Envirothon Envirothon Forestry StationForestry Station

James MillerJames Miller

Harbison State Forest ManagerHarbison State Forest Manager

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Identify common SC trees without a keyIdentify common SC trees without a key Identify specific species using a dichotomous Identify specific species using a dichotomous

keykey Understand how wildlife relates to: forest Understand how wildlife relates to: forest

species, age, structure and other aspects of species, age, structure and other aspects of forest communitiesforest communities

Understand basic forest management concepts Understand basic forest management concepts such as: harvesting techniques, regeneration such as: harvesting techniques, regeneration methods, and insect and disease control methods, and insect and disease control

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Be familiar with the use of a Biltmore Be familiar with the use of a Biltmore stick/cruisers stick, compass and other forestry stick/cruisers stick, compass and other forestry toolstools

Understand the value of trees in the Understand the value of trees in the urban/suburban settings and the factors urban/suburban settings and the factors affecting their health and survivalaffecting their health and survival

Understand how following Best Management Understand how following Best Management Practices will help protect soil and water Practices will help protect soil and water qualityquality

Tree Identification Tree Identification

Knowing the parts of a Knowing the parts of a leaf and twig is leaf and twig is paramount paramount

A Dichotomous KeyA Dichotomous Key1.Trees with needlelike or scalelike leaves (conifers) 21. Trees with broad flat leaves of many shapes and

patterns (broadleaves) 9

2. Leaves needlelike 32. Leaves scalelike, sometimes prickly on young trees

Eastern redcedar

3. Leaves in bundles (fascicles) of 5 or fewer (pines) 43. Leaves not in bundles or clusters 84. Leaves in bundles of 2 and 3 5

4. Leaves in bundles of 3 65. Leaves short (2-4 inches), cone small (2-3 inches)

Shortleaf pine5. Leaves long (6-10 inches), cone large (4-6 inches)

Slash pine

6. Leaves medium (5-9 inches) 76. Leaves very long (10- 14 inches), cone very large (8-

10 inches) Longleaf pine7. Cones small (2-3 inches) Pond pine

7. Cones medium (4-6 inches) Loblolly pine

Silvicultural Practices Silvicultural Practices Final Harvesting TechniquesFinal Harvesting Techniques

Seed TreeSeed Tree

Shelter WoodShelter Wood

Silvicultural Practices Silvicultural Practices Final Harvesting TechniquesFinal Harvesting Techniques

Clear Cut in StripsClear Cut in Strips

Silvicultural Practices Silvicultural Practices Regeneration TechniquesRegeneration Techniques

Natural RegenerationNatural Regeneration

Seed-in-placeSeed-in-place

Seedlings-in-placeSeedlings-in-place

Artificial RegenerationArtificial Regeneration

Planting seedlings in rows Planting seedlings in rows using a set spacing (8’x8’)using a set spacing (8’x8’)

Silvicultural PracticesSilvicultural PracticesFireFire

Prescribed Fire is the most Prescribed Fire is the most cost effective tool a forest cost effective tool a forest manager hasmanager has

Controls fuel buildupsControls fuel buildups Supports fire depended Supports fire depended

ecosystems (longleaf/ ecosystems (longleaf/ wiregrass) wiregrass)

Promotes new growth on the Promotes new growth on the forest floorforest floor

Wildfires can cause lose of Wildfires can cause lose of timber value timber value

Smoke can cause health Smoke can cause health concernsconcerns

Uncontrolled fires can Uncontrolled fires can threaten the wildland urban threaten the wildland urban interfaceinterface

SC Best Management PracticesSC Best Management PracticesBMPsBMPs

Main focus is to reduce erosion that affects Main focus is to reduce erosion that affects water qualitywater quality

Stream Side Management Zone (SMZs) are a Stream Side Management Zone (SMZs) are a buffer around streams, ponds or lakes that help buffer around streams, ponds or lakes that help reduce the amount of pollutants entering an reduce the amount of pollutants entering an aquatic system aquatic system

Primary and Secondary SMZsPrimary and Secondary SMZs Stream CrossingsStream Crossings

Forestry and WildlifeForestry and Wildlife

Different silvicultural Different silvicultural treatments change the treatments change the habitat available for habitat available for forest wildlifeforest wildlife

Wildlife species have Wildlife species have different habitat different habitat requirementsrequirements

A forest can be A forest can be managed to promote or managed to promote or deter specific species of deter specific species of wildlifewildlife

e.g. Wild Turkeys like a e.g. Wild Turkeys like a open mature forest. A open mature forest. A forest can be thinned forest can be thinned down to 40-30 mature down to 40-30 mature trees/acre to promote trees/acre to promote turkey habitatturkey habitat

Turkeys like an open Turkeys like an open forest due to more forest due to more sunlight hitting the sunlight hitting the ground promoting ground promoting growth of seed growth of seed producing grassesproducing grasses

The Urban ForestThe Urban Forest

Urban trees provide more benefits than just the Urban trees provide more benefits than just the value of the treevalue of the tree

Urban trees shade houses and streetsUrban trees shade houses and streets All trees, including those in the urban forest All trees, including those in the urban forest

help fight the effects of global warming help fight the effects of global warming

Current TopicCurrent Topic

References References

Managing the Family Forest in the SouthManaging the Family Forest in the South

Tree Identification for South Carolina Tree Identification for South Carolina

http://www.state.sc.us/forest/reftree.htm http://www.state.sc.us/forest/reftree.htm

ReferencesReferences

South Carolina’s Best Management PracticesSouth Carolina’s Best Management Practices

http://www.state.sc.us/forest/rbfrc.htmhttp://www.state.sc.us/forest/rbfrc.htm

Natural Role of FireNatural Role of Fire

http://www.fldof.com/publications/fires_naturhttp://www.fldof.com/publications/fires_natural_role.htmlal_role.html

ReferencesReferences

Making and Using Your Own Cruiser StickMaking and Using Your Own Cruiser Stick Envirothon Training Tree Identification/ Tree Envirothon Training Tree Identification/ Tree

KeyKey Urban Tree Information Urban Tree Information Forest Management and WildlifeForest Management and Wildlife