The following is a draft of modifications of the MA Stewardship Issues document which is a required component of all Forest Management Plans which are required for reduction of land tax in MA. Unfortunately this document was written by a regime that has little interest in the plight of owners of forest land who are faced with the situations that result in super storms or invasive species that come from the supply of cheap goods from half a world away. Please help by suggesting areas for a more balanced treatment of these essential services.
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Stewardship Issues / Unfunded Infrastructure!
Massachusetts is a small urban and residential state with a large population of residents who expect reliable community and support services. These citizens are for the most part disconnected from the sources of the resources they feel entitled to and the ecosystems that provide these services. This disconnection is the source of significant challenges to communication and resolution of conflicts between the needs of owners and those divorced from the provision of ecosystem services. MA contains a tremendous variety of ecosystems, plant and animal species, management challenges, and opportunities. The planned corporate disconnection of all of the human population from reliance on local sustainable systems is a major issue for our time that is not adequately addressed by our leaders, our media or our resource management systems. This section of your plan will provide background information about the Massachusetts forest landscape as well as issues and opportunities for proactive activity that might affect your land. The current USA monetary system has no way to recognize the value of these issues and opportunities, therefore the discussions here are in the form of a basic primer with the hope that you will study the range of issues in greater detail than this plan can provide. The Overview, Stand Descriptions and Management Practices sections of your plan will give more detailed property specific information on these subjects tailored to your management goals. Unfortunately, this plan can offer little in the way of reliable guidance on how to fund or even plan for the proactive implementation of the recommendations provided in these sections. This area of plan implementation may involve intensive study of the current private, State, and Federal support offerings and may lead to extended conversations with your forestry contacts and public officials. This plan is simply a tax qualification document to assist owners in retaining land in an undeveloped condition by reducing the level of tax charged by the local authorities. This plan in no way obligates you to comply with systems that are beyond your means to address. However, further activity may be regulated by laws and regulations put in place without the provisions for compensation for the services or compliance demanded in the regulation. An added problem is that because of the on going activity of the urban and rural populations, corporations and governments around the world, many sustainable systems are at risk from climate weirdness that can not be eliminated by a simple designation of “protection” as is suggested in many sections below. For this reason it is suggested here that the normal “protection” of place is obsolete and must be accompanied by a range of other measures including carbon negative energy system adoption for local provision of energy and stabilization of forest and agricultural soils wherever possible. The urgency of this cultural change can not be over emphasized. Climate weirdness is with us and must be addressed in all we do.
Biodiversity: Biological diversity is, in part, a measure of the variety of plants and animals, the communities they form, and the ecological processes (such as water and nutrient cycling) that sustain them. With the recognition that each species has value, individually and as part of its natural community, maintaining biodiversity has become an important resource management goal.
While the biggest threat to biodiversity in Massachusetts is the loss of habitat to development, another threat is the introduction and spread of invasive non-native plants. Non-native invasives like European Buckthorn, Asiatic Bittersweet, and Japanese Honeysuckle spread quickly, crowding out or smothering native species and upsetting and dramatically altering ecosystem structure and function. Once established, invasives are difficult to control and even harder to eradicate. Therefore, vigilance and early intervention are paramount.
Another factor influencing biodiversity in Massachusetts concerns the amount and distribution of forest growth stages. Wildlife biologists have recommended that, for optimal wildlife habitat on a landscape scale, 5-15% of the forest should be in the seedling stage (less than 1” in diameter). Yet we currently have no more than 2-3% early successional stage seedling forest across the state. There is also a shortage of forest with large diameter trees (greater than 20”). See more about how you can manage your land with biodiversity in mind in the “Wildlife” section below. (Also refer to Managing Forests to Enhance Wildlife Diversity in Massachusetts and A Guide to Invasive Plants in Massachusetts in the binder pockets.) Note the binders are no longer available as a part of the management planning process.
Rare Species: Rare species include those that are threatened (abundant in parts of its range but declining in total numbers, those of special concern (any species that has suffered a decline that could threaten the species if left unchecked), and endangered (at immediate risk of extinction and probably cannot survive without direct human intervention). Some species are threatened or endangered globally, while others are common globally but rare in Massachusetts.
Of the 2,040 plant and animal species (not including insects) in Massachusetts, 424 are considered rare. About 100 of these rare species are known to occur in woodlands. Most of these are found in wooded wetlands, especially vernal pools. These temporary shallow pools dry up by late summer, but provide crucial breeding habitat for rare salamanders and a host of other unusual forest dwelling invertebrates. Although many species in Massachusetts are adapted to and thrive in recently disturbed forests, rare species are often very sensitive to any changes in their habitat
Indispensable to rare species protection is a set of maps maintained by the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP) that show current and historic locations of rare species and their habitats. The maps of your property will be compared to these rare species maps and the result indicated on the upper right corner of the front page of the plan. Prior to any regulated timber harvest, if an occurrence does show on the map, the NHESP will recommend protective measures. Possible measures include restricting logging operations to frozen periods of the year, or keeping logging equipment out of sensitive areas. You might also use information from NHESP to consider implementing management activities to improve the habitat for these special species. There are no comparable limitations on other “normal” citizen activities that contribute to the pollution of these areas or the impacts from outside development that cause additional focus on forest left within the region. The lack of an appropriate monetization of these habitat resources and provision of funding to compensate those lucky enough to be stewards of such habitat may place intolerable burdens on those owners.
Riparian and Wetlands Areas: Riparian and wetland areas are transition areas between open water features (lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers) and the drier terrestrial ecosystems. More specifically, a wetland is an area that has hydric (wet) soils and a unique community of plants that are adapted to live in these wet soils. Wetlands may be adjacent to streams or ponds, or a wetland may be found isolated in an otherwise drier landscape. A riparian area is the transition zone between an open water feature and the uplands (see Figure 1). A riparian zone may contain wetlands, but also includes areas with somewhat better drained soils. It is easiest to think of riparian areas as the places where land and water meet.
Figure 1: Example of a riparian zone.
The presence of water in riparian and wetland areas make these special places very important. Some of the functions and values that these areas provide are described below:
Filtration: Riparian zones capture and filter out sediment, chemicals and debris before they reach streams, rivers, lakes and drinking water supplies. This helps to keeps our drinking water cleaner, and saves communities money by making the need for costly filtration much less likely. There are some new proactive measures like formation and application of biochar from local forest residues that can aid in reducing nutrient and organic compound pollution of these water ways.
Flood control: By storing water after rainstorms, these areas reduce downstream flooding. Like a sponge, wetland and riparian areas absorb stormwater, then release it slowly over time instead of in one flush. The improvement of soil permeability through biochar application can significantly reduce the rate of soil moisture.
Critical wildlife habitat: Many birds and mammals need riparian and wetland areas for all or part of their life cycles. These areas provide food and water, cover, and travel corridors. They are often the most important habitat feature in Massachusetts’ forests.
Recreational opportunities: Our lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds are often focal points for recreation. We enjoy them when we boat, fish, swim, or just sit and enjoy the view.
In order to protect wetlands and riparian areas and to prevent soil erosion during timber harvesting activities, Massachusetts promotes the use of “Appropriate Management Practices” or AMPs. Maintaining or reestablishing the protective vegetative layer and protecting critical areas are the two rules that underlie these common sense measures. DCR’s Massachusetts Appropriate Forestry Practices Manual (included with this plan) details both the legally required and voluntary specifications for log landings, skid trails, water bars, buffer strips, filter strips, harvest timing, and much more.
The two Massachusetts laws that regulate timber harvesting in and around wetlands and riparian areas are the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (CH 131), and the Forest Cutting Practices Act (CH132). Among other things, CH132 requires the filing of a cutting plan and on-site inspection of a harvest operation by a DCR Service Forester to ensure that required AMPs are being followed when a commercial harvest exceeds 25,000 board feet or 50 cords (or combination thereof).
Soil and Water Quality: Forests provide a very effective natural buffer that holds soil in place and protects the purity of our water. The trees, understory vegetation, and the organic material on the forest floor reduce the impact of falling rain, and help to insure that soil will not be carried into our streams and waterways.
To maintain a supply of clean water, forests must be kept as healthy as possible. Forests with a diverse mixture of vigorous trees of different ages and species can better cope with periodic and unpredictable stress such as insect attacks or windstorms.
Timber harvesting must be conducted with the utmost care to ensure that erosion is minimized and that sediment does not enter streams or wetlands. Sediment causes turbidity which degrades water quality and can harm fish and other aquatic life. As long as Best Management Practices (BMPs) are implemented correctly, it is possible to undertake active forest management without harming water quality.
Forest Health: Like individual organisms, forests vary in their overall health. The health of a forest is affected by many factors including weather, soil, insects, diseases, air quality, and human activity. Forest owners do not usually focus on the health of a single tree, but are concerned about catastrophic events such as insect or disease outbreaks that affect so many individual trees that the whole forest community is impacted.
Like our own health, it is easier to prevent forest health problems then to cure them. This preventative approach usually involves two steps. First, it is desirable to maintain or encourage a wide diversity of tree species and age classes within the forest. This diversity makes a forest less susceptible to a single devastating health threat. Second, by thinning out weaker and less desirable trees, well-spaced healthy individual trees are assured enough water and light to thrive. These two steps will result in a forest of vigorously growing trees that is more resistant to environmental stress.
Fire: Most forests in Massachusetts are relatively resistant to catastrophic fire. Historically, Native Americans commonly burned certain forests to improve hunting grounds. In modern times, fires most often result from careless human actions.
The risk of an unintentional and damaging fire in your woods could increase as a result of logging activity if the slash (tree tops, branches, and debris) is not treated correctly. Adherence to the Massachusetts slash law minimizes this risk. Under the law, slash is to be removed from buffer areas near roads, boundaries, and critical areas and lopped close to the ground to speed decay. Well-maintained woods roads are always desirable to provide access should a fire occur.
Depending on the type of fire and the goals of the landowner, fire can also be considered as a management tool to favor certain species of plants and animals. Today the use of prescribed burning is largely restricted to the coast and islands, where it is used to maintain unique natural communities such as sandplain grasslands and pitch pine/scrub oak barrens. However, state land managers are also attempting to bring fire back to many of the fire-adapted communities found elsewhere around the state.
Wildlife Management: Enhancing the wildlife potential of a forested property is a common and important goal for many woodland owners. Sometimes actions can be taken to benefit a particular species of interest (e.g., put up Wood Duck nest boxes). In most cases, recommended management practices can benefit many species, and fall into one of three broad strategies. These are managing for diversity, protecting existing habitat, and enhancing existing habitat.
Managing for Diversity – Many species of wildlife need a variety of plant communities to meet their lifecycle requirements. In general, a property that contains a diversity of habitats will support a more varied wildlife population. A thick area of brush and young trees might provide food and cover for grouse and cedar waxwing; a mature stand of oaks provides acorns for foraging deer and turkey; while an open field provides the right food and cover for cottontail rabbits and red fox. It is often possible to create these different habitats on your property through active management. The appropriate mix of habitat types will primarily depend on the composition of the surrounding landscape and your objectives. It may be a good idea to create a brushy area where early successional habitats are rare, but the same practice may be inappropriate in the area’s last block of mature forest.
Protecting Existing Habitat – This strategy is commonly associated with managing for rare species or those species that require unique habitat features. These habitat features include vernal pools, springs and seeps, forested wetlands, rock outcrops, snags, den trees, and large blocks of unbroken forest. Some of these features are rare, and they provide the right mix of food, water, and shelter for a particular species or specialized community of wildlife. It is important to recognize their value and protect their function. This usually means not altering the feature and buffering the resource area from potential impacts.
Enhancing Existing Habitat – This strategy falls somewhere between the previous two. One way the wildlife value of a forest can be enhanced is by modifying its structure (number of canopy layers, average tree size, density). Thinning out undesirable trees from around large crowned mast (nut and fruit) trees will allow these trees to grow faster and produce more food. The faster growth will also accelerate the development of a more mature forest structure, which is important for some species. Creating small gaps or forest openings generates groups of seedlings and saplings that provide an additional layer of cover, food, and perch sites.
Each of these three strategies can be applied on a single property. For example, a landowner might want to increase the habitat diversity by reclaiming an old abandoned field. Elsewhere on the property, a stand of young hardwoods might be thinned to reduce competition, while a “no cut” buffer is set up around a vernal pool or other habitat feature. The overview, stand description and management practice sections of this plan will help you understand your woodland within the context of the surrounding landscape and the potential to diversify, protect or enhance wildlife habitat.
Wood Products: If managed wisely, forests can produce a periodic flow of wood products on a sustained basis. Stewardship encompasses finding ways to meet your current needs while protecting the forest’s ecological integrity. In this way, you can harvest timber and generate income without compromising the opportunities of future generations.
Massachusetts forests grow many highly valued species (white pine, red oak, sugar maple, white ash, and black cherry) whose lumber is sold throughout the world. Other lower valued species (hemlock, birch, beech, red maple) are marketed locally or regionally, and become products like pallets, pulpwood, firewood, and lumber. These products and their associated value-added industries contribute between 200 and 300 million dollars annually to the Massachusetts economy.
By growing and selling wood products in a responsible way you are helping to our society’s demand for these goods. Harvesting from sustainably managed woodlands - rather than from unmanaged or poorly managed forest – benefits the public in a multitude of ways. The sale of timber, pulpwood, and firewood also provides periodic income that you can reinvest in the property, increasing its value and helping you meet your long-term goals. Producing wood products helps defray the costs of owning woodland, and helps private landowners keep their forestland undeveloped.
Cultural Resources: Cultural resources are the places containing evidence of people who once lived in the area. Whether a Native American village from 1,700 years ago, or the remains of a farmstead from the 1800’s, these features all tell important and interesting stories about the landscape, and should be protected from damage or loss.
Massachusetts has a long and diverse history of human habitation and use. Native American tribes first took advantage of the natural bounty of this area over 10,000 years ago. Many of these villages were located along the coasts and rivers of the state. The interior woodlands were also used for hunting, traveling, and temporary camps. Signs of these activities are difficult to find in today’s forests. They were obscured by the dramatic landscape impacts brought by European settlers as they swept over the area in the 17th and 18th centuries.
By the middle 1800’s, more than 70% of the forests of Massachusetts had been cleared for crops and pastureland. Houses, barns, wells, fences, mills, and roads were all constructed as woodlands were converted for agricultural production. But when the Erie Canal connected the Midwest with the eastern cities, New England farms were abandoned for the more productive land in the Ohio River valley, and the landscape began to revert to forest. Many of the abandoned buildings were disassembled and moved, but the supporting stonework and other changes to the landscape can be easily seen today.
One particularly ubiquitous legacy of this period is stone walls. Most were constructed between 1810 and 1840 as stone fences (wooden fence rails had become scarce) to enclose sheep within pastures, or to exclude them from croplands and hayfields. Clues to their purpose are found in their construction. Walls that surrounded pasture areas were comprised mostly of large stones, while walls abutting former cropland accumulated many small stones as farmers cleared rocks turned up by their plows. Other cultural features to look for include cellar holes, wells, old roads and even old trash dumps.
Recreation and Aesthetic Considerations: Recreational opportunities and aesthetic quality are the most important values for many forest landowners, and represent valid goals in and of themselves. Removing interfering vegetation can open a vista or highlight a beautiful tree, for example. When a landowner’s goals include timber, thoughtful forest management can be used to accomplish silvicultural objectives while also reaching recreational and/or aesthetic objectives. For example, logging trails might be designed to provide a network of cross-country ski trails that lead through a variety of habitats and reveal points of interest.
If aesthetics is a concern and you are planning a timber harvest, obtain a copy of this excellent booklet: A Guide to Logging Aesthetics: Practical Tips for Loggers, Foresters & Landowners, by Geoffrey T. Jones, 1993. (Available from the Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service, (607) 255-7654, for $7). Work closely with your consultant to make sure the aesthetic standards you want are included in the contract and that the logger selected to do the job executes it properly. The time you take to plan ahead of the job will reward you and your family many times over with a fuller enjoyment of your forest, now and well into the future.
This is your Stewardship Plan. It is based on the goals that you have identified. The final success of your Stewardship Plan will be determined first, by how well you are able to identify and define your goals, and second, by the support you find and the resources you commit to implement each step.
It can be helpful and enjoyable to visit other properties to sample the range of management activities and see the accomplishments of others. This may help you visualize the outcome of alternative management decisions and can either stimulate new ideas or confirm your own personal philosophies. Don’t hesitate to express your thoughts, concerns, and ideas. Keep asking questions! Please be involved and enjoy the fact that you are the steward of a very special place.
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