How
do foresters even start to understand how to manage the forest?
First, they must know about the trees in their forest before they can decide
how best to manage the forest.
To begin, foresters use maps and aerial photos (a photo taken
from an airplane) to get an overall view of the forest. They
can use maps and photos to locate roads, rivers and creeks,
property boundaries and tree stands that are different ages.
After studying maps and photos, the forester needs to get a
closer look from the ground at areas of the forest and take
a timber inventory, just like a storekeeper takes inventory
of his or her shop. This is called a timber cruise.
Take A Look At Different Forest Conditions
A Young Stand
A forester will plant anywhere from 300 to 1,000 trees per acre depending on the particular area and tree species. Based on experience, the forester knows that there will be a certain number of trees that will not survive.
Usually, nine out of 10 trees survive during the first five
years after planting. Foresters use research and historical
information to estimate the number of trees that will grow per
acre in a forest that grows back naturally.
It’s
Too Crowded!
Sometimes the forest gets too crowded and the trees do not
grow well. It can happen when the trees are first planted,
and grass and weeds crowd the new trees. It can happen when
the trees get larger and compete with each other for water
and nutrients from the soil. Foresters may decide to plow
the ground before planting just as a farmer does for crops
to help the trees grow better.
They also may decide to thin the trees. When you plant flower
or vegetable seeds, you often get more sprouts than will be
able to survive, so you weed them out and keep the healthiest
looking plants. The same is true of trees, but it usually
takes several years for them to start competing with each
other. Foresters remove a portion of the trees so the remaining
trees will grow faster. Usually the trees that are removed
are not wasted, but are used to make paper.
An Older Stand
For an older stand of trees, a forester will need to know how well the trees are growing and how healthy they are. They will measure the diameter
and height of the trees and check the age of the trees. They
also look to see how closely the crowns or tops are growing together.
The forester then may decide that this stand is ready to be
harvested to make paper and wood products.
How
do foresters even start to understand how to manage the forest?
First, they must know about the trees in their forest before they can decide
how best to manage the forest.
