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SILVICULTURE

Objective:  To give the Tree Farmer a basic understanding of silviculture so that he can understand the needs of his particular forest stand or stands.   He should be able to utilize this understanding to better understand the recommended practices of his forest management plan and implement these practices properly.

  Topics that should be covered in the two- (2) classroom hours allotted are:

          Terminology -  silvics, silviculture, forest ecology, even-aged stands, uneven-aged stands,             cultural activity, regeneration (artificial and natural), silvicultural systems (high forest and             coppice)

  Regeneration methods – specific techniques used to regenerate forests.
    A.)    Even-aged methods
            Clearcutting
            Shelterwood
            Seed Tree
    B.)     Uneven-aged methods
            Individual tree selection
            Group selection

              Intermediate Cultural Activities
                                Thinning
                                Weeding
                                Release
                                Sanitation removals
                                Control competing vegetation
                                Site preparation
                     How accomplished
                                Mechanical
                                Chemical
                                Prescribed fire

  Silvical Characteristics – factors that influence a species’ growth and behavior.  These include: shade tolerance, seeding habit, capability to vegetatively reproduce, pest susceptibility, and adaption to disturbance.

                 Provide characteristics for species within location of workshop attendees.
                               Ponderosa pine
                                Lodgepole pine
                                Pinon pine
                                Douglas-fir
                                Engelmann spruce
                                White fir
                                Aspen                     (Do not cover all species, only those  considered local.)

  Utilize publications of the USDA Forest Service as handouts and references.
            RM-132  “Multipurpose Silviculture in Ponderosa Pine Stands of the Montane Zone of                 Central Colorado” – Clifford A. Myers
            RM-127  “Silviclutural Systems and Cutting Methods for Old-Growth Lodgepole Pine
              Forests in the Central Rocky Mountains” – Robert R. Alexander
            RM-126  “Silvicural Systems and Cutting Methods for old-Growth Spruce-Fir Forests in the
                Central and Southern Rocky Mountains” – Robert R. Alexander

 Master Tree Farm Course     Tree Farm Technician