. This has been determined to cost approximately $20 and is to take place once every

seven years. Forest health monitoring on a sustainable basis would cost $3896.50 ($146.50 for

soil monitoring and $3750 for pest/disease monitoring).

The forest will be modified to make it more suitable for birds and other wildlife. Stands 2

and 3 will be selectively thinned to remove trees to be used for the shiitake mushroom. The

stands are already understocked, so thinning them a little bit further increases bobwhite quail

habitat. The introduction of bobwhite quail has not been linked to high success rates, but it will

be done onceif only for the purpose of hunting quail on one given day. Live quail chicks cost

about $1.50 each, so introducing about 100 of them will cost approximately $150. With

discounting, (introduction is to happen in Year 5), the cost of introducing is about $ 139. If

introduction is highly successful, it will not need to be done again. If introduction fails, it also

will not be done again. However, if introduction appears to be somewhat successful, another

$150 may be spent somewhere down the line. This possible value is not included in calculations.

About 119 trees will be girdled in Stands 2 and 3 during Year Two to create snags for cavity

nesting birds. There is an average of 8 dead trees per acre in these stands, which are 29.84 acres

combined. Creating 4 more snags per acre to reach the necessary average of 12 snags total per

acre leaves us at 119 trees to girdle. This has an estimated cost of $200. The discounted cost is

$196.08.


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An acre of land within stand 4 is to be clearcut for the ginkgo plantation. Because ginkgo

trees are not small crops, the stumps will not pose a problem. As long as the seedlings can get

plenty of light they will without any trouble. Clearcutting one acre of land in Stand 4 has a

projected income of $300. With discounting, the income from the clearcut is about $288.

During Year 4, the cedar stand (Stand 1) is to be thinned for poles. 8.67 acres will be

thinned at a profit of $1000 an acre. Without discounting, the thinning will bring in $8670. After

discounting, thinning the cedar stand for poles would bring in approximately $8170. This is a

one-time profit. Another one-time profit will be from the initial thin of Stand 4. All acres except

for the one clearcut acre will be thinned within the stand. The stand is 30.75 acres, so 29.75 acres

are to be thinned. 40% of the stands total basal area is to be removed at $50 an acre. It is

estimated that a commercial thin of Stand 4 would yield $1487.50. This is during the first year,

so the value does not need to be discounted. Other thinnings are to take place on an irregular

basis as deemed fit, which will be a negligible income/cost. Money spent removing trees will be

offset by money earned from selling the wood.

A landowner is unable to qualify for Farmland Tax Assessment immediately. The

landowner must prove that the forest has been properly managed for a minimum of two years

before the Tax Assessment may be put into place. For years one and two of management, Philip

Phun must pay $14983.50 in taxes each year. With Farmland Tax Assessment, Mr. Phun will be

expected to pay $317.13 a year. Assuming taxes stay where they are, the total cost by taxes over

an indefinite time period will be $44901.66.

Adding all of the costs and incomes together results in a value of $767672.30. This is

how much the forest will make during its lifetime with this plan in effect. Within the next ten

years, the forest will be at a net loss of approximately $31711.06. However, forestry takes


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patience. In just two more years (by year 12), the forest will be at a net positive ($101.01). After

20 years with this management plan in place, the forest would have made about $115184.27.

Philip Phun will have been able to recreationally enjoy his land during that time with minimal

cutting and interesting agriculture that relates to his business interests.

Graph 1: The income of the land from Timber and Non-timber forest products. No cost values have been taken out,

because Farmland Tax Assessment solely focuses on money received, not money invested. The red line represents

$532.13, the minimum income required for Farmland Tax Assessment.

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Income,inUSD

Management Year

Agricultural/Forest Incomes


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Graph 2: Total Net Income. Total investment begins to pay off at year 13 of management.

-80000.00

-60000.00

-40000.00

-20000.00

0.00

20000.00

40000.00

60000.00

80000.00

100000.00

120000.00

140000.00

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20AmountofMoney,inUSD

Year of Management

Amount of Total Net Income


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Tables 1 & 2 (Above and Below) show the cost or income of actions within the forest, divided by year and

type of action. Negative values denote costs, positive values are income.

Year of Plan 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Fire -110 -110 -110 -110 -110 -110 -110 -110 -110 -

Plow Lines 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Ginseng -10 -10 -10 -10 1600 -10 -10 -10 -10 -

Mushroom 786 786 786 786 786 786 786 786 786 7

Soil Testing 0 0 0 0 -20 0 0 0 0

Timber/

Thinnings

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Taxes -317.13 -317.13 -317.13 -317.13 -317.13 -317.13 -317.13 -317.13 -317.13 -31

Disease/Pest

Monitoring

-75 -75 -75 -75 -75 -75 -75 -75 -75 -

Cuts 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Girdle Trees 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Ginkgo 19000 19000 19000 19000 19000 19000 19000 19000 19000 19

QuailIntroduction

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals (Sum byYear)

19273.87 19273.87 19273.87 19273.87 20863.87 19273.87 19273.87 19273.87 19273.87 192

Vo (2% interest) 15811.29 15501.26 15197.31 14899.33 15812.21 14320.77 14039.97 13764.68 13494.78 132

Income/DebtTotal (Prior

Years Added)

-16348.70 -847.44 14349.88 29249.20 45061.41 59382.18 73422.15 87186.83 100681.61 1139

ear of Plan 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

re -610 -110 -110 -110 -110 -110 -110 -110 -110 -

ow Lines -50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

nseng -835 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 -10 1600 -10

ushroom -250 9 268 786 786 786 786 786 786 7

il Testing -20 0 0 0 0 0 0 -20 0

mber/Thinnings

1487.5 0 0 8670 0 0 0 0 0

xes -14983.5 -14983.5 -317.13 -317.13 -317.13 -317.13 -317.13 -317.13 -317.13 -3

sease/Pest

onitoring

-75 -75 -75 -75 -75 -75 -75 -75 -75

uts 0 0 300 0 0 0 0 0 0

rdle Trees 0 -200 0 0 0 0 0 0

nkgo 0 0 -30000 -50 -50 -50 -50 -50 -50 19

uail Introduction 0 0 0 0 150 0 0 0 0

tals (Sum by Year) -15336.00 -15369.50 -29944.13 8893.87 373.87 223.87 223.87 1813.87 223.87 192

o (2% interest) -15336.00 -15068.14 -28781.36 8380.89 345.40 202.77 198.79 1579.08 191.07 161

come/Debt Total

rior Years Added)

-15336.00 -30404.14 -59185.50 -50804.61 -50459.21 -50256.44 -50057.65 -48478.57 -48287.50 -32


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CONTINGENCY PLANS

DISEASE and PATHOGENS

For a forest manager, an unfortunate element of a forests ecosystem is the presence of

pests. In the Pine Barrens, a major concern for the health of our pines is the effects of the

Southern Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis). The beetle is so destructive because of its feeding

behaviorthey feed directly from the phloem tissue, creating winding galleries throughout the

interior and effectively girdle the tree. In addition, they carry blue-stain fungi that blocks water

flow through the xylem, also killing the tree in most cases (Meeker 1995). Because the

eradication of the beetle is near impossible once they have successfully colonized, we will

manage the forest to help prevent a possible outbreak. To do this, the forests will be monitored

for signs of an attack, and in the case of an attack, the affected trees as well as the surrounding

trees will be cut and removed to prevent the beetle from spreading. The specific locations of

confirmed infestations from previous years as well as potential infestation sites are shown in

Appendix A, Map 7.

The oaks of the forest will be susceptible to both Gouty Oak Gall and Bacterial Leaf

Scorch. Gouty oak gall is less serious in that it rarely causes mortality in the tree, but the sight of

galls on oaks can be unpleasant to a strolling hiker, especially to the scrutinizing eyes of Mr.

Phun. The branches containing the galls can be pruned off, which will temporarily remove them

from the tree, but it is likely that they will return after a period of time. Bacterial leaf scorch,

however, is a much more serious threat to a trees health, as it inhibits xylem flow through the

tree, eventually to the point of death (Bentz 2005). In the event of an attack, there is no current

plan available for rehabilitation of the tree, so the most we can do as managers is monitor and


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remove affected branches or entire trees. Eastern Pine Looper (Lambdina pellucidaria) feedson

pitch pines, which make up a significant portion of our forest. The most effective method of

eradication is the use of pesticide treatment, but as stated before the best approach is to prevent

the chance of spreading by monitoring (Species Lambdina). Asian Longhorned Beetles feed on

maple and other hardwoods. The best management practice is to monitor and in the case of an

attack, remove, chip, and burn the affected trees and all potential host trees within a mile

radius of the affected tree or trees. Gypsy moths, which have already affected stands 2 and 3, can

be a serious threat, although their return is cyclical. They feed on almost any kind of tree, so the

entire forest aside from the cedar stand is at risk. We will monitor the forest and look for signs of

a possible outbreak, which include egg masses on the trunk of the tree and defoliation of the

leaves (Gypsy Moth).

WILDFIRE

The prevention of damaging wildfires is a necessary element of any forest management

plan, especially in southern New Jersey. Wildfire management is inherently built into this plan,

as it is a key element of Stoddard-Neel and maintaining naturally fire-adapted ecosystems. Since

each on Mr. Phun's property will have a fire return interval of 5 years, and hazardous ladder fuels

will be removed during the initial thinning procedures, the threat of wildfire is nearly eliminated

in these stands except for extreme circumstances.


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INVASIVE SPECIES

Similar to wildfire risk, the threat of invasive species in these stands is greatly reduced by

the inherent techniques associated with Stoddard-Neel ecological forest management. Frequent

fires often eliminate the opportunity for invasive species to become established, while favoring

native fire-adapted flora and fauna. By restoring this forest to its natural, historical state, threat of

invasive species crowding out local vegetation is minimal. The techniques described in this plan

will produce an overall healthier and more resilient forest, leaving it resistant to invasives,

diseases, and pests.

FINAL CONCLUSIONS

This management plan has been modeled after the Stoddard-Neel ecological forestry

approach in order to meet the needs of our landowner while minimizing cutting as much as

possible and improving overall forest health. By emulating natural disturbances, the forest will

be restored to its natural historical state. A combination of prescribed fires and single-tree

selection will bring this mostly even aged oak-pine forest back to a fire-adapted ecosystem

dominated by Pitch Pines of uneven age classes. Biodiversity will be increased, producing

excellent hunting for Mr. Phun. The forest will become naturally more open, with a mosaic of

different habitat types. This will allow for easy movement throughout all areas of the forest and

provide an excellent hiking and camping environment. The resulting healthier forest will also be

more resistant to diseases, pests, and invasive species.

The economic section of this plan defines several simple methods of gaining income to

meet the requirements of Farmland Tax Assessment in the state of New Jersey. A one acre


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plantation of ginkgo paired with the low-maintenance propagation of shiitake mushrooms and

ginseng root will provide more than the required annual income to qualify. In addition, all of

these crops are simple enough to grow that a fun-loving, successful business man such as Mr.

Phun would have healthy harvests with minimal effort.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Lorax Forestry Services would like to recognize Dr. George Zimmerman for his

invaluable assistance throughout the development of this plan. Also, consulting forester Bob

Williams provided vital information regarding Farmland Tax Assessment application processes

and specific silvicultural techniques applied in this management plan, particularly for Atlantic

White Cedar. Finally, ecological assessments and inventory data for Stands 2, 3, and 4 were

provided by the research of previous ecological forest management groups.


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LITERATURE CITED

ANALYSIS OF THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF CULTIVATING SELECTED BOTANICALS IN NORTH

CAROLINA.Http://www.ntfpinfo.us. Strategic Reports, Inc., 2003. Web. 20 Nov. 2012.

Anderson, Steven, and Dave Marcouiller. "Growing Shiitake Mushrooms." Oklahoma

Cooperative Extension Service. Oklahoma State University, 9 May 2007. Web.

.

Beek, Teris Andr Van. "Cultivation of Ginkgo Biloba on a Large Scale." Ginkgo Biloba.

Australia: Harwood Academic, 2000. 68. Print.

Bentz, Jo-Ann. "USNA/FNPRU: Bacterial Leaf Scorch of Shade Trees." USNA/FNPRU:

Bacterial Leaf Scorch of Shade Trees. The United States National Arboretum, 18 Jan.

2005. Web. .

Conant, Roger. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North

America. Houghton Mifflin. Boston.

Franklin, A. H. 1959. Ginkgo biloba L.: Historical summary and bibliography. Virginia J. Sci., n.

s. 10: 131-176.

Gilman, Edward F., and Dennis G. Watson. "Ginkgo Biloba Autumn Gold." USDA Forestry Services.

Southern Group of State Foresters, Nov. 1993. Web. 20 Nov. 2012.

"Gypsy Moth Management. Ohio State University Extension.Gypsy Moth Management. Ohio

State University Extension. Web. 27 Nov. 2012.

.

Meeker, James R., Wayne N. Dixon, and John L. Foltz. "The Southern Pine Beetle."Entomology

Circular369.March/April (1995): Print.


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"NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife - State Endangered and Threatened Species." NJDEP

Division of Fish & Wildlife - State Endangered and Threatened Species. Web. 08 Nov.

2012. .

"NJ Information Network for Pesticides & Alternative Strategies." Cooperative Extension Pest

Management Office. Rutgers: New Jersey Agricultural Experiement Station, 28 2009.

Web. 20 Nov 2012.

"Owls: Species: Strix." The Owl Pages. Web. 08 Nov. 2012.

.

Parshall, T., and D. R. Foster. "Long-Term History of Vegetation and Fire in Pitch Pine-Oak

Forests on Cape Cod, Massachusetts."Ecology 84.3 (2003): 736-48. Web. 20 Nov. 2012.

Reichenbach, Mike, John Krantz, and Kathleen Preece. "Non-Timber Forest Products and Implications

for Forest Managers."Http://www.extension.umn.edu. The University of Minnesota Extension

Service, 2000. Web. 20 Nov. 2012.

Rodewald, Amanda D., and Margaret C. Brittingham. "Ohio State University Extension Fact

Sheet."Incorporating Wildlife Needs into Forest Management Plans, W-1-2001. Ohio

State University, 2001. Web. 21 Nov. 2012. .

Scheller, Robert M., and Steve Van Tuyl. "Simulation of Forest Change in the New Jersey Pine

Barrens under Current and Pre-colonial Conditions."Forest Ecology and Management

255.5 (2008): 1489-500. Print.

Silvics Manual: Conifers. Volume 1: USDA Forest Service.

Silvics Manual:Hardwoods. Volume 2: USDA Forest Service.

Snyder, S. A. 1991. Odocoileus virginianus. In: Fire Effects Information System

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,

Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer).


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Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [2012, November 20].

Snyder, S. A. 1992. Meleagris gallopavo. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online].




Snyder, S. A. 1991. Colinus virginianus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online].




South Jersey Forest Research. Stand 6 Ecological Assessment. November 6, 2010. Richard

Stockton College of New Jersey, Ecological Forest Management Course.

"Species Lambdina Pellucidaria - Yellow-headed Looper - Hodges#6892." Welcome to

BugGuide.Net! - BugGuide.Net. Web. 27 Nov. 2012.

.

Szymanski, Marcella, and Deborah Hill. "Potential Profits from a Small-Scale Shiitake Enterprise."

Http://www.ca.uky.edu. University of Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Nov. 2003. Web. 20

Nov. 2012.

Using Ecological-Niche Modeling to Predict Barred Owl Invasions with Implications for Spotted

Owl Conservation, A. Townsend Peterson and C. Richard Robins, Conservation Biology,

pages 1161-1165, Volume 17, No. 4, August 2003.

Vaughan, Ritchie C. Growing American Ginseng (Panax Quinquefolius) in Forestlands. Virginia

Cooperative Extension, Print.

Way, Albert G. "Burned to Be Wild: Herbert Stoddard and the Roots of Ecological Conservation

in the Southern Longleaf Pine Forest."Environmental History 11.3 (2011): 500-26. Print.


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Wildlife Habitat Council. Wild Turkey (Meleagris Gallopavo). Washington, DC: Wildlife

Habitat Council, 1999. Print.

"Woods-Cultivated versus Wild-Simulated Forest Farming Methods: Costs and Revenues

Compared."Http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and

Natural Resources, 2007. Web. 20 Nov. 2012.


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Appendix: Maps

Map 1: Aerial stand delineation, 2008 imagery


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Map 2:Aerial stand delineation, 1930s imagery


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Map 3: Historical 100-acre fires


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Map 4: Soil types within all stands


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Map 5: Elevation


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Map 6: Locations of silvicultural prescriptions. The solid green area shows the 1-acre ginkgo

plot, and surrounding blue dots are locations of ginseng plantings. Areas outlined in white show

the delineations of 10 prescribed fire patches, exempting swampy/wet areas.


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Map 7: Locations of confirmed and probable Southern Pine Beetle infestations

lorax forestry services management plan

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