Frequently Asked Questions on Early Successional Habitat Dynamics in Former Plantations
- Why are you doing this?
- Do you have a plan?
- How will the profits from the harvest be used?
- What is the objective and future plans for the land?
- What will be the visible changes along the Harvard Forest trails?
- Isn't clearcutting bad for the environment?
- How will this harvest affect wildlife populations?
- Won't the harvest areas be overrun with invasive species?
Why are you doing this?
The plantations at Harvard Forest were established in old fields during the early years of the Harvard Forest as long-term experiments on forest growth, productivity, and suitability of species to New England conditions. The stands are now 60 - 90 years old and are nearing or past maturation. Some of the stands have substantial areas blown down and the planned harvest will take down trees in a controlled way and decrease fire risk. The harvested areas will provide early successional wildlife habitat for 10-15 years, adding to the forest age and habitat diversity at the Harvard Forest. Ultimately, these forests will form mature stands of native tree species.
Do you have a plan?
This project is part of a comprehensive Master Plan that is under development for the Harvard Forest. This plan will consolidate historical data for all Harvard Forest properties and define zones within Harvard Forest that are appropriate for different levels of research, educational, recreational, and management activity. This Master Plan will help guide the use and management of Harvard Forest's properties as the Forest enters its second century.
Thus far, specific plans for the plantation harvest include a plantation assessment and a draft of silvicultural guidelines for harvesting about 100 acres (in blocks of 0.5- 47 acres), with technical assistance from Anne Marie Kittredge, MA DFW Forester. Detailed assessments of each stand including wetlands and streams, fragile soils and slopes are underway, in addition to timber marking.
How will the profits from the harvest be used?
Proceeds will be used to advance the research, education and conservation mission of the Harvard Forest. A portion of the proceeds will be dedicated to long-term monitoring and research in the harvested areas.
What is the objective and future plans for the land?
Our aim is to restore native forest by removing non-native species.
What will be the visible changes along the Harvard Forest trails?
Most recreational trails at Harvard Forest will be unaffected by this harvest. The two areas where harvesting will be quite visible will be along the road to the Prospect Hill fire tower (we have specifically been asked to remove these plantations by area fire officials) and along the west side of Harvard Pond.
Isn't clearcutting bad for the environment?
Silvicultural clearcutting, as is planned here, is an accepted and effective method to regenerate forests. In larger openings, we plan to retain groups of trees within the harvest blocks. Our management plan will include careful attention to using Best Management Practices to minimize impacts on water and soil quality.
How will this harvest affect wildlife populations?
We expect that this activity will diversify our forest wildlife by creating two distinctly different habitats: existing mature conifer stands and early successional habitat. Early successional habitat is used by a suite of wildlife, including some rare species. Early successional woodlands are regionally uncommon and increasing such habitat is a major management goal of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MA DFW). We are receiving technical assistance from MA DFW to tailor our harvest in order to benefit wildlife that depends on early successional woodlands.
Our proposed management will provide food, shelter and breeding habitat that will potentially benefit several at-risk species, including regionally rare and declining species such as golden-winged warbler and yellow-breasted chat, as well as American woodcock, chestnut-sided warbler, blue-winged warbler, and rufous-sided towhee. Approximately 33 acres of plantations will not be harvested, as these are located near sensitive research areas and provide nesting habitat for several bird species that are otherwise locally uncommon (e.g., Evening Grosbeak, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Blackburnian Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco).
Pre-harvest biological monitoring will ensure that we detect any rare plant or animal species prior to harvest, thus allowing us to modify management to accommodate them.
Won't the harvest areas be overrun with invasive species?
In conjunction with the planned harvest, we are planning invasive plant control activities. Invasive plant populations are documented on approximately 32 acres of Harvard Forest land, primarily in small populations, which make them amenable to control. Invasive plant removal areas will be monitored and re-treated as necessary to maintain control of the target species. Focused monitoring of the harvested areas for invasive exotic plant species will be conducted, enabling us to control any populations that become established.
In addition to the control program, a comprehensive monitoring program will allow us to document how vulnerable forest clearings are to invasion.