Private landowners take a proactive approach, not only to reach the state requirement of reforestation within three years of harvesting an area, but to ensure growth of desirable tree species, to allow for proper spacing between the planted trees, and to restore wildlife habitat. Actually, you can usually find private forest landowners replanting within 12 to 18 months of the harvest to promote faster growth, before wild plants can move in and block out the sun.
WASHINGTON FOREST PROTECTION ASSOCIATION
After about five decades of growth, a reforested area is ready for timber harvest. Most harvesting in private forests today is practiced in second-growth forests planted 50 to 60 years ago by timber companies who look to reinvest in the future. Today’s foresters carry on that tradition. Through science-based research and adaptive management, both foundations of 21st century forestry, WFPA’s members are finding ways to scientifically identify and implement sound harvesting methods as they become known.
FORESTRY SCIENCE HELPS IDENTIFY BEST PRACTICES FOR HARVESTING
Forestry science continually teaches Washington’s foresters new harvesting practices to care for the long-term health of their private forests. For example, soil compaction has been found to reduce the regeneration capacity of a replanted forest. Foresters now use harvesting methods and machinery that minimizes soil disturbance. Science research has shown the importance of leaving behind trees and downed logs for wildlife habitat. A number of wildlife reserve trees, green recruitment trees, snags, and downed logs are now left in harvested areas for birds and small animals.
Clearcut harvesting removes all the trees from a specific area at one time. Studies show that by cutting down an entire area, new seedlings planted during reforestation are able to capture the sunlight they need without competition from larger trees. To reduce the visual impact of clearcut harvesting, private forest landowners are applying new landscape architecture principles, such as following the natural curves of the land, avoiding square corners, and eliminating ridge-top harvesting.
DESIGNING FOR A TIMBER HARVEST REQUIRES EXTENSIVE PLANNING
Planning for and designing a timber harvest is a sophisticated, complex undertaking for today’s private forest landowners. WFPA’s members work with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to comply with all state laws, as well as contribute to the high standards of responsible forest management by sharing forest practices with each other. Harvest units are often planned several years in advance and take into consideration the condition of the site, new information about protection of the environment and market conditions. To learn more about sustainable forestry go to Forest Management Cycle.
TIMBER HARVEST PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
A timber harvest on private forestland requires a forester to listen to the voices and perspectives of the many stakeholders involved. Below is a list of some of the areas to be considered before harvesting takes place.
WFPA HELPS DRAFT LEGISLATION SETTING HARVESTING GUIDELINES
Through WFPA, private forest landowners have played an important role in helping draft legislation to define the current best practices in harvesting. This landmark legislation, known as the Forests & Fish Law, created guidelines for harvesting that allows private forest landowners to remain economically productive while protecting fish and wildlife habitat and Washington’s cool, clean water.
REFORESTATION BRINGS NEW LIFE
Washington has some of the toughest forest practice laws in the country, requiring a harvested area to be replanted within three years.
Each year forest landowners in Washington plant an average of 52 million tree seedlings in areas that have been harvested.
On average, that’s three seedlings planted by hand for every one tree removed.
TREE NURSERIES ENSURE STRONG AND HEALTHY THIRD-GROWTH FORESTS
Where do these 52 million tree seedlings come from? Nearly all come from tree nurseries right here in Washington.
While the first seed zone maps were published in 1966, a lot of new information has been incorporated since then. The use of seed zones help landowners replant trees that are best adapted to the site, thus producing long-lived and healthy stands, limiting damage from climate and pests and maintaining locally adapted gene pools.
The successful reforestation of a harvested area, although complex and challenging, is a private forest landowner’s springboard to the next generation of forest. That’s why Washington’s private foresters take a lot of pride in knowing the intricacies of reforestation. Whether it be preparing a site for planting by reducing logging debris, correctly matching the right tree species to the right growing conditions, or not compacting the soil with heavy machinery before planting because it lessens a young tree’s chance to survive, WFPA’s members are taking the lead in what is the responsible and the right way to regenerate their private forests.
REPLANTING PRIVATE FORESTS WITH ACCOUNTABILITY AND EXPERTISE
The successful reforestation of a harvested area, although complex and challenging, is a private forest landowner’s springboard to the next generation of forest. That’s why Washington’s private foresters take a lot of pride in knowing the intricacies of reforestation. Whether it be preparing a site for planting by reducing logging debris, correctly matching the right tree species to the right growing conditions, or not compacting the soil with heavy machinery before planting because it lessens a young tree’s chance to survive, WFPA’s members are taking the lead in what is the responsible and the right way to regenerate their private forests.
