An Introduction to Tree Marking - Ontario woodlot.com

... Sawmilling continued 

Sawing creosoted 

wood – poles treated 

with creosote will collect 

dirt and grit and are very 

abrasive on saw teeth. 

(Caution: sawing and 

handling creosote can be 

hazardous to your health.) 

Sawing dirty logs – you 

can avoid premature 

dulling of the blade by 

either cleaning dirt from 

the bark surface using 

high-pressure water or by 

physically removing the 

bark (using bark-peeling 

tools or power strip 

debarkers). 

In the Next Edition 

In Part II of this series, 

we will examine sawing 

lumber using quarter 

scales (why and how 

quarter scales are used 

when milling lumber). 

Acknowledgement 

– the information 

(including illustrations) 

in this article is from 

the Instructional Guide 

to Wood Technology 

and Sawmilling, 2000, a 

publication of Wood-Mizer 

Canada Co., 217 Salem 

Road, Manilla, Ontario 

K0M 2J0, 1-877-866-0667, 

. 

An Introduction to Tree Marking 

Travel our rural 

landscape and the 

evidence can be seen 

first-hand. Some of our 

past forest management 

practices, such as clearcutting 

and diameter 

cutting (where the largest 

and most valuable trees 

are cut leaving behind the 

less valuable or poorer 

quality trees) have left us 

with a forest landscape 

dotted with degraded 

woodlots. 

It is important that we learn 

from our past because 

experience has shown 

us that these types of 

poorly managed woodlots 

will not provide us with 

a sustainable supply of 

quality forest products or 

suitable wildlife habitat— 

and they will not maintain 

a healthy, diverse forest 

ecosystem. 

Cutting trees is an 

important management 

tool landowners can use 

to enhance the health 

and biodiversity of their 

woodlot. However, for this 

tool to be effective it must 

be done in a manner that 

is consistent with good 

forestry practices. This can 

be best achieved through 

a good tree-marking plan 

(prescription) and tree 

marking. 

Good forestry practices – means the proper 

implementation of harvest, renewal and 

maintenance activities known to be appropriate 

for the forest and environmental conditions under 

which they are being applied and that minimize 

detriments to forest values including significant 

ecosystems, important fish and wildlife habitat, soil 

and water quality and quantity, forest productivity 

and health and the aesthetics and recreational 

opportunities of the landscape. 

(Forestry Act, R.S.O. 1990) 

This article will explore 

the merits of using tree 

marking as a management 

tool. It will examine the 

financial rationale for 

tree marking and the 

implementation of good 

forestry practices. It will 

also provide landowners 

with a few basic principles 

of tree marking that they 

can apply when cutting 

firewood in their woodlot. 

Why have my woodlot 

marked? 

Tree marking involves the 

careful selection of trees 

for harvest (under a partial 

cutting system), based 

on a forest management 

prescription. The 

decisions made by a tree 

marker are complex -- part 

art and part science. The 

tree marker must assess 

each individual tree and 

give consideration to a 

number of variables (e.g., 

Prescription – describes a series of actions to 

be taken to meet the management objectives 

(e.g., improve growth and quality of the forest, 

ensure regeneration, provide wildlife habitat, 

etc.) for a specific area based on an assessment 

and inventory of that area. In Ontario, provincial 

legislation requires that the development (or 

approval) of a prescription is the responsibility of a 

Registered Professional Forester, or an Associate 

Member, of the Ontario Professional Foresters 

Association. 

12 OWA - Dedicated to the Wise Use of Ontario’s Private Woodlands

egeneration, tree health, 

site conditions, wildlife 

habitat, diversity and the 

overall forest objectives) 

before a final decision is 

made whether to leave the 

tree or mark it to be cut. It 

is important to understand 

that the selection process 

is not just based on tree 

size. 

Having your woodlot 

marked by a qualified tree 

marker is an important step 

that links the objectives of 

your woodlot management 

plan (and prescription) 

with the actual harvesting 

operation. Here are some 

of the reasons why you 

should have your woodlot 

marked prior to harvesting: 

Identifying which trees 

to cut: In its simplest form, 

tree marking will identify (to 

the logger) the trees that 

are to be harvested (i.e., 

paint is applied to the tree 

to be cut at breast height 

and on the stump). 

Regeneration: A tree 

marker can mark your 

woodlot in a manner that 

will maintain a healthy 

woodlot while ensuring that 

a new forest of desirable 

species grows after 

cutting. 

Tree health, vigour, 

genetics and site 

conditions: Evaluating 

a tree’s health, vigour 

and its future growing 

potential can be tricky. 

This is because not all 

trees are created equal, 

and a small tree is not 

always a younger tree. 

Many of the small trees 

in your woodlot are small 

because of their age. 

However, the size of a tree 

may also be due to poor 

genetics, stunted growth 

or site characteristics. It 

takes experience to tell 

the difference, and an 

experienced tree marker 

can provide you with this 

expertise. 

Wildlife habitat: Tree 

markers can identify the 

trees in your woodlot that 

should be retained to 

provide valuable wildlife 

habitat and to maintain 

biodiversity (e.g., mast and 

cavity trees). 

Long-term sustainability: 

Tree marking, based on 

sound forest management 

principles, will optimize 

your economic return, 

enhance future timber 

quality and quantity and 

has the capacity to ensure 

the long-term sustainability 

of your woodlot. 

It is important to realize 

that anyone with a can 

of spray paint can claim 

to be a tree marker. It is 

only when tree marking is 

applied in conjunction with 

good forestry practices 

that the opportunity for 

high-grading can be 

minimized. That is why it 

Continued next page... 

Certified tree marker – the Ontario Ministry of 

Natural Resources (OMNR) provides tree marking 

certification training. The training involves a 

one-week course covering silvicultural systems, 

silviculture, silvics, wildlife habitat, tree defects 

and tree vigour characteristics. Participants are 

field tested, and successful trainees are issued a 

certificate endorsing their skills as a certified tree 

marker. To maintain OMNR’s certification, a tree 

marker must attend and successfully complete a 

refresher course every three years. 

OWA - Dedicated to the Wise Use of Ontario’s Private Woodlands 13

... Tree Marking continued 

is highly recommended, 

if you are planning to 

undertake a commercial 

harvest, that you should 

consider hiring a certified 

tree marker and/or a forest 

consultant to assist you. 

The dollars and cents of 

tree marking. 

Over the long term, the 

cost of tree marking is 

a small investment for 

a landowner. This is 

because the value of 

sawlogs from a managed 

woodlot increases with 

time. Why? 

Figure 1: This graph shows the stumpage values after inflation (1959 US dollars) 

for the State of Maine for red oak, sugar maple and hardwood pulpwood from 1959 

through 2002. These figures were compiled by David B. Field, Department of Forest 

Management, University of Maine. Conversion factor 1,000 fbm = 2.0 cords. 

Factor #1 – It is a simple 

case of supply and 

demand. Over the past 

40 or more years the 

stumpage 1 a landowner 

has received for quality 

sawlogs has continued 

to increase year over 

year. The rationale for this 

steady increase is simple 

– it can be attributed to 

supply and demand. With 

a shrinking supply, and 

an increase in demand, 

markets are driving 

stumpage upwards, and 

we are experiencing ever 

increasing stumpage 

prices for quality hardwood 

sawlogs. Figure 1 

illustrates this point. For 

example, from 1959 to 

2002 the annual stumpage 

values (after inflation) for 

red oak have increased by 

2.8%, and sugar maple 

sawlogs have increased by 

2.2%. Meanwhile, lower 

value products such as 

firewood or pulpwood, 

which are readily available 

in most markets, have only 

risen marginally at 0.001% 

per annum over the same 

time period. Refer to 

Figure 1. 

Factor #2 – In a managed 

woodlot, trees between 

12 inches and 20 inches in 

diameter can easily grow 

Table 1: 40-Year Growth of a Sugar Maple Tree 

in a Managed Forest 

Diameter at 

dbh 

(inches) 

Volume 

(board feet) 

Log Grade 

Dollar 

Value 

per Tree 

12 75 3 $16.88 

14 107 2 – 3 $35.31 

16 143 2 $62.21 

18 184 1 – 2 $99.36 

20 230 1 $148.35 

Logs values are mill gate 2 prices (Eastern Ontario - 

spring 2004). St. Lawrence-Great Lakes volume table. 


2 inches in diameter every 

10 ten years. At this rate, 

they are increasing in value 

by 50% to 100% every 10 

years, because they are 

growing large amounts of 

high-value wood suitable 

for lumber, and the quality 

of the lumber, as reflected 

in log grade, is improving. 

Not only are the trees 

accumulating board feet 

rapidly, the price per board 

foot in the tree is also 

increasing. Refer to Table 1. 

Anyone can grow poorer 

quality trees, produce 

lower end products, and 

receive minimal return on 

their investment. However, 

by implementing good 

forestry practices, and 

using tree marking as a 

tool in your management 

activities, you can begin 

to maximize your financial 

returns that will continue 

to increase in value with 

each cutting cycle. 3 

Using this approach, you 

will be managing for a 

sustainable timber supply 

while maintaining and 

enhancing the integrity 

and biodiversity of your 

woodlot. 

Tree marking 101. 

So where does this leave 

landowners who would like 

to cut a small volume of 

wood (such as firewood) 

for personal use? The 

help of a qualified tree 

marker would still be of 

value to you. However, 

should you wish to go it 

alone, here are five basic 

principles of tree marking 

that can be applied to 

improve your woodlot. 

#1 – Cut the worst first. 

Thinning increases the 

future growth and value of 

trees in your woodlot. The 

decision of where to start 

can be simply stated as 

cut the worst first. With 

the objective of retaining 

healthy, well-formed trees 

to grow and improve in 

your woodlot, the priority 

for trees to be cut can 

easily be determined. 

Thin a woodlot by 

removing: 

• trees that show 

evidence of disease 

(cankers or fungi); 

• severely damaged 

trees (broken tops), 

major crown dieback or 

trees with dead tops; 

• poorly formed trees 

subject to windthrow 

(severe lean >10% or 

major fork or sweep); 

and 

Basal Area – is the area in square metres per 

hectare of the cross-section of all the trees 

measured at 1.3 metres above ground level. 

Knowing the BA tells a forestry practitioner 

whether or not a stand is overstocked, 

understocked or growing at its optimum rate. BA 

is most easily measured with an instrument called 

a wedge prism. (A Landowner’s Guide to Selling 

Standing Timber) 

• trees showing low 

vigour (small and 

poorly formed crown, 

narrowly fissured bark). 

FERGUSON 

Forest Centre 

An important point to 

remember is that you 

shouldn’t overharvest by 

attempting to remove all 

the poor quality trees in 

Continued next page ... 

Forest Gene Conservation 

Association member & 

Ontario’s Natural Selections 

Certified Grower 

- Seed Source Matters! 

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Bareroot seedlings, container stock, potted stock and whips available. 

Our stock is grown from seed sources in plant hardiness zones 

5 and 6 or more specifically - OMNR seed zones 30, 34, 35 & 36 

We’ll help you choose the right source for your area 

Located at: 275 County Rd. 44, Kemptville, ON. K0G 1J0 

Tel: 613-258-0110 or 1-888-791-1103 / Fax: 613-258-0207 

E-mail: info@seedlingnursery.com 

Website:www.seedlingnursery.com 

OWA - Dedicated to the Wise Use of Ontario’s Private Woodlands 15


Here is an example of a woodlot prior to harvesting (left) and after harvest (right). Note in the after photo the retention of high quality trees at an optimal density. 

your woodlot in one cutting 

cycle. Your objective 

should be to maintain an 

optimal density of trees in 

all diameter classes, and 

in some cases, this may 

require that you retain 

some poorer quality trees 

in your woodlot until the 

next cutting cycle (in 20 to 

25 years). 

Member of 

Forest Gene Conservation Association 

& 

Landscape Ontario 

#2 – Maximizing future 

growth. The objective is 

simple – try to retain the 

optimal density of trees on 

the site (refer to Figure 2) 

to maximize the growth on 

the best quality trees left 

after harvest. As a rule of 

thumb, always ensure that 

you retain a minimum 2/3 

of the pre-harvest basal 

area (BA) or 20 m 2 /ha, 

whichever is greater. 

#3 – Retain trees of 

all sizes. As well as 

maintaining a suitable 

stocking level (basal 

area), it’s also important 

to maintain a balanced 

diameter distribution. As 

High Quality 

Containerized & Bareroot 

Seedlings & Transplants 

Conifers, Deciduous & Wildlife Species 

St. Williams Forestry Center 

P. O. Box 150 

St. Williams, ON N0E 1P0 

Tel: (519) 586-9116 / Web site: www.forestcare.com 

Figure 2: A tolerant hardwood woodlot in eastern Ontario can be managed to produce 

an additional 60 board feet per acre by removing low-quality trees (thinning) and 

retaining an optimal number of sawlog quality trees. Over a period of 20 years, a 100- 

acre woodlot could realize an additional 120,000 board feet of lumber through good 

management. (A Landowner’s Guide to Selling Standing Timber) 


a general rule of thumb, 

retain trees of the following 

diameter classes: 

• 1/3 in the 4 to 10 inches 

(polewood) diameter 

class; 

• 1/3 in the 11 to 16 

inches (small to 

medium sawlog) 

diameter class; 

• 1/3 in the 17 to 24+ 

inches (medium to 

large sawlog); and 

• regeneration (stems < 4 

inches). 

By maintaining the 

appropriate basal area and 

diameter distribution you 

will be able to maximize 

the growing potential of the 

site. At the same time, you 

will ensure regeneration 

by maintaining quality 

seed trees and you will 

provide wildlife habitat. 

For example, red oak does 

not achieve its maximum 

output of mast (acorns) 

until trees reach 20 inches 

in diameter (dbh). For 

white oak, the diameter for 

the best acorn production 

is 25 to 28 inches (refer to 

Figure 3). Knowledge of 

the biological features of 

oak is important to ensure 

that the optimal diameter of 

this species is retained as a 

seed tree for regeneration. 

#4 – Maintaining 

diversity. It’s important to 

maintain a diversity of tree 

species in your woodlot. 

This will help to ensure 

the continued natural 

diversity of the various 

forest types across the 

landscape. It will also help 

to protect or maintain the 

diverse fauna and flora 

habitat of your woodlot. 

This can best be achieved 

by applying appropriate 

silviculture practices and 

by addressing site-specific 

habitat features (see 

Principle #5) during your 

harvesting activities. 

#5 – Wildlife need a home 

too. As a landowner, there 

are a number of simple 

things that you can do 

to address the common 

wildlife features found in 

your woodlot. Here is a 

short list of things you may 

want to do to assist wildlife. 

During your harvesting 

activities retain the 

following wildlife trees: 

• cavity trees – 6 per ha 

(40 m spacing); 

• mast tree (i.e. oak, 

beech, black cherry 

and hickory) – 8 per ha 

(35 m spacing); 

OWA - Dedicated to the Wise Use of Ontario’s Private Woodlands 17 

• conifers – 10 per ha 

(clumps preferred); and 

• provide protection to 

all active and inactive 

raptor stick nests. 

A more comprehensive list 

of habitat features, and a 

summary of management 

guidelines on how to 

protect them, can be 

found in Table 4.4.1 in 

A Silvicultural Guide to 

Managing Southern Ontario 

Forests or in the extension 

note Promoting a Healthy 

Forest Through Tree 

Marking. 

References 

A Silvicultural Guide to 

Managing Southern Ontario 

Forests. A copy of this 

guide is available from 

the Ministry of Natural 

Resources ($27.50) by 

calling 1-800-667-1940 

or it can be downloaded 

from the Internet for 

free at . 

A Tree Marking Guide for 

the Tolerant Hardwood 

Working Group. A copy 

of this guide is available 

from the Ministry of Natural 

Resources ($27.50) by 

calling 1-800-667-1940 


Figure 3: Acorn production for oak species by diameter at breast height. Continued next page ...


from the Internet for free at 

. 

Promoting a Healthy Forest 

Through Tree Marking. A 

copy of this new extension 

note is available free 

from the LandOwner 

Resource Centre by 

calling (613) 692-2360 


from the Internet at 

. 

Acknowledgements – 

information included in this 

article, in part, was based 

From 

$3,495. 

+ 

= 

on a presentation made 

by Martin Streit, Domtar 

(Cornwall) at a recent 

landowner workshop (Apple 

Hill, ON). 

Footnotes 

1 

Stumpage – is the price paid 

(i.e. dollar value per cord, tonne 

or thousand board feet) to a 

woodlot owner by a contractor/ 

logger for the right to harvest 

trees. 

2 

Mill gate price – is the price 

paid by the mill for logs 

delivered to the mill. 

3 

Cutting cycle – is the planned 

interval between major 

harvesting operations in the 

same stand. 

Personal 

Sawmill 

Management Options for Small-Scale 

Sugar Bush Operations 

Part IV – Maple Facts By Mark Richardson 

This is the fourth and 

final article in the series 

on managing the smallscale 

sugar bush. Part 

I focused on traditional 

management activities 

like planning, thinning and 

crop tree selection. Part II 

introduced various aspects 

of sugar bush health and 

how it influences longterm 

sustainability. Part III 

focused on some activities 

associated with “working” 

a sugar bush each spring: 

collecting sap, tapping 

practices and processing 

sap into maple products. 

In this last part, some 

general facts on maple are 

introduced, and although 

they may not be critical to 

the operation of the smallscale 

sugarbush, they may 

be of interest to producers 

or woodlot owners. 

Why does sap flow from 

maple trees? 

From early March until mid- 

April, many farmers, rural 

landowners and cottagers 

are celebrating an ageold 

tradition by tapping 

maple trees, collecting 

sap and making maple 

syrup. While most people 

are aware that maple sap 

flows from maple trees, 

few can tell you how it 

flows or why it flows in 

maples but not in many 

other species. There is 

good reason for this – sap 

flow is a complex physical 

and chemical process that 

is not totally understood by 

the scientific community. 

Although there has been 

a lot of research into sap 

flow mechanisms, there 

are still some unanswered 

1-800-661-7746 Ext 183 

www.norwoodindustries.com

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