Planning and implementing forest operations to achieve ... - Woodweb

theacresavailable fortimberharvesting by limiting the
frequency andextentofdisturbance, prescribing long
rotations togrowlargesawtimbertrees, reducinglevels
andstandards ofroadconstruction, andrequiring
seasonal orpermanentroadclosures,
believedthatcutting treescouldresultinthe
destruction ofwildlife habitat, soilerosion, muddy
streams, anda lossofrecreation space(Eganetal.,in
press). Many ofthesesameconcernswere citedby
nonindustrial private forest-land ownersasreasonsfor
notharvesting timber.Publiconcernsrelated totimber
A goalofthe1986ForestPlanwastocontinue timber harvesting andwaterquality alsoresulted intheWest
harvesting atprc-plan levels. To maintainthislevelof Virginia StateLegislature enacting the1992Logging
harvesting throughregeneration andimprovement
SedimentControlAct,whichincludes specific
cutting required atimberbaseofapproximately
guidelines forreducingerosionon loggingroads,skid
331,000 acres. The maximum production from this trails, and log landings (West Virginia Division of
timber base is estimated at 53 million board feet Forestry 1995).
(mmbf) per year for the first 10 years of the Forest
Plan, increasing to 77 mmbf over 60 years as the
second growth-timber matures. In 1986 there were EFFECTS ON FOREST OPERATIONS
724,000acreson theMonongahelaclassified as
tentatively suitable fortimberproduction, landsnot
Thefollowing sections provideamore detailed
withdrawnforwilderness orotherpurposes,or
discussion ofenvironmental concerns, ForestPlan
classified asunsuitable becauseofsoilorregeneration objectives, andforestoperations.
concerns. Maximum productionon these724,000acres
is estimated at 165 mmbfper year. Actual harvest
Timber management
levels since 1986 have averaged approximately 36
mmbf peryear.The difference betweenmaximum and Of the724,000acrestentatively classified assuitable
actualharvests fromthe331,000-acre timberbasecan fortimbermanagementin1986,331,000acreswere
be attributed toapoormarketforsmalltreesandthe required tomeettimberproduction goals.The
timerequired toprocessenvironmental assessments, remaining393,000acreswerenotneededtomaintain
Changesinpublicvaluesandenvironmental concerns pre-planharvestlevelsbutcouldbe incorporated into
that developed since the 1986 Forest Plan was
the timber production base depending on resourcecompleted
also have constrained harvest levels,
needs analyses of future revisions to the Forest Plan.
Several additional environmental issues affecting forest Although much of the public opposes clearcutting,
operations are identified in the 1986 Forest Plan, and
even-age management was prescribed for 95 percent of
others recently were addressed in a series of reports
the forest land suitable for timber production. When the
prepared by resource specialists. Given the
Forest Plan was developed, there was strong public
Monongahela's rugged terrain, areas of high
demand to maintain high populations of huntable
precipitation, and numerous streams supporting native wildlife species such as deer, bear, and turkey.
brook trout, soil disturbance and water quality are
Even-age silviculture provides more diverse wildlife
important issues. Consequently, there is considerable habitat and regenerates shade-intolerant tree species
concern over the hydrologic and soil productivity
that produce mast crops required to support large
impacts of logging steep slopes with conventional
populations of these game species. Because these same
ground-based equipment. Developing and sustaining
tree species are valued highly by the timber industry,
old-growth or mature forest areas and sustaining
even-age management satisfies two major categories of
suitable habitat for neotropical migrant songbirds are
user demand. However, growing concerns about the
equally important issues. Awareness of the existence of visual quality and biological diversity of clearcut areas
threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant and animal is reducing the reliance on elearcutting as an even-age
species has increased significantly since 1986, and any regeneration tool, and the Chief of the Forest Service
constraints that result from protecting the integrity of
has directed that clearcutting meet specific
these populations affect all forest operations, requirements when applied on National Forests.
Although this paper is largely concerned with public
Although uneven-age management addresses concerns
land issues, many of the environmental issues identified about visual quality, it also requires cutting cycles of 15
in the Monongahela Forest Plan also are of great
to 20 years and more frequent disturbance of forest
interest to private forest-land owners. A survey of
roads and skid trails. To minimize the soil disturbance
West Virginia tree farmers found that most agreed that associated with frequent entries, single-tree selection is
landowners should harvest timber. However, many also prescribed only when it is desirable to maintain a
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