Forest Management Planning
Jim CathcartWest Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District
Thomas WhittingtonOregon Department of Forestry
Tree School ClackamasMarch 19, 2016
Oregon City, Oregon
Presentation adapted from John Punches and Nicole Strong, Oregon State University Forestry and Natural Resource Extension – “Components of a Good Management Plan” (2007) with contributions from Mike Haasken, Stewardship Forester, Molalla.
Today’s Presenters
Thomas WhittingtonIncentives Field CoordinatorOregon Department of ForestrySalem, Oregon(503) 945‐[email protected]
Jim CathcartDistrict ManagerWest Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation DistrictPortland, Oregon(503) 238‐4775, Ext. [email protected]
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Forest Management Planning
Maps
Resource Conditions
Action Plans
Objectives
Goals
Notes and Pictures
Tax and Business
Where to Get Help
Oregon’s Forest Management Planning System
Benefits of a Management Plan
• Connects You to Your Forest• Communication Tool with Family• Access to Financial Assistance• Tax Benefits• Document Management History• Certification Programs (Tree Farm, FSC)
Basic Components of a Plan
• Goals and Objectives• Maps• Resource Conditions – Current & Desired• Priority and Schedule of Actions• Where to Get Help• Pictures & Supporting Information
Pathways to Stewardship
Outreach
Woodland Discovery
Resource ElementsBusiness Operations
Core ForestManagement
Plan
Certificationand Beyond
Additional Stepsand
Addendums
Taking Action
Goals• Statement of intent; big picture• Very broad & general
• Grow trees and produce income• Enhance wildlife habitat• Improve woodland roads• Protect soil and water resources• Improve Forest Health• Maintain recreation opportunities• Get family involved on property• Pass property intact to next generation
Example Goals
Objectives
• Statement of intent to accomplish goals• Specific• Defines
– What?– When?– Where?– How much?
Example Objectives
• Produce $10,000 in after‐tax income each year for the next 5 years
• Develop 10 acres of black tail deer browse habitat within 7 years
• Rock roads throughout property within 15 years
• Convert 30 acre pasture to mixed conifer stand in 5 years
Base Map
• 2014 Aerial Photo• Fish streams • Major roads• Ownership boundary• Inset of surrounding area
Topo Map
• 40 foot contour lines• Hill shade from Lidar• Ownership outline• Streams
Soils Map
Stand Type Map
4 types as determined by my analysis and judgment
Highly subjective
Done using only aerial photo and tree height data from Lidar
Can be refined with ground trothing or cruise data
Good place to start
Getting Started – Do It Yourself Mapping Tools
• On‐line GIS • “Plat” maps• Topographic maps• Aerial photos• Soil maps
Web Mapping Resources• Oregon Department of Forestry
• ORMap (statewide property tax parcel base map that is digital) http://www.ormap.net
• Oregon Explorer (Natural Resources Digital Library) http://oregonexplorer.info/•• Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI); Lidar Viewer• http://www.oregongeology.org/dogamilidarviewer/
• County GIS Websites– Clackamas http://www.clackamas.us/gis/– Washington http://washims.co.washington.or.us/gis/
• Soil Maps http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/ Use on‐line soil survey for woodland (Douglas‐fir) suitability rating.
• ForestASyst http://www.forestasyst.org/
• Google Map/Earth (3D imagery) http:/earth.google.com//
• Forest Planner http://forestplanner.ecotrust.org/
ORMAP Taxlot Maps
Oregon Explorer
• Outline of property drawn by hand
• Infrared Map one of many layers available
• Ability to create and export maps using the layers
• Soil surveys layers when zoomed out
• No taxlot data provided as of yet
Forest Planner• Free online toolkit for mapping and modeling
alternative forest management scenarios.• Easily create aerial/veg, soil, and topo maps.
www.forestplanner.ecotrust.org
Assessment of Your Forest ResourcesIntensity varies from low (aerial photo) to high (many plots, systematic sampling). Ideal is a field assessment of each stand (called a stand exam)
• Stand identifier
• Acreage
• Vegetation type, tree species
• Site productivity, stand density
• Age
• Elevation, Seed zone
• Aspect, topography
• Tree/Stand condition
• Note wildlife habitat, roads, water, archeological, cultural and recreation resources
After you have…
• Identified your goals and objectives• Developed your maps• Assessed your resources• Summarized your information
…it’s time to identify opportunities, actions, and constraints
Goal – Grow trees and produce income
Matching Goals and Objectives with Needs and Opportunities
Need Opportunity
Objective – Thin stand to 220 trees per acre
Resource Conditions
Current (Problems)– Invasive Plants– 100% crown cover– Small crown ratios– Extensive deer browse– Slumping road– Blocked fish passage– Unknown property lines
Desired (Opportunities)– Improve Habitat– Thinning– Clear‐cut– Game Management– Road relocation– Put in a bridge– Survey boundaries
Management Actions
Gets you from current conditions to desired conditions by fixing a problem or taking advantage of an opportunity– Thin a stand– Conduct a salvage/sanitation harvest– Harvest mushrooms or floral greenery– Repair/improve a road segment– Replace a stream crossing culvert– Control unwanted vegetation– Engage family/friends by having camping weekends
Identifying Actions Develop Action Plan
• Make a list of objectives for each unit• Consider your options• Get help
– Master Woodland Manager– Forestry Consultant– ODF Stewardship Forester– Extension Forestry Agent– On Line Planning Resources
Prioritize
• Identify the most critical action items for each stand/unit
• Create a prioritized action list for the property as a whole
Develop a Timeline
• Determine when each item should be completed.
Priority Action ItemActionDate
1 Repair main Road Nov 2006
2 Control Scotchbroom May 2008
3 Thin Unit B Sept 2006
4 Harvest Unit C Sept 2007
Assign Responsibility
Priority Action ItemAction Date
Work to be done by…
1 Repair main Road Nov 2006 Self – hand tools
2 Control Scotchbroom May 2008
Self – borrow backpack sprayer from Service Forester
3 Thin Unit B Sept 2006 Contract w/ logger
4 Harvest Unit C Sept 2006 Contract w/ logger
Pathways to Stewardship
Outreach
Woodland Discovery
Resource ElementsBusiness Operations
Core ForestManagement
Plan
Certificationand Beyond
Additional Stepsand
Addendums
Taking Action
Checklist – Plan Requirements for Certification
• Cover Page• Table of Contents• Landowner, Property, Plan
Information• Property Description• Goals and Objectives• Maps and Photos• Soils• Water Resources• Forest Vegetation• Integrated Pest Management• Fish and Wildlife
• Roads• Access and Security• Wildfire Protection• Aesthetics and Recreation • Cultural Resources• Tax and Business Management• Schedule of Planned Actions• Regulatory Compliance• Signature Page
Final Result
• Contented Landowner• Tree Farm or other Certification
• Forest Stewardship• Future Forests
Questions/Comments