Reforestation

The forest management program's ongoing objective is to maintain a forest with a variety of vegetation types, stand age classes, and stand vigor conditions to accommodate future research and educational needs. Thus, successful reforestation of harvested areas is one of the highest management priorities in this plan.

To enhance research and education opportunities, various natural and artificial regeneration methods will be used to reforest harvested areas. Natural regeneration will be the primary means of regenerating hardwood stands. These are forest types consisting of aspen, birch and red maple. To date, natural regeneration of these hardwood species has resulted in well stocked regeneration of cut over areas. New artificial methods for regenerating hardwood species will be used on a research or demonstration basis as they develop.

Historically, artificial regeneration has been the primary means for regenerating conifer types. A variety of species, stock classes, stock types and planting densities will be employed to accomplish the species and stand diversity goal of the management program. One principle for artificial reforestation efforts is to have all planting stock grown from known and/or improved seed sources. In support of increased interest in natural regeneration methods for upland conifers, some suitable upland conifer harvest sites in this plan will be regenerated using natural regeneration methods. Table 5 lists the areas planned for harvest, the forest types of each of the areas before harvest, acres harvested, and the reforestation plan for the area.

The post-harvest vegetation types in Table 6 are the initial target establishments. Some areas will be left, following regeneration, to develop into mixed species stands with minimal release treatment. This may lead to some shifting of vegetation types. Table 6 shows total acres by forest type that will receive final harvest and be reforested during the ten year period. Table 7 also shows the net effect on the present forest types of the Center. In this ten year plan the forest will experience a slight increase in paper birch and balsam fir acres and a slight decease in red pine, aspen and jack pine.

Table 6. Reforestation of Final Harvest Areas
Area ID Acres Post Harvest Regeneration Species Reforestation Method Target Density (Trees/Ac)
2002-1 24 Aspen Natural 8,000+
2002-2 11 Jack Pine Artificial 907 + Nat.
2003-1 9 Jack Pine Artificial 907 + Nat.
2003-2 10 Balsam Fir Artificial 680 + Nat.
2004-1 19 Balsam Fir Artificial 680 + Nat.
2004-2 11 Jack Pine Artificial 680 + Nat.
2005-1 16 Black Spruce Natural 100
2005-2 11 Aspen Natural 8,000+
2006-1 22 Jack Pine Artificial 480 + Nat.
2008-1 24 Birch Artificial 480 + Nat.
2008-2 25 Aspen Natural 8,000+
2009-1 12 Black Spruce Artificial 680 + Nat.
2009-2 20 JackPine/Aspen (A) Natural
(JP) Artificial		 8,000+
907 + Nat.

 

Table 7. Final Harvest and Reforested Acres By Forest Type for July 2001 - June 2011.
Forest Type Total Acres Yr. 2001 Final Harvest Acres Reforested Acres Acres Net Gain/Loss Total Acres Yr. 2011
Red pine 878 2 0 -2 876
Jack pine 324 61 57 -4 320
Aspen 563 91 76 -15 548
Balsam fir 123 22 29 7 130
Paper birch 118 10 24 14 132
Black spruce 229 28 28 0 229
Total 2,235 214 214 0 2,235

Survival and Competition Assessments

Survival and competition assessments will be made one year and three years after planting. Although initial target stocking levels will be achieved by planting on some areas, it is recognized that initial stocking levels are seldom maintained because of losses due to mortality or increases due to natural regeneration. A wide range of stocking levels is necessary for future research opportunities. Additional plantings will be done if less than desirable stocking is established following the third year assessment.

Where assessments call for broadcast control of competing vegetation, ground spray units using approved chemical herbicides will be used. Competition control not requiring broadcast spraying will be done by backpack spraying or hand release. Current Center forest management staff are licensed pesticide applicators and all herbicide control work will be accomplished by them or contracted licensed applicators. Chemical control areas will be posted declaring such treatment immediately following the treatment.