Contents:
1 Site Preparation
2 Seedlings & Planting
3 Herbicide Application
4 Plantation Tending
5 Pre-Commercial Thinning
6 Pre-Merchantable Thinning
7 Semi-Commercial Thinning
8 Release Cutting/Residual Removal
9 Uniform Shelterwood Harvest
10 Crop Tree Release in Tolerant Hardwood
11 White Birch Thinning
12 Improvement Harvest
· Recommended first step prior to any other
work being done, especially for owners with no previous experience.
· Important tool for planning work activities and basic cornerstone
of sound management.
· Strongly recommended for woodlot operations being considered
for
management bonuses. It may become a requirement.
· Pre-requisite for entry into Absentee Owner & Harvest
Supervision Programs.
TWO OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE:
1. Woodlot Management Plan
A written over-view of the woodlot to be used as a guide in
making appropriate
management decisions consistent with the landowners objectives.
2. Woodlot Management Plan
with Inventory
A written over-view of the woodlot which includes a timber inventory,
and a five year operating plan
that can be used to schedule and carry out appropriate management decisions
consistent with the owners objectives.
Many woodlot owners have been actively managing their woodlot properties
for years, in some cases even generations.
The objective of the "Managed Woodlot Program" is to recognize these
woodlots under management.
Three principles are looked at to determine whether a woodlot qualifies
as a managed woodlot.
The preparing of a planting site by treating the slash, reducing the
duff layer, and/or
reducing competition to enable sufficient numbers of trees to be planted.
This can be done
by manual, mechanical, and/or chemical means.
The purchase and establishment of acceptable numbers of well-planted trees on approved planting sites.
The releasing of planted trees by applying herbicide to control competing vegetation.
The releasing of well-established plantations from competing trees and vegetation
by the cutting of the competing vegetation.
Spacing of naturally regenerated, dense softwood, hardwood, or mixedwood
stands in the Sapling Stage to favour the best trees, achieve a uniform
distribution
of stems, and enhance the growth of selected crop trees.
Spacing of naturally regenerated, dense softwood, hardwood, or mixedwood
stands
in the Polewood Stage to favour the best trees, achieve a uniform distribution
of stems,
and enhance the growth of selected crop trees.
The thinning of dense immature softwood favouring the best trees to
promote quality,
improve species composition, enhance the growth of selected crop trees,
and salvage
products which would be lost.
8. Release Cutting/Residual Removal
The felling and removal of an overstory from a two-storied stand where
the
overstory is suppressing or threatening to suppress a young stand of
desirable trees not past the sapling stage.
9. Uniform Shelterwood Harvest
The thinning of a stand in order to improve conditions for the establishment
of natural
regeneration and/or promote the development of existing regeneration
while maintaining
the shade cover of much of the original stand, and at the same time
salvage wood which would
be lost to mortality.
10. Crop Tree Release in Tolerant Hardwood
The spacing of healthy, tolerant hardwood stands in the immature stage
to encourage the
rapid growth of the higher quality trees in the stand.
The spacing of white birch stands in the polewood to immature stages
to increase diameter
growth and improve the overall stand quality.
The removal of selected stems in a stand to improve its overall quality
and growth rate by
removing trees of poor quality, undesired species, and/or trees impeding
the development
of more desirable trees in the stand.
Any stand which does not qualify for one of the identified treatments,
but which can be treated using a
silviculturally sound method, may have a written harvest prescription
prepared for it.
To promote improvements in forest management practices on private woodlots,
some companies
offer management bonuses as financial incentives. Bonuses are intended
to offset the extra cost of
carefully planned and executed logging. Forest products that qualify
for the bonus will also be given
priority for delivery to the mill.
How to Qualify
In deciding whether a woodlot qualifies for the bonus, three questions
are asked:
Is there a long-term management commitment on the part of the owner?
Is there evidence of planning in the operation of the woodlot?
Are the practices on the ground consistent with the sound forestry
practices and environmentally acceptable?
ELEMENTS TO CONSIDER
Management Plan and Management History
· Is there a long-term management commitment on the part of
the owner?
· How long has the property been owned, what is the history,
what are the owner’s
-intentions, is the owner re-investing in the woodlot?
Regeneration and Silviculture
· Are all areas of the woodlot adequately stocked? If not, are
there plans to address the situation?
· Has planting or thinning being carried out? If so, are plantations
being maintained?
Harvest Practices
Are the oldest and worst stands being treated first?
Is the harvest method appropriate for the stand conditions?
Has regeneration and residual trees been protected during the harvest?
Are broken or damaged trees cut clear off and all merchantable trees
removed to landing?
Utilization
Are trees limbed out and topped at 3"-4"?
Is sorting of product for highest end value taking place?
Roads, Trails and Boundary Lines
· Are roads and trails completely cut out before construction?
Are trees bulldozed?
· Is adequate drainage provided and do roads and trails avoid
wet areas.
· Is there access to the whole woodlot?
· Are boundary lines well marked out and respected?
Environmental and Aesthetics
· Do stream crossings comply with regulations? Are buffer strips
in place?
· Is operation free of garbage and litter? Is oil disposed of
properly?
· Is wildlife being considered in the operation and management
of the woodlot?
An operation will not necessarily be rejected for bonus if it does
not meet all the above criteria. These are
guidelines intended to be targets to work towards. The most important
consideration is that a serious effort is
being made to do a good job.
All sites must be inspected by field staff prior to start of harvest.
HARVEST SUPERVISION PROGRAM
For owners who are not able to supervise the harvest of their woodlot
and want to make sure that
the job is done properly and they are paid for all wood moved.
Elements
· You select the contractor and execute an agreement with them.
· A management plan for the woodlot must be done.
· YSC monitors the harvest to ensure that it complies with what
is agreed upon by you
and the contractor, and what is specified in the management plan.
· Woodlot owner and contractor will be advised if problems arise.
· All work is done on an hourly basis.
ABSENTEE OWNER PROGRAM
For owners who do not wish or are unable to take active part in the
actual on the ground management of their
woodlot.
Elements
· Woodlot will be managed by YSC.
· A management plan will be prepared.
· Planned activities conform to management plan.
· 5 year commitment.
YSC Duties
· Tendering of work and selection of contractor.
· Preparation of Timber Sale Agreement.
· Layout of harvest blocks.
· Tree marking (where necessary)
· Supervison of all management activities.
· Collection and payment of stumpage.
· Filing of Annual Activity Report.