Wisconsin's Forestland Woody Biomass Harvesting Guidelines

Figure 1-3. Old stumps provide important habitat for fungi and other microorganisms
that help break down wood and replenish soil nutrients.
potential impacts of increased biomass harvesting on
biodiversity conservation, soil nutrient depletion, physical
properties of soil, and water quality. The objective is to
provide guidance to forest resource managers, loggers,
equipment operators, contractors, and landowners in
Wisconsin, and to facilitate operational analysis and
informed decision-making regarding the harvest of woody
biomass from forestland. Implementation of the Forestland
Woody Biomass Harvesting Guidelines is voluntary.
Wisconsin’s Forestland Woody Biomass Harvesting
Guidelines were developed to limit the impacts of
harvesting of woody biomass on: a) biodiversity
conservation, b) soil nutrient depletion, c) physical
properties of soil, and d) water quality. The scope of
the Guidelines was limited in order to target the most
signifi cant ecological issues. Woody biomass harvests are
not common in Wisconsin’s forests and there is a lack
of research information about some aspects of potential
impacts. Once research begins, it will take several years
of data collection to understand the results. In the
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Eunice Padley, WI DNR