Final Flashcards
(98 cards)
1
Q
What is forest inventory?
A
The measurement of a representative sample (~2%) of the net forest.
Represents a current “snapshot” in time and is updated every 20 years
2
Q
Describe forest industry in chart formation?
A
Quality of Timber
Quantity of Timber Forest Inventory Location of Timber
Effective Timber Resource Management
3
Q
What is Growth and Yield Modeling?
A
how foresters account for change over time. Using Permanent Sample Plots they track individual tree growth and stand changes over time (5 year measurements)
4
Q
What is Annual Allowable Cut?
A
the total volume of timber that can be harvested or the amount of and that timber can be harvested from. (based on net forest land base production over one year)
5
Q
What is rotation age?
A
the number of years it takes to grow an even-aged stand of trees to a specified state of maturity Pl~ 90 yrs Aw~ 40 yrs Spruce/fir ~150 yrs Species specific and regionally specific
6
Q
what is the annual forest growth on all alberta public lands?
A
44.5 million m3/yr
7
Q
What is forest tenure system?
A
legal contractual agreement that defines and constrains a companies right to harvest on provincial lands
8
Q
what are 3 forest tenure mechanisms in alberta?
A
- forest management agreement
- timber quota
- commercial timber permit
9
Q
what are the 3 considerations of forest management planning?
A
- very costly process
- 20 year planning horizon
- license plans are developed and approved for specific areas of interest
10
Q
what do woodland operations involve?
A
pre-harvest ecological site assessments (ESA’s)
pre-harvest silvicultural prescriptions (PSP’s)
11
Q
what do PSP’s include?
A
- silviculture systems
- timber extraction methods
- site preparation techniques
- reforestation tactics (regeneration monitoring, tree and stand improvement over time)
12
Q
what is a silvicultural system?
A
a cycle of activities by which a forest stand, or a group of trees, is harvested, regenerated, and tended over time
13
Q
what are the 4 phases of silvicultral systems?
A
- harvesting (removal of timber via felling, processing, yarding, and hauling)
- site preparation (create suitable microsites for new crop trees)
- regeneration (forest renewal by natural or artificial means)
- stand tending (activities which promote better quality forest)
14
Q
3 important factors for choosing a silviculture system?
A
- consistent with management objectives (F&W habitat, forest health, water quality)
- stand type and ecology (don’t diverge much from what the stand is naturally)
- economics (operational costs, current market value of wood products)
15
Q
in an even-aged silviculture, what systems produce a single age class?
A
clearcut coppice seed tree shelterwood patch cut
16
Q
in an uneven-aged silviculture what system produces 3 distinct age classes?
A
group tree selection
single tree selection
17
Q
Define clearcut and give 2 characteristics?
A
an area of forest land where all merchantable trees have been removed in a single stand entry. most common today!
- promotes shade intolerant seral trees (pines)
- natural or artificial regeneration
18
Q
what are 3 advantages of clearcut?
A
- facilitates mechanized harvesting
- cost effective
- mimic certain aspects of stand replacing fire
19
Q
what are 3 disadvantages of clearcut?
A
- low visual preference
- high site impact
- vegetative competition
20
Q
what are 3 applications of clearcut?
A
- mos common
- stand renewal- best for Pl or Pj
- salvage cutting (insects, drought, fire) (1-2 yrs)
21
Q
define coppice and give 3 characteristics?
A
a deciduous clearcut where the primary regeneration is vegetative sprouting of either suckers or shots
- timing of harvesting operation
- promotes shade intolerant deciduous trees
- natural regeneration only
22
Q
what are 5 advantages of coppice?
A
- mechanized harvesting
- cost effective
- low potential site impact
- mimic stand replacing fire
- no reforestation cost
23
Q
what are 2 disadvantages of coppice?
A
- low visual preference
2. vegetative competition
24
Q
what are 2 applications of coppice?
A
- best if not the only system for Aw
2. quick rotation for Aw pulpwood (30-50 yrs)
25
define seed tree?
a system where selected trees are left standing after the initial stand entry for natural regeneration. may or may not be harvested after natural regeneration is complete.
26
what are 3 characteristics of seed tree?
1. most merchantable trees are removed
2. 15-20 seed trees/ha are left (windfirm spp)
3. promotes an even-aged stand of shade intolerant natural regeneration (Lw, Fd)
27
what are 3 considerations for selecting seed trees?
1. "plus trees"- best quality seed trees marked to stay
2. substantial, healthy cone crop with viable seed
3. windfirm species: large crown = large root system
28
what are 3 advantages of seed trees?
1. stand improvement
2. increase health and vigor
3. no regeneration cost
29
what are 4 disadvantages of seed trees?
1. site impact
2. blow down of seed trees
3. cost to go back in for seed trees
4. damage to seedlings during see tree removal
30
what are 2 applications of seed trees?
1. natural regeneration and stand improvement
| 2. structural and ecological benefits, if seed trees left
31
Define shelterwood?
a system where trees are removed in a series of cutting to promote and even-aged stand under the protection of the remaining overstorey trees
32
what are 2 characteristics of shelterwood?
1. all merchantable stands removed ~4 passes over 20 yrs
| 2. promotes even-aged stand of mid-shade tolerant natural regeneration (Fd, western white pine)
33
define the 4 cutting sequences of shelterwood?
1. preparatory cut- a thinning prior to the first cut to increase tree quality and wind firmness
2. first cut- tree removal to opening up enough growing space in the understorey for regeneration to come in
3. removal cuttings- tree removal to gradually uncover the new crop trees
4. final cut- complete removal of trees which uncovers a well established, even-aged crop of mid-shade tolerant trees (done only once, regeneration no longer requires protection)
34
what are 4 advantages of shelterwood?
1. stand improvement
2. no reforestation cost
3. first cup opens up stand to increase tree volumes and cone production
4. high forest cover for ~20 yrs
35
what are 3 disadvantages of shelterwood?
1. high cost due to number of stand entries
2. understorey protection difficult and costly
3. roads remain open longer
36
what are 3 applications of shelterwood?
1. to promote even-aged, mid-shade tolerant stands adding diversity to the landscape
2. Fd & Pw on south aspects- spruce on shaded north aspects
3. multiple objectives: timber, high forest cover as habitat, visual quality and landscape diversity
37
define patch cut and give 2 characteristics?
a smaller version of the clearcut
1. similar to clearcut but smaller
2. natural or artificial regeneration
38
what is 1 advantage, 2 disadvantages and 1 application of patch cut?
1. small business opportunity
1. to much may lead to fragmentation
2. increased road network to access smaller blocks
1. may help increase snow catch relative to watershed management objectives
39
define single tree cutting?
a system where individual trees are selected and removed making room (gaps) for a new age class (shade tolerant)
40
define group tree cutting?
a system where small groups of trees are selected and removed making room for new age classes. (cut opening are less than 2x the height of the adjacent tree)
41
the intent of any selection cut is to improve the long term quality and health of the stand by?
1. removing crowded, unhealthy, lesser quality trees first
| 2. still needs to be economically viable however 1/3 larger trees @ 50 yrs= 3 age classes
42
what is high grade cutting?
no a legitimate form of selection cutting ( take the best, leave the rest). involves the removal of trees of certain size or high value with no consideration of future stand condtion
43
what are 4 characteristics of high grade cutting?
1. removal of most older age class trees (~1/3 of stand.... the remaining 2/3 of canopy maintains shade)
2. promotes natural regeneration ( may have to go in and plant)
3. maintains uneven-aged stand structure
4. promotes stand improvement
44
what are 4 advantages of high grade cutting?
1. high forest cover
2. higher visual preference
3. no reforestation cost
4. results in larger diameter, high value trees
45
what are 5 disadvantages of high grade cutting?
1. more time and planning to set up
2. higher operator skill to protect overstorey and understorey
3. higher operational cost
4. repeated stand entries- roads are never closed off
5. will impact the AAC- given lower volumes/ha over time
46
what are 3 applications of high grade cutting?
1. maintain older climax forests (OGR state min of 10% old growth forests be retained)
2. areas of high visual concern: highway corridors, near recreation areas or other developments
3. modify stand fuel load
- reduces crown fire potential & head fire intensity (less fuel to burn)
47
tell me about mechanized harvesting?
most common method for clearcutting
involves the use of:
1. tracked feller buncher- cut timer
2. grapple skidder- yards logs to roadside
3. stroke delimber- limbs & tops @ roadside
4. self-loading truck- loads @ roadside
48
what are 5 limitations about mechanized harvesting?
1. slope up to 45%, max 55% with Timco FB
2. logs >22 in (55cm)
3. excessive DWD
4. loose rocky soils
5. surface frost
49
tell me about hand fall/ line skidding?
- used for smaller scale operations
- good for sites with high amounts of DWD
- can handle larger log diameters
- removal of selected trees
- involves the use of:
- experienced chainsaw operator-to fell trees
- rubber tired line skidder -to landing
- processor -removal of limbs & tops at landing using chainsaw
- wheeled loader & conventional logging truck or self loading trucks
- limitations are up to 45% slope & deep snow- difficult for fallers & limits escape routes
50
what is cut to length?
- where the harvester fells, then cuts to length, sorts & piles the wood, then the forwarder picks up the wood & delivers it to the landing & the clam shell loader loads the B-train & then the two trailers of the B-train hauls it to the mill
- limitations include up to 40% slope- forwarder is top heavy when loaded & dangling cutting head may cause high stumps in winter
51
what are 8 benefits of post-logging wood debris?
1. increases snow catch
2. decreases temp extremes
3. reduces evapo-transpiration
4. increases nutrient cycling
5. decreases soil bulk density
6. increases soil stability
7. reduces vegetative competition
8. reduces animal impacts on regeneration
52
tell me about cable yarding system?
- trees are lifted off the ground, max yarding distance of 400m upslope, 200m downslope, road location can be up or mid slope
- applications: sites with 90% slope, site needing reduced ground impact, anything from selection to clearcut harvesting
53
when would you use horse logging?
- smaller cutblocks
- clearcuts to selective logging
- removal of seed trees
- cold or nutrient poor sites
- reduced ground impact
54
where would you use helicopter logging?
- very steep slopes
- inaccessible areas
- clearcutting to selective cutting
55
what are 4 site preparation methods?
1. no site preparation
2. mechanical site preparation
3. chemical site treatment
4. prescribed fire
56
what is no site preparation?
a valid decision where the conditions for natural regeneration exist
57
what does no site preparation require?
- sufficient minerl soil exposure
- good quality, available seed source
- adequate moisture (1st yr most important)
58
what should you avoid with no site preparation?
- very dry, nutrient poor sites
- naturally regenerating sites
- small, wet pockets
59
what is mechanical site preparation & what are the 4 methods?
- involves the use of heavy equipment to create suitable microsites for the new crop trees
1. mounding
2. scalping
3. mixing
4. screefing
60
what is mounding & what are the 3 planting positions?
- elevated microsite
1. mound- drier, warmer, higher position= reduced completion
2. hinge- improved nutrients, average site moisture & temperature
3. depression- improved moisture, some wind protection, increased risk of frost & flooding
61
what are 3 mounding equipment?
1. tracked excavators- useful on sites with heavy slash, high stumps, thick humus, steep slopes
2. ripper plow- designed to treat wet ground when it is fozen
- seedling are planted on raised microsites
3. marttiini plow- used to create elevated microsites on heavy clay sites subject to periodic flooding
- plowing or trenching of any type should be done along the contour of the slope where possible
62
what is scalping?
- a systematic pattern of mineral soil patches exposed by scraping away duff
- removes competing vegetation
- minimizes surface disturbance (reduces potential erosion problems)
- the scalp is the intended planting spot
- avoid scalping on the sites with potential for frost heaving
63
where is scalping useful and what 2 machines would you use?
- thin humus & dry soil
1. leno scarifier
2. bracke two-row scarifier
- have high productivity with low costs
64
what is mixing?
- involves the mechanical integration of surface organics with subsurface mineral soil to
- control competing vegetation
- increase soil temp & aeration
- reduce soil bulk density
- promote nutrient cycling
- improved water holding capability
1. eden bedding plow & the madge rotoclear
2. v-h mulcher
65
what is drag scarification and what are 4 applications?
- a form of mixing to create a seed bed for natural seeding from cones left on site or direct or aerial seeding of Pl seed.
1. sites <5cm
3. s-sw aspect
4. Pl regeneration
66
define screefing?
- involves the use of a planting shovel or your boot to create a planting spot free of vegetative competition
- generally useful on high elevation sites with thin dry duff
- slow planting production but eliminated cost of mechanical treatment
67
what are some general considerations for choosing the right mechanical site preparation?
- access to the cutblock for equipment
- risk of planting/seeding failure
- relative cost
68
what are some site specific considerations for choosing mechanical site preparation?
- slope %
- soil texture
- soil temp
- moisture regime & nutrient regime
- duff depth
- vegetative competition
- dwd
69
what is chemical site preparation & what does the use require (4)?
- involves the use of herbicides to control competing vegetation prior to regeneration (woody-shrubs & grasses)
1. a proven silvicultural need
2. approval from the regulatory agency
3. an applicators certificate
4. an understanding of the target species & the chemicals involved
70
what are 7 considerations for the use of chemical site preparation?
1. high competition stress=#1 cause of regeneration failure
2. density of competing vegetation
3. hydrologic pump
4. timing of application
5. type of chemical
6. conditions @ time of application
7. method of application
71
define prescribed fire?
- is a fire that is purposely allowed to burn within a predetermined boundary for a specific purpose
72
what are 5 considerations for prescribed fire?
- should only be considered with a complete understanding of the natural fire regime, potential fire behavior & fire control methods.
1. fuel loading
2. fire continuity
3. timing of burn
4. extensive planning
5. potential cost savings
73
what are the 4 stages of silvicultural reforestation?
1. reforestation
2. post harvest sequence of events
3. alberta regeneration standards
4. performance survey
74
what is reforestation and some things about it?
- forest renewal after timber harvesting, or fire (natural or artificial)
- 2 trees planted for every 1 harvested
- very high regeneration standards
- alberta has a 98% success rate
75
what is the post harvest sequence of events?
- 0 final inspection of cutblock
- 0-2 site treatment complete
- 2-4 post harvest treatment survey
- 4-8 establish regeneration survey
- 8-14 performance generation survey
76
what does "free to grow" mean?
-no competing vegetation within 1m of the crop tree more than 2/3 height of the crop tree
77
what are the advantages of natural regeneration?
1. cheaper
2. maintains local gene pool
3. high survivorship once established
78
what are the disadvantages of natural regeneration?
1. slower establishment
| 2. uneven distribution
79
what are the advantages of artificial regeneration?
1. control over the stocking level and spacing
| 2. control over species composition
80
what are the disadvantages of artificial regeneration?
1. high cost (~$300-$1000+/ha)
| 2. potential planting failure
81
what are the 7 stand improvements?
1. release cutting
2. low thinning
3. high thinning
4. pruning
5. sanitation cutting
6. salvage cutting
7. presbribed burning
82
what does aerial seeding involve (4)?
1. cone collection
2. seed extraction
3. viability testing
4. seed storage
83
what are 3 things about broadcast seeding?
1. cost ~$500/ha
2. rate
3. early spring seeding (march)
84
what are 3 things about direct seeding?
1. spot seeding on exposed mineral soil
2. may add plastic shelter cones (mini-greenhouse)
3. timing coincides with bush rake scarification (fall)
85
what's drag scarification & seeding?
-seeders pulled by drag scarification equipment (fall)
86
what are 7 things that happen from seed to seedling?
1. cone collection from natural sites
2. seed extraction & cleaning
3. seed registration & viability testing
4. sowing
5. nursery care
6. lifting & storage
7. shipping
87
what is provenance?
seedling are to be planted within 5 miles & 500 ft of elevation from where they were collected
88
what are some artificial regeneration planting suggestions?
- timing usually spring or fall (seedlings are dormant)
- "hot" planting (summer)
- difficulty of planting will vary from site to site
- full plant or fill-in plant
- microsites present
- % slope
- amount of dwd
- soil texture
- weather conditions
89
what are the 6 steps of individual tree improvement?
1. selection of plus trees- collect cones for seed or scions for grafting
2. clone bank- trees grown to preserve genetics
3. progeny testing- new trees are tested to determine the genetic worth of the parent tree
4. seed orchards- established by the genetic quality of 2nd generation stock
5. improved reforestation stock- produced at nurseries
6. reforestation- planting of improved stock in the field to produce more wood of better quality in less time
90
what is release cutting?
-early removal of competing vegetation from around the crop tree "free to grow"
91
what is low thinning?
-less than 30 years removal of suppressed & co-dormant trees for proper spacing, target 1000 stems per hectare- no profit
92
what is high thinning?
-30-60 years removal of co-dormant & dormant trees, intermediate & suppressed trees are left properly spaced-some profit
93
what is pruning?
-the flash removal of lower branches to produce clear & knot-free wood. retain at least 50% of tree crown. prune in late fall to winter
94
what is sanitation cutting?
-removal of disease bearing material to reduce the spread
95
what is salvage cutting?
-removal of already dead timber while it is still merchantable
96
what is prescribed burning?
-understorey burns to promote forest health
97
what are tree & stand improvements?
- any technique used to improved individual tree growth, and overall stand quality... promotes trees &/or stands of trees that are:
1. healthier-more resistant to insects & drought
2. faster growing-reduced rotation aged, increase volume & money
3. higher quality wood- straight, clear wood
98
what are some economic considerations for stand improvement?
-best to invest on high quality sites (best volume to the relative cost of treatment) and sites within 50km of the mill
