Our long term forest management plan supports our vision of a multi-use forest that serves the mission of the Outdoor Center
Protection of our water and soil resources
Recreational use which benefits both users and the local economy
Wildlife habitat maintenance and enhancement, from birds to bears
Production of commercial forest products such as saw logs used for lumber and furniture as well as products like firewood, some of which helps support our fossil-fuel free heating system goals
Educational resource to support knowledge and awareness of forest stewardship
How and why do we “manage” a Forest?
To put it simply, we humans need forests. Our society requires a diverse array of products and services generated by forest ecosystems, including water, wood, wildlife, and wild places. Trails for biking and skiing are another notable forest product! The concept of forestry and forest management developed to ensure such resources are available to both current and future generations. Using an approach that the 20th century conservationist Aldo Leopold called “intelligent tinkering”, foresters develop strategies that promote the values and products society requires while ensuring the long-term integrity of the entire forest ecosystem. Forestry is fundamentally about the future, and it is the future that guides management actions today. Forest managers use harvesting (logging) as one of many tools, to influence the development of individual parts of a forest in order to “tinker” and promote a healthy and productive forest today and in the future.
“Land health is the capacity for self-renewal in the soils, waters, plants, and animals that collectively comprise the land.” - Aldo Leopold 1944
Case Study: Forest Harvest of Summer ‘16
Together with our consultants, Northern Forest Conservation Services, LLC (Ross Morgan, Dawn Morgan and Rick Morrill) we have developed a long term forest management plan which supports our vision of a multi-use forest.
In summer 2016 we started our first harvest in an area with active trails. While there was some inconvenience to our users, we needed to follow our management plan, and we saw it as an opportunity to educate our members and trail users about the importance of forest management. Our goal is to demonstrate best practices in land stewardship--specifically that sustainable management of the forest is compatible with recreation--to serve as an example and educational resource in the community. By participating in the Vermont State Current Use Program we are committed to maintaining the land as part of working forest.
Let's examine the state of the forest prior to the Summer 2016 harvest.
Summer '16 Forest Conditions
Mixed-wood forest, comprised of conifer species spruce and pine, and deciduous species like maple and birch.
Dense stocking of trees with heavy competition for sunlight and resources.
Significant mortality of mature trees in spots, especially among white pine.
Limited presence of tree regeneration in form of seedlings and saplings.
Simplified canopy structure, most stems are the same age and height.
The harvest in 2016 promoted the following conditions
Mixed-wood forest, with healthy diversity of conifer and deciduous species.
Complex canopy structure marked by a diversity of canopy heights representing multiple ages of trees, and by different stem densities and tree diameters.
Presence of dead trees both standing and on the ground, serving as critical wildlife habitat.
A forest with significant stocking of high quality trees capable of producing valuable forest products.