Key to Your Future!Forests

Sustainable

A LANDOWNER’S GUIDE TO

Alabama Sustainable Forestry InitiativeImplementation Committee

Montgomery, AlabamaFall 2015

Revised Summer 2018

TO THE FOREST LANDOWNERS OF ALABAMA …Sustainable Forests, Key to Your Future, contains basic guidelines devel-

oped to help you manage your forest resource. Listed on the inside back

cover are organizations and agencies you may contact for information

and technical assistance as well as for referrals to practicing forestry

professionals who can assist in making management decisions. Many

of these organizations also have publications addressing a wide range

of forestry-related topics. You are encouraged to contact them for advice

and questions on forest management.

For questions regarding forest activities relative to standards of the

Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), please contact inconsistentpractices

reporting@alaforestry.org. For more information regarding the SFI

program, visit us online at www.sfiprogram.org.

To express concerns about specific sites email:inconsistentpracticesreporting@alaforestry.org

SFI-01116

SFI-01273

Sustainable Forestry Iinitiative®, SFI®, and the SFI logos areregistered marks of the Sustainable Forestry Board, Inc.

Photo credits:Page: cover, Tim WestPage ii: flicker, Terry HartleyPage 1: golden eagle ©Bigstockphoto.com Page 3: Gully Branch Tree Farm, Earl and Wanda BarrsPage 4: chart reading, Mike Padgett of PadginationPage 5: kudzu, Chris Evans, The University of Georgia, www.insectimages.org; cogongrass, privet flowers and berries, Dr. Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University; emerald ash borer, Debbie Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org; Chineseprivet, James H. MillerPage 7: Swamp Creek, Coosa County, Joel Glover; aerial, Buchanan Forest Management; contour tillage from Bibb County,Alabama, Courtesy RMSPage 8: forest track and green road, WestRock; tree cutting, Sam DuvallPage 9: planting, Mike Padgett of Padgination; pitcher plants, courtesy Ashley P. SmithPage 10: seedlings, Mike Padgett of PadginationPage 11: fire, Keith TassinPage 12: gopher tortoise, Mike Thorn, the Molpus Woodlands GroupPage 13: loblolly plantation, Gray SkipperInside back cover: Mike Padgett of Padgination

ContentsThe Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) ...............................................................1

Your Forests…Your Future! .....................................................................................2

Forest Management Planning ..................................................................................3Identify Specific Management Objectives and Goals..............................................3Inventory Forest Resources and Property..............................................................3Evaluate Management Objective Alternatives and Tradeoffs ..................................3Prepare Final Management Plan.............................................................................4Implement the Plan................................................................................................4Threatened, Endangered or Imperiled—What Does It All Mean?...........................4Invasive Exotic Plants and Animals........................................................................5Control Measures...................................................................................................6Reduction of Wildfire Risk .....................................................................................6Forestry Aesthetics.................................................................................................6

Alabama’s Best Management Practices ..................................................................7Streamside Management Zones.............................................................................8Stream Crossings...................................................................................................8Logging Roads.......................................................................................................8Timber Harvesting..................................................................................................8Forest Biomass Utilization......................................................................................9Reforestation..........................................................................................................9Federally Mandated BMPs for Wetlands ................................................................9

Reforestation and Afforestation .............................................................................10Uneven-Aged Management for Hardwood ...........................................................10Even-Aged Hardwood and Mixed Stands Management........................................11Even-Aged Natural Pine Management ..................................................................11Even-Aged Plantation Management .....................................................................11Maintaining Biological Diversity ...........................................................................12Characteristics of Special Sites ............................................................................12Forests with Exceptional Conservation Values .....................................................12

Our Forests…Our Future ........................................................................................13

Alabama Tree Farm Program.................................................................................14

Sources of Technical Assistance ...................................................Inside Back Cover

LEARN MOREwww.sfiprogram.org

The Northern Flicker, also known as the yellowhammer, is the official bird of Alabama. Designated as such in 1927, the yellowhammer has been asymbol of Alabama since the Civil War. Alabama is the onlystate that chose a woodpecker as the official state bird.

SFI-01116

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative®

The SFI Standard is based on principles

and measures promoting sustainable forest

management and considers all forest values.

Growing Our Futureunique qualities.

� Use and promote among other forestlandowners sustainable forestry practices that are both scientificallycredible and economically, environ-mentally and socially responsible.

� Comply with applicable federal, pro-vincial, state, and local forestry andrelated environmental laws, statutes, and regulations.

� Support advances in sustainable forestmanagement through forestry research,science and technology.

� Improve the practice of sustainableforestry through training and educationprograms.

� Broaden the practice of sustainableforestry on all lands through communityinvolvement, socially responsible prac-tices, and through recognition andrespect of indigenous peoples’ rights and traditional forest-related knowledge.

� Broaden the understanding of forest certification to the SFI Standards bydocumenting certification audits andmaking findings publicly available.

� Continually improve the practice of forestmanagement, and to monitor, measure,and report performance in achieving the commitment to sustainable forestry.

� Avoid wood from illegally logged forests when procuring fiber outside of North America, and to avoid sourcingfiber from countries without effectivesocial laws.

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The future of our forests and sharedquality of life depend on strength-ening the vital links between

healthy forests, responsible purchasing, and sustainable communities.

The following SFI Principles apply tothe SFI 2015-2019 Forest ManagementStandard and SFI 2015-2019 FiberSourcing Standard. SFI participatingcompanies commit to and promote theprinciples.� Practice sustainable forestry to meetthe needs of the present without com-promising the ability of future genera-tions to meet their own needs.

� Provide for regeneration, and to pro-tect forest and soil productivity, toprotect forests from undesirable levelsof wildfire, pests, diseases, invasiveexotic plants and animals and otherdamaging agents.

� Conform with best management prac-tices to protect water bodies and riparian zones.

� Manage forests in ways that protectand promote biological diversity,including animal and plant species,wildlife habitats, and ecological ornatural community types.

� Manage the visual impacts of forestoperations, and to provide recreation-al opportunities for the public.

� Manage lands that are ecologically,geologically or culturally important ina manner that takes into account their

The SFI Standards are a proof

point of responsible forestry in

North America and the imple-

mentation of these standards

has brought about positive

change by protecting water

quality, wildlife habitat, species

at risk and forests with excep-

tional conservation value. Over

the years, however, SFI has also

become a leader in research,

conservation and community

engagement. As our reach and

influence grows, the SFI Board

will continue to explore ways

for SFI to have an even

greater impact on shaping

the future forest.

— Craig Blair, Chair of the SFI

Board of Directors and

President and CEO,

Resource Management

Service LLC

69% of Alabama is

covered in forest

You are one of more than 440,000non-industrial, private landown-ers in Alabama who own approxi-

mately 80% of the state’s 23 millionforested acres. The forest industry andinvestment firms own 14% with variousgovernment agencies owning theremaining 6%.

Countless people around the worlddepend daily on the products from

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Your Forests…Your Future!

Who Owns Alabama’s Forests?

property belonging to you and otherforest landowners. This resource drivesAlabama’s forest products industry,which has a $21.4 billion annual eco-nomic impact on the state and producesmore than 122,000 jobs directly or indirectly.

The health of Alabama’s forestsaffects family members and friends.Landowners should be proud of their

Hardwoods43%

Pines43%

Mixed 14%

Private Landowners

80%Forest Industry & Investment

Firms14%

Public Lands6%

Source: Forest Inventory and Analysis Data, 2014

forest, not just for the impact it has onthe economy of the state but for othervalues as well. The public is increas-ingly coming to realize the value offorests for such dividends as fish andwildlife, water quality, recreation, andtranquility. Careful planning by land-owners like you, who care about con-serving the forest for future genera-tions, provides numerous forest benefits.

“To waste, to destroy, our

natural resources, to skin and

exhaust the land instead of

using it so as to increase its

usefulness, will result in

undermining in the days of

our children the very prosper-

ity which we ought by right

to hand down to them

amplified and developed.”

—Theodore Roosevelt,

Message to Congress,

December 3, 1907

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Successful, and profitable, forest resource management calls for defining yourobjectives (e.g., will it be timber, wildlife habitat, hunting, fishing, hiking,wildflowers, scenery, etc., or a combination of several of these?) and then

developing a written plan for meeting them. The basic ingredients needed for preparing a sound forest management plan follow.

Forest Management Planning

The American Tree Farm System provides tools and information to help Tree Farm-

ers and woodland owners keep forests healthy and productive. Learn more about

Tree Farm, the sign of good forest stewardship, at www.treefarmsystem.org. Family

forest certification is also available through the American Tree Farm System.

Identify Specific ManagementObjectives and Goals

Begin by asking yourself these questions: � Why do I own forestland?� What do I want from my land?� What other things should I be considering?Forestland may be managed for mul-

tiple uses including: recreation, wildlife,timber, aesthetics, water quality, or perhaps historical values. You need to decide right away which are mostimportant to you and your family.Which of these you choose may call fortradeoffs. For example, if recreation is tobe a primary objective, you may have tobe satisfied with less income from tim-ber. While you should not attempt tomanage a single acre of forestland for allobjectives, it is possible to manage oneor more tracts of land to meet multipleobjectives.

Inventory Forest Resources and Property

In order to manage something, youmust first determine what you have. Aninventory is key to evaluating and adopt-ing planning alternatives for your property.

In the inventory, identify existing forestresources and related values such as tim-ber, wildlife habitat and streams. Also,identify invasive species which couldnegatively affect your timber and wildlifevalues. Mark on your property map for-est stands and significant wildlife habi-tats, landform features (including roadsand streams), species or communities ofconcern (i.e., threatened or endangered)as well as historically or culturally unique areas.

Evaluate Management ObjectiveAlternatives and Tradeoffs

Important to your management plan’sevaluation process is identification ofthe tradeoffs that may be required if youare attempting to achieve several man-agement objectives concurrently. Beginby listing each objective along with itsbenefits, cost to implement, and how itwould impact others under considera-tion. While it is hard to put monetaryvalues on factors like aesthetics and bio-diversity, there is no doubt they eachhave a value to you and society. Thisstep will help you gain valuable insightinto the preparation of your final forestmanagement plan.

ranked as imperiled nationally, regional-ly or locally. The common denominatorfor these rankings is a loss of habitatlocally and/or internationally.

The more familiar threatened andendangered classifications have their ori-gins from the Endangered Species Act(ESA). The term “endangered species”means any species which is in danger ofextinction throughout all or a significantportion of its range. The term “threat-ened species” means any species which islikely to become an endangered specieswithin the foreseeable future throughoutall or a significant portion of its range.Once listed, a species is afforded the fullrange of protections including prohibi-tions on killing, harming or otherwise“taking” a species. The term “take” meansto harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot,wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or toattempt to engage in any such conduct.

There are also non-government orga-nizations that have developed their ownclassifications for plants, wildlife andcommunities. NatureServe’s global con-servation status is one example andincludes rankings of critically imperiled(G1), imperiled (G2), and vulnerable(G3). The World Conservation Unionalso classifies species and communitiesglobally as vulnerable, endangered andcritically endangered. The AlabamaNatural Heritage Program is linked tothe NatureServe program and classifiesspecies and communities within Alabama. Additional information pertaining to protection and sensitivity towards thesespecies is available

Prepare Final Management Plan You should now be ready to prepare

— in writing — your final forest man-agement plan. Be sure to include in yourplan a timetable of forest managementactivities along with itemized expensesand income anticipated in achievingyour planned objectives. Your planshould also leave room for future modi-fications to meet changes in objectives,financial needs or in the resource itself.

Implement the PlanNo plan can

be consideredcomplete untilit is put intoaction. If you’veproperlyresearched yourobjectives and

options you are now ready to take thatimportant last step along the trail to sus-tainable forest management. If you wishto have your plan reviewed by a forestryprofessional, check the agencies listedon the inside back cover for referrals.

Note: Many government financial assistanceprogram applications require a similar thoughless detailed management plan.

Threatened, Endangered or Imperiled—What Does It All Mean?

If you own or work with forestland,you have probably heard of threatenedor endangered species. You may haveheard of some new classifications likeimperiled or critically imperiled species.These can be specific plant or animalspecies or whole communities that are

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Things To Consider When Marketing Your Timber � Decide what your goals and objectivesare for your forestland.

� Have an active management plan includ-ing reforestation. Well-planned timbersales can reduce regeneration costs.

� Use qualified resource professionals.(See inside back cover for Sources ofTechnical Assistance.) Under Alabamastate law, only professional forestersregistered with the state of Alabama orforesters under the direct supervision ofregistered foresters may giveforest management advice,such as reforestation, culturalpractices or thinning, and har-vesting practices. Many log-gers complete the ProfessionalLogging Manager Programwhich develops the skills andknowledge of participants in areas likeforest management and silviculture.

� Have a thorough, written contract or tim-ber deed that spells out all the terms,agreements, payment schedules, etc. Ifyours is a pay-as-cut sale, require a reg-ular schedule of receiving payments andscale tickets (such as weekly). Visit sitesthe buyer has harvested and is harvest-ing if you are not familiar with their work.

� Learn about Alabama’s Best Manage-ment Practices (BMPs) that describeways to protect the site and reduce soil erosion during logging operations.Include BMPs in your timber sale con-tract. Landowners are ultimately respon-sible for voluntary BMP compliance.

� Inform adjoining landowners of any pro-posed timber sales to make certain thatboundary and access road locations areacceptable. Have your property lines wellmarked and maintained. Any interior saleline should also be clearly established.

Download a copy of the Alabama ForestryCommission’s brochure titled “Selling YourTimber” at www.forestry.state.al.us

To learn more about this subject, access the species and communities listed bythese organizations by visiting the following web sites:� The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov/endangered/listing/� NatureServe http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/� The Alabama Natural Heritage Program http://www.alnhp.org/� The World Conservation Union http://www.iucnredlist.org/� World Resources Institute www.wri.org� The Nature Conservancy www.nature.org

LEARN MORE

in the Maintaining Biological Diversitysection of this guide.

Invasive Exotic Plants and Animals

Invasive exotic plants and animals arethose that are found outside their nativerange; they can potentially have negativeecological, financial and social impacts.Invasive species pose a threat to the sur-vival and reproduction of native speciesand can decrease forest productivity,complicate forest management anddegrade biodiversity, wildlife habitatand the visual value of your forest.

Invasive species are typically able tothrive due to geographic and climaticconditions being similar to those oftheir native range and to the lack oftheir natural predators of animals anddiseases. Effective control can only beaccomplished when you know whatspecies to be on the lookout for andhow to identify the species or theirimpacts. There are hundreds maybeeven thousands of invasive species

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In Alabama, the Alabama ForestryCommission strives to prevent forestfires through their firefighting efforts,advanced wildland firefighter training,education/outreach, and through part-nership with the State Fire Marshal toinvestigate/enforce burning laws. Pro-tecting Alabama’s forested areas fromwildfire is the number-one priority ofthe Alabama Forestry Commission. Byactively managing your forestland, youhelp reduce the number of forests andnatural resources at risk to wildfire.

Forestry AestheticsAppearance, a significant characteris-

tic of forests and forestry operations,may not always be aesthetically pleasingto everyone. These operations oftenlead to misconceptions of sustainabilityand leave negative opinions with manyof the landowners and the forestry com-munity. There are a few things as alandowner you can do to lessen thevisual impact of these operations andimprove the image of forest management.

Considerations During HarvestingAvoid the appearance of large clearcuts

that are visible from urban areas andmajor travel routes by using buffers, nat-ural terrain changes, or leaving areas ofunharvested trees between clearcut areas.Buffer widths can vary depending on theamount of traffic. On thinning harvests,avoid clearcut rows leading directly totravel routes lessening the visual impactof the operation. Logging slash shouldbe placed away from visible areas. Dis-pose of all trash and litter properly.

Intermediate ConsiderationsFor mechanical site preparation, fol-

low land contours and minimize the sizeand number of piles and windrows. Whenpreparing for prescribed burning, notifyadjoining residents prior to the burn.Monitor weather conditions and possi-ble smoke impacts closely before, dur-ing and after the burn utilizing times ofgood smoke dispersal. Also, use roadsigns that notify the public to be cautious of smoke hazards.

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across the U.S. Some of the more common ones are listed here. Plants—cogongrass, kudzu, Japanese climbingfern, tallow tree (popcorn tree), non-native privets, water hyacinth. Animals—gypsy moth, emerald ash borer, Asianlonghorned beetle, hemlock woollyadelgid, sirex woodwasp, feral hogs.Microorganisms—white pine blister rust,sudden oak death, Dutch elm disease,American chestnut blight.

Invasive Species Control MeasuresAn integrated pest management pro-

gram is the best approach to controlinvasive species and involves the following:� Preventing introduction� Detecting early and responding rapidly� Surveilling, controlling, and managing� Rehabilitating and restoring� Maintaining forest health and vigor� Using resource professionals

Preventing the introduction of non-native species is by far the most effec-tive and economical control measure,therefore you should have an effective,ongoing surveillance program in place.If an invasive species should get estab-lished, the second most important con-trol measure is a rapid response toprevent spread and eradicate the unwel-come competitor. Depending on the

invasive species and particular circum-stances, control measures can involveone or a combination of methods—mechanical (e.g., hand-picking, traps,tillage), biological (e.g., promoting ben-eficial predators), chemical (e.g., pesti-cides, herbicides). Following this, it maybe beneficial to establish and/or releasefast-growing native plants that can out-compete any surviving invasive plantswhile preventing soil erosion.

Maintaining a healthy forest throughsound forest management practices willincrease your forest’s ability to combatinvasive species. Contact a resourceprofessional to assist you in learningmore about invasive species, their iden-tification and control.

Reduction of Wildfire RiskActive forest management improves

forest health by not only reducing therisk associated with insects and diseasesin a forest but also with wildfire risk.

Tree density, understory species com-position, accumulation of dead fuels/litter layer, lack of well-established fire-breaks, and arson all contribute to dam-aging wildfires. By utilizing prescribedburns, landowners safely apply a naturalprocess, ensure ecosystem health, andreduce wildfire risk.

For more information on invasives, visit� Alabama Forestry Commission—www.forestry.state.al.us/ResourceSheets.aspx

� Center for Invasive Species—www.invasive.org� U.S. Forest Service—www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/management/fhm-invasives.shtml

� Alabama Invasive Plant Council—www.se-eppc.org/alabama

LEARN MORE

The Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal, nicknamed SouthWRAP,allows users in Alabama and 12 other Southern states to identify wildfirethreats based on landscape characteristics, historical fire occurrence, weath-er conditions, and terrain. Additional resources are available to help imple-ment wildfire prevention practices. For more information, visitwww.southernwildfirerisk.com.

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Alabama’s Best Management Practices

In a cooperative effort with the Alabama Department of Environ-mental Management and the Alabama Forestry Commission, theAlabama forest industry has developed and endorsed Best Manage-

ment Practices (BMPs), basically a set of guidelines aimed at reducingwater pollution caused by forest operations.

With the exception of certain federally mandated guidelines forwetlands, BMPs are voluntary. However, the Clean Water Act of 1987mandates that forest operations be conducted so as not to impactwater quality. In other words, while neither landowner, logger norforester can be required to follow BMPs, should a water quality viola-tion be committed, all can be held responsible. Adhering to BMPs sub-stantially reduces the impact of forest operations on the environment.

Protection of the forest resource (lakes, streams and other water-ways) is always a concern of the responsible forest landowner. Certainharvesting and related forestryactivities (e.g., stream crossings,logging roads, skid trails and log-ging decks) can pollute nearbystreams with soil, silt and wooddebris. In a properly managed for-est, sediment is effectively filteredthus producing clean water.

You and your logger can makesure you protect the resources onyour land by observing Alabama’sbest management practices.

Streamside Management ZonesA Streamside Management Zone, or

SMZ, is an area adjacent to a body ofwater where either no harvesting takesplace or a limited amount of timber isremoved and disturbance to the soil andground cover is minimized. Somelandowners refer to SMZs as “buffer” or“filter” strips. SMZs play a key role inreducing sedimentation by providingnatural filters which keep soil and otherpotential pollutants from the streams.SMZs help maintain constant watertemperatures by preventing full sunlightfrom reaching the water’s surface. Addi-tionally, they provide wildlife habitatcorridors.

Stream CrossingsCrossing of streams by roads and skid

trails constitutes, potentially, a majorsource of water pollution and whereverpossible should be restricted. Further,stream crossings cause a break in the treecanopy and the filtration strip providedby your Streamside Management Zones.When a stream must be crossed either bybridge, culvert or fords, take care to stabi-lize the stream banks. To minimize traveldistance from one side of the stream tothe other, make sure roads and skid trailsare at right angles to the stream bank.

Logging Roads

Logging roads are another potentialsource of water pollution. Proper roadplanning will minimize stream pollution,cut maintenance costs and reduce theamount of land taken out of production.Good road design will divert water from the roadway and disperse it intoadjacent vegetation, thus reducing soilmovement and erosion. You shouldbuild your roads at least 50 feet fromany flowing stream.

Timber Harvesting

Properly planned, your timber can beharvested using methods that minimizethe impact on water quality. Throughplanning you can ensure that road con-struction in the harvested area is kept

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Landowners should work closely with their resource professionals toensure that this type of harvest is rightfor their property and that the activitiesfollow BMPs.

ReforestationReforestation by planting must be

carried out in such a way as to avoiddisplacement of forest litter and topsoiland to reduce soil compaction, erosionand sedimentation. Mechanical sitepreparation techniques, such as drumchopping, bedding, disking, shearing,and wind-rowing, involve moving har-vesting debris as a method of improvingthe odds of the reforestation’s success.However, avoid employing these tech-niques on slopes greater than 25% andin Streamside Management Zones.

While chemical site preparation is an acceptable and common practice,herbicides should not be aerially orbroadcast sprayed into Streamside Management Zones nor allowed to run off into water surfaces.

Federally Mandated BMPs for Wetlands

Under the Clean Water Act, alllandowners are required to follow 15 ofthe Best Management Practices in“jurisdictional wetland areas.” Wetlandsare defined as “…areas that are inun-dated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency or duration suffi-

cient to support — and under normalconditions, do support — a prevalenceof vegetation typically adapted for lifein saturated soil conditions.”

If you are not sure whether your landmeets the requirements for being classi-fied as a wetland, contact the USDANatural Resources Conservation Serviceor the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

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to a minimum; reasonable skid distancesare maintained; and logging decks areproperly located. Design your loggingdecks small and situate them in areaswhere they can’t adversely impact waterquality. Keep in mind also that slope is acritical factor in locating deck sites.

Skidding of trees also requires plan-ning. Plan your skid trails so as to mini-mize soil displacement, compaction andrutting and to avoid disturbing naturaldrainage sites. Never use stream chan-nels as skid trails. On steep slopes, atoccasional breaks in the grade, constructwater turnout ditches or buffers to slowthe flow of water and disperse sediment.

Forest Biomass Utilization As the demand for renewable energy

sources continues to grow, landownersshould weigh the benefits and costs ofbioenergy production from their forest-land. One such consideration is residueharvesting following a sawtimber/pulpwood harvest. With careful planningand by following BMPs, this can beaccomplished using the same landingand road systems with very little impactto the site. Additionally, there should belittle impact on site productivity andnutrient levels as stumps, leaves andsmall limbs, the high-nutrient portions of trees, will remain and the fact thatharvest events are spread over time.

Benefits of biomass utilization follow-ing harvests or through other operationsinclude:� Reduction in dependency on fossilfuels while satisfying growing energyneeds

� Creation of jobs and business opportunities

� Income for landowners from biomass sales

� Decreased site preparation costs asharvested sites are left cleaner

� Opportunities for low- to no-cost timber stand improvement

� Increased forest health by reducingthreats and/or restoration costs fromfire, disease/pest infestations, invasivespecies, and storm damage

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Reforestation & Afforestation

objectives.In developing your forest manage-

ment plan, study the various methods ofreforestation and site preparation avail-able, your desired tree species, wildlifeand topography and how they can bemanipulated or modified to meet specif-ic objectives. Working with a profes-sional forester at this stage can helpprovide a key to successful reforestation.

Following are three sources of treeregeneration, any combination of whichmay be used on the same property forreforestation:

Advance natural regeneration comesfrom pine and/or hardwood existing asseedlings, saplings or hardwoodsprouts in the forest understory priorto harvesting;

Regeneration after harvest can resultfrom seeds in place prior to the harvest,hardwood sprouts from cut trees, and/orseeds from uncut trees remaining in theharvest area or which have blown infrom nearby trees;

Artificial regeneration is the planting of

In planning for the future, you shouldconsider both reforestation and afforest-ation as a means to enhance the pro-

ductivity of your land. Reforestation isthe restocking of a forest after loss oftrees through harvesting, wildfire orother means by planting or naturalregeneration. Afforestation is the estab-lishment of a forest or stand in an areawhere the preceding vegetation or landuse was not forest (e.g., pasture, cropland, etc.). Over the years if your objec-tives for your land change from agricul-ture or other activities, think aboutplanting these lands to improve yourfuture income, decrease the potential forerosion, and to improve wildlife habitatand biodiversity.

All forested land should be replantedor otherwise managed to ensure thereplacement of the desired species. It’sthat simple; however, selecting themethod of reforestation can be compli-cated. Planning for reforestation prior totimber harvesting can help landownersidentify and meet multiple management

pine or hardwood seedlings. Artificialregeneration can also be used to changethe species of your forest to a composi-tion more compatible with your overallmanagement objectives.

You may use all three sources of treeregeneration if you adopt an even-agedmanagement system to reforest. Usingartificial regeneration for uneven-agedmanagement is not generally recommended.

Uneven-Aged Management for Hardwood

Most hardwood forests can be refor-ested following uneven-aged managementsystems, which result in forests growingtrees widely ranging in age and size. Thistype of management is compatible withtree species that can regenerate underthe shade of a forest canopy such as oakand ash.

Uneven-aged management is morelabor intensive than even-aged andrequires intensive planning. However,on the positive side, it can provide regu-lar income without interruption for

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often spring up at the site to helprestore the natural diversity of the area.

Once the seedlings are well estab-lished (from two to three years), it’stime to harvest the seed trees. Beforeyou do, mark out trails through theseedlings for the logging equipment tofollow. This will serve two purposes:First, it will ensure the survival of mostof the seedlings while, second, it willallow the logging equipment to thin outthe thick stand of seedlings, thus help-ing ensure a healthy regeneration.

Even-Aged Plantation Management

Southern pine, particularly loblolly, is the principal commercial tree in theSouth. It is common practice to regener-ate stands of southern pine through theplantation management system, whichwill result in an even-aged forest. Propersite preparation prior to artificial (i.e.,planting seedlings) regeneration calls forreducing vegetation which competes forsunlight, moisture and nutrients and

reforestation. This system also permitsyou to maintain a timber reserve to takeadvantage of increasing wood prices oras a source of quick income.

Since uneven-aged managementdepends on advance natural regenerationand regeneration after harvest to perpet-uate your forest, harvesting operationsmust be conducted with care. For exam-ple, don’t remove all the valuable treesleaving only the lesser quality timber toregenerate. Also, be careful not to dam-age the trees left in your uneven-agedforest. Retaining the services of a profes-sional forester to select the trees to becut will help ensure a quality harvest.

Even-Aged Hardwood and Mixed Stands Management

Clearcutting a hardwood or mixedpine-hardwood stand will result in aneven-aged forest. Often, clearcuttingcan be beneficial particularly to correctpast mismanagement or to help a forestrecover from insect damage and disease.Also, clearcutting can be used to pro-

duce large plots of young forest habitatrequired by some wildlife.

Clearcutting small sections of yourforest will protect its long-term environ-mental and economic values. This sys-tem of management relies on advancenatural regeneration and regenerationafter harvest for reforestation.

Even-Aged Natural Pine Management

In nature, pine regenerates best onbare mineral soil as is often found fol-lowing significant disturbances (e.g.,from clearcuts, fires, damaging storms).We imitate these disturbances throughforest management activities. One suchprocedure is the seed-tree cut, an even-aged management practice that calls forleaving quality seed-producing treesrandomly spaced in the harvested areawhere fallout of the seeds they producegerminate to regenerate a forest.

In a few years you will find thickstands of young pine seedlings aroundthe seed trees. And other vegetation will

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eases the task of tree planting.Advanced planning is the key to suc-

cessful reforestation after harvest. Keepin mind that seedlings are grown in atree nursery and need to be ordered ayear in advance of what in most caseswill be a winter planting schedule. Beaware that exposure to sun and windcan kill the root systems of seedlings.Protecting your investment requires carein handling, transporting and storageprior to planting.Advantages of the plantation management system include: � Greater control over the number anddistribution of your seedlings

� Better seedling survival� Improved tree genetics, which enablesa tree farmer to grow a bigger tree ina shorter period of time (now 15-20years vs. 30-40 years several decadesago). Genetically improved trees arealso more disease resistant.

Disadvantages of plantation management include:� Higher initial costs of land prepara-tion for planting

� Cost to purchase seedlings� Actual planting expense

Before making a decision to go withthe plantation management system, askyourself, “Is it compatible with my otherforest management objectives?” Here,again, a professional forester can helpyou sort out your priorities and options.

Maintaining Biological DiversityAmong other benefits, maintaining

biological diversity is another means ofenhancing wildlife habitats on yourland. The SFI program defines biologi-cal diversity or biodiversity as: “Thevariety and abundance of life forms,processes, functions, and structures ofplants, animals and other living organ-isms, including the relative complexityof species, communities, gene pools andecosystems at spatial scales that rangefrom local to regional to global.”

While many believe that biodiversity

ponds), natural openings in the forestsuch as prairies, glades and dry sand-hills. These sensitive sites harbor manyof the critically imperiled and imperiledaquatic and terrestrial species. Tempo-rary pools that fill up with water in thespring are especially important featuresthat contain rare, threatened and endan-gered species. All of these areas areimportant and are easy to implementinto a forest management plan.

Forests With Exceptional Conservation Values

Forests of Exceptional ConservationValue (FECV) are defined as forestswith viable occurrences of criticallyimperiled and/or imperiled species andecological communities. Critically

imperiled species(often referred toas G1) are atvery high risk ofextinction due toextreme rarity(five or feweroccurrences orpopulations),very steep popu-lation declines,

or other factors. Imperiled species(often referred to as G2) are at high riskof extinction due to very restrictedrange, very few populations (20 or feweroccurrences), steep declines, or otherfactors.

As a landowner, you serve as a stew-ard to the trees as well as to other plantsand animals on your land. Being a goodsteward involves having knowledgeabout your forests. Assessing areas forForests with Exceptional ConservationValues and then managing these areas ina way that will not damage the value isimportant for the success of these foresttypes. If you think certain plant or ani-mal species on your land indicate thatyou may have a FECV, contact aforestry professional (see agencies listedinside back cover) for further review.

is most effectively addressed at thewatershed or larger level, there areopportunities to manage and contributeto biodiversity at all levels—stand, forest,watershed, landscape and global. Land-owners can influence compositional andstructural diversity at the stand and for-est levels through management choices.Techniques landowners can use toensure biodiversity involve maintaining:� A mix of habitat and cover types—both terrestrial and aquatic

� A mix of species—both flora and fauna� A distribution of age classes withinand between stands

� Maintaining elements for wildlife,such as snags, stumps, den/nest trees,and mast trees

� Forest with Exceptional ConservationValue (FECV)

� Special sites and otherunique stand featuressuch as snags, low-valuetrees, seeps, etc.All of these techniques

contribute to greaterdiversity on the landscapelevel.

Characteristics of Special Sites

Your land may hold sites that haveecological, geological, cultural or histor-ical significance and which should beprotected for future generations. Suchsites may include cemeteries, waterfalls,Indian mounds, unusual plant communi-ties or habitats. By preserving these spe-cial sites you can enhance the biodivers-ity of your property for all who enjoy itincluding humans, plants and animalswhile ensuring these sites will not disap-pear from the landscape. Your resourceprofessionals can assist you in identify-ing and protecting these special sites.

Some examples of non-forested sitesthat you may want to consider protect-ing as special sites are caves, seepageslopes, rock outcrops, riparian areas,water bodies (creeks, rivers, pools and

13

ly imperiled plant and animal species. In this regard, it is an objective of theSustainable Forestry Initiative programto support conservation of workingforests through voluntary market-basedincentive programs, such as current usetaxation, reasonable estate taxation,conservation easements, Forest Legacy,and more.

Thank you for doing your part tosustain the benefits of our forests forfuture generations.

By adopting the SustainableForestry Initiative program, SFIprogram participants have for-

mally committed to a forest manage-ment concept that ensures sustainingAlabama’s forests from one generationto another. Now, we are inviting you,the family forest private landowner, tojoin us in this endeavor.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the chal-lenge of developing your first forestmanagement plan. It is your key to success. The most effective plan willrequire complex management decisions.For example, in deciding when to har-vest timber, you should understand thefinancial and biological ramifications ofthis inherently long investment cycle.Your plan should also contain a strategyfor reforestation. Arriving at the bestdecision doesn’t come easy even for

industrial forest owners with trainedforestry professionals on their staffs.

As a family forest landowner, keep inmind that your trained forestry profes-sional is no further away than your tele-phone and the organizations listed oninside back cover.

In a recent survey, 93% of Alabamaforest landowners identified “…keepingland in the family…” as an importantbenefit of ownership. SFI program par-ticipants share your philosophy. We alsoseek to further the goal of passing oursustainable forests from one generationto another. As good stewards of the landand the forest, we share a common needto carry out harvesting in accordancewith Best Management Practices andplanning for prompt reforestation, whilecontributing to the biological diversityof the landscape and protecting critical-

Our Forests…Our Future

Looking for a good place to start? Contact Alabama Tree Farm

334-265-8733 or

treefarm@alaforestry.org

Alabama Tree Farm ProgramTree Farms are family–owned forests managed by people just like you. Tree

Farm families manage their lands for wildlife and watershed protection whilealso growing wood for our daily use.

You have worked hard on your property growing your forest and improvingthe wildlife. Join the American Tree Farm System and

• Get forest management help, • Keep updated on top forest issues with Alabama’s Tree Farm

Committee newsletter, • Be a part of the solution to meet the global demand for

sustainable fiber by growing Tree Farm-certified wood.

Show your commitment to the land: Join the American Tree Farm System and90,000 other landowners at no cost and display your sign of sustainable forestrywith pride!

It should,

because it is

now recognized

by customers

around the world

as a source

of certified

sustainable fiber.

Does This Sign Look Familiar?

14

To join the American Tree Farm System, contact:

Alabama Tree Farm at (334) 265-8733 or email

treefarm@alaforestry.org.

Sources of Technical Assistance & Information Forestry & Natural Resource OrganizationsAlabama Cooperative Extension System109-D Duncan HallAuburn University, AL 36849(334) 844-4444www.aces.edu

Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

64 North Union StreetMontgomery, AL 36310-1457(334) 242-3465www.dcnr.state.al.us

Alabama Forest Owners’ AssociationP.O. Box 361434Birmingham, AL 35236(205) 987-8811www.afoa.orgrll@afoa.org

Alabama Forestry Association555 Alabama StreetMontgomery, AL 36104-4395(334) 265-8733www.alaforestry.org

Alabama Forestry Commission513 Madison AvenueMontgomery, AL 36130-2550(334) 240-9300www.forestry.state.al.us

Alabama Invasive Plant CouncilP.O. Box 1454Auburn University, AL 36849(334) 844-1061www.se-eppc.org/alabama

Alabama Loggers Council555 Alabama StreetMontgomery, AL 36104-4395(334) 265-8733www.alaforestry.org

Alabama Natural Heritage Program 1090 South Donahue Drive Auburn University, AL 36849 Phone: (334) 844-5017 www.alnhp.org

Alabama State Board of Registration for Foresters513 Madison AvenueMontgomery, AL 36130-2551(334) 240-9301 www.asbrf.alabama.gov

Alabama Tree Farm Program555 Alabama StreetMontgomery, AL 36104-4395(334) 265-8733www.treefarmsystem.orgtreefarm@alaforestry.org

Alabama Wildlife Federation3050 Lanark RoadMillbrook, AL 36054-3616(800) 822-9453www.alabamawildlife.org

Association of Consulting Foresters of America, Inc.312 Montgomery Street, Suite 208Alexandria, Virginia 22314 (703) 548-0990 www.acf-foresters.com

Auburn University School of Forestry & Wildlife Sciences

602 Duncan DriveAuburn University, AL 36849(334) 844-1007www.sfws.auburn.edu

The Nature Conservancy of Alabama2100 First Avenue North Suite 500Birmingham, AL 35203(205) 251-1155www.nature.org

The Longleaf Alliance12130 Dixon Center RoadAndalusia, AL 36420334-427-1029www.longleafalliance.org

NatureServe1101 Wilson Boulevard15th FloorArlington, VA 22209 (703) 908-1800www.natureserve.org

USDA Forest ServiceNational Forests in Alabama2946 Chestnut StreetMontgomery, AL 36107-3010(334) 832-4470www.fs.fed.us

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

P.O. Box 311Auburn, AL 36830-0311(334) 887-4500www.nrcs.usda.gov

US Department of the InteriorFish & Wildlife Service1208B Main StreetDaphne, AL 36526(251) 441-5181www.fws.gov

These companies have contributed to developing and publishing Sustainable Forests,

Key to Your Future® to show their commitment to the support of Alabama’s forest landowners:

PROGRAM PARTICIPANTSBoise Cascade Company

Campbell GlobalCanfor

CatchMark Timber TrustClaw Forestry

Domtar Paper CompanyGeorgia-Pacific

Hancock Forest ManagementHoman IndustriesInternational PaperJasper LumberKyKenKee Inc.

Louisiana Pacific, HancevilleMcShan Lumber

Molpus TimberlandsNorbord

Packaging Corporation of AmericaPotlatchDelticRayonier

Resolute Forest ProductsResource Management Service, LLC

Scotch Plywood CompanyThe Westervelt Company

Timberland Investment ResourcesTRG Threshold Timber Corp

West FraserWestRock

Weyerhaeuser