The Future of Your Forest: CFA’s Tree Marking Program

CFA has now developed a Tree Marking Program.  This program was developed in response to the current and prospective forest management occurring in the Catskill Region on private land.  Unfortunately in most cases, private landowners resort to a practice called high-grading.  High-grading is a practice where the best quality and economically valuable trees are selectively chosen and harvested, while the poorest quality trees are left behind.  As a result, the condition of the forest is left worse than before since these poor quality trees then occupy the growing space and become the future forest.  High-grading is most likely to occur on parcels where short-term economic gain is needed.  In many cases a professional Forester is not involved as well.  Landowners may be more susceptible to high-grading their forest due to (1) High property taxes; (2) Lack of a Forester and/or Forest Management Plan; (3) Lack of an adequate timber contract; & (4) Lack of impartial and good forest management advice.  High-grading often goes unnoticed and is sometimes referred to as the green lie.  Though we may have more forest in New York State than 100 years ago, the quality of our forest is diminished by this practice and other biological circumstances such as over-browsing from white-tailed deer.  More on this in future articles. 

CFA’s new Tree Marking program is easy to implement.  It’s easy to get us on the phone and to come over, take a look at your property, assess your forest and develop specific forest management goals and objectives.  From this initial On-Site Visit, trees are marked accordingly.  Trees that are marked are considered crop trees.  Trees that are not marked and are competing with marked trees should be girdled, removed for firewood or left on the ground.  Leaving woody material on the ground provides habitat for fungus such as mychorrizae that help tree roots fix nitrogen.  Woody debris also protects young tree seedlings from deer browsing and cover for many species of wildlife.  The crop tree you release will almost always result in a healthier tree and forest since photosynthesis and carbohydrate production is enhanced.  The immune system of the tree is invigorated and as a result is less susceptible to insects and disease.  Landowner benefits are also realized earlier and more often.  A maple producer who releases their sugar maple crop trees will have higher sugar contents.  A wildlife manager who releases apple, black cherry and shagbark hickory will have higher yields of fruit and nuts and more forage for wildlife.  In addition, sunlight penetrating the understory will provide space for herbaceous growth for wildlife species seeking food and cover.  Biodiversity is increased by enhancing size, age and species composition.  Crop Tree Management is very similar to gardening, but demands more patience.  At first, the aesthetic impacts may seem a burden, but the potential benefits realized can far outweigh any costs.  To learn more about tree marking contact Catskill Forest Association (CFA).  www.catskillforest.org

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