Fifteen Minutes in the Forest: Managing a Hardwood Forest Part 1

Forester David Richert shares his methods for sustainably managing an Appalachian hardwood forest. This video discusses management decisions that need to be made before the timber harvest. Part 1 of 2.

[@naturewatcher7596]

Those oak trees near the damaged hickory look like big enough for harvest - why to wait another 20-30 years? How big should they be for the harvest? Thank you for the video - very informative.

[@naturewatcher7596]

1:56 'In 50 years we will come back, hopefully...' 🤣Maybe after reincarnation. 😂

[@larryag99]

Doesn't removing trees for "harvest" do significant damage to the surrounding trees and seedlings by the removal equipment,dragging, unused remnants, etc? In short, what your saying is... humans can do a better job at managing our forests than mother nature. That seems a bit arrogant wouldn't you say? Look around the forest and and its pretty evident that humans have done the greatest damage to the forest AND wildlife overall. Perhaps the best thing humans could do is keep other humans from the forest.

[@lorib5323]

VERY interesting. Thank you so much!!!

[@odonnelletsu]

Really interesting. Thanks for this.

[@HarrisonCountyStudio]

Thanks for the information. The property you are walking thru looks very similar to my 118 acre farm in WV.

[@virginiaforestlandowneredu309]

We weren't that far from WV - just one county over.

[@aslant9246]

david is full of forest knowledge

[@okieboy121]

Thanks

[@virginiaforestlandowneredu309]

No problem

[@larz46north18]

Prentice 210D Log Loader , nice machine I got 150 year old red oak up here west of montreal. hot burning firewood. heavy and HARD. 🐺

[@innagazda]

The video is 90 degrees rotated, inconvenient to watch

[@virginiaforestlandowneredu309]

Sorry about that! It's only like that for about 15 seconds - just keep watching and it will right itself. I will try to fix it and repost if I can. Thanks for letting me know.

[@wkimzey]

For that hickory (around minute 12:00) that is providing wildlife habitat, is it possible to have a win-win; cut the tree down maybe at 10 ft above the ground and leave a snag. Is it do-able, but more expensive? I guess another option which you show in Part 2, is to cut it at the base, but leave the bottom 10ft long snag lying on the ground. That works well for squirrels--not as well for those birds that like to nest in snags.

[@virginiaforestlandowneredu309]

Hi William, Thanks for the question! In this particular forest, there were plenty of standing dead trees for birds to use. Cutting the hickory off 10 feet above the ground would be a possibility. Of course, then the logger would be leaving the most valuable part of the tree behind. It's all a balance of ecological and economic benefits. The logger and landowner want to make money while protecting the ecological system. An easier way to create a snag would be to girdle a standing tree (cut through the living tissue just under the bark all the way around the tree). Much less expensive than having logging equipment on site and just as effective. And we would recommend doing this on less valuable timber trees - like red maple. Once the tree is dead, the birds don't care what species it is. Thanks for watching!

[@micah_lee]

Well as he mentioned another good part of that tree was the nuts. You’d loose those nuts if you cut it down lol. I would take it all out and leave space for other trees and it’s off spring.

[@brookslindamood8837]

Hi David

[@virginiaforestlandowneredu309]

David probably won't ever check this Channel - but I'll pass on your hello.

[@stephencarmichael5156]

The Forester has balance in mind, but the timber jack brings in his machines to rumble over the floor and trash about the woods. lol

[@virginiaforestlandowneredu309]

Hi Stephen, thanks for watching the video and for your comment. In this particular case, David is both the forester and the logger (or what I believe you are calling a timber jack). The equipment used these days is specifically designed to have a lighter impact on the forest floor - the large rubber tires reduce PSI and help reduce compaction to the soil. Also, conducting the harvest during dry periods also reduces compaction. And in all true forestry operations, what's left behind in the woods is just as, if not more, important that what is being taken out. If we don't protect the resource, there is no future in forestry. It's in every forester and logger's best interest to protect the forest and make sure our future forests are healthy and productive as well. Thanks again for watching!

[@stephencarmichael5156]

Maybe forest management should read Masanobu Fukoka philosophy on mans interference.

[@georgea6403]

@@stephencarmichael5156maybe you should move to Japan

[@larz46north18]

a 60hp Kabota might work well . i got a ih444 and will try the old winch trik. my dad used horses 1940's . i agree stev . 🐎

[@scottschaeffer8920]

Yep, I see a tract ready for a complete clear-cut. the better sites will be up to your shoulders in 3 years, yielding excellent wildlife habitat and the next generations of saw-timber.

[@olivertaylor8788]

Bull ...

[@ethantastic]

tell me more