jonathan kays, extension specialist natural resources ... · 69% turned existing lawn into natural...

Jonathan Kays, Extension Specialist Natural Resources

University of Maryland Extension

jkays@umd.edu

www.extension.umd.edu/woodland

Visit our website! www.extension.umd.edu/woodland

Changing the Landscape Paradigm: From Mowed to Natural Use

Enhancing Existing Natural Areas

WIBY Calls for a Paradigm Shift

Think about planting many trees and shrubs, not just a few

Move from micro-management to thinking at a system scale

Design a system that contributes to community social and ecological values

Trees

Bushes Planting Beds

Helping Trees

Native Plants

Landscaping

Good Grasses

Planting Stuff

Killing Stuff

Trail Design

Wildlife food

Facilitating Functioning

Systems

owners size of properties new/different owner’s The words we use:

Forests > Woods > [Natural Areas]

Ownership Size Decreasing: Woodland & Open

Landowners: part of the solution If neighbors cooperate… Everybody’s actions

influence water quality, air quality, aesthetics, etc.

Every little bit of effort helps

Guide Overview Table of Contents – pg iii

Part 1: Introduction: Assessing your interests in your land

Part 2: Get to Know Your Property: In the landscape, identifying land management units, tree ID

Part 3: Ecological Principles: Succession, forest principles, water resources, wildlife ecology

Guide Overview Part 4: Put Your Knowledge into Practice:

recreation, aesthetics, choosing projects, land management techniques, timetable, & record your progress

Part 5: Workbook used to assess the potential of your property

Appendices: tables, resource list, glossary, index

Indentify your interests Inventory your property Understand ecological principles Assess potential for forest, wildife, water quality,

recreation & aesthetics Choose projects Learn techniques Make a timetable Record your progress

WIYB Guide Using a Learning Approach to Help You Develop a Plan

www.nraes.org

Conceptual Framework of Looking at One’s Property

Types of Land use: Intensive use – buildings,

sheds, paved areas, etc Intermediate use – lawns,

garden, pasture, orchard Natural use – forested,

unmowed areas with small trees & shrubs

Google Earth

Paired 3-acre plots

Natural Succession – Some Planting after 3 years

Natural Succession – Some Planting after 16

years

Intensive – Intermediate – Natural

Use Areas

Nelsons’ Property Map

Activity 1 (case study), Page 7 in manual

Potential Natural Area Improvement Projects Remove damaged trees and/or limbs Control exotic and/or invasive species Improve tree growth by thinning an overcrowded stand Plant trees

Potential Forest Products Projects

Firewood for personal or others’ use Ginseng or other medicinal plants from the natural areas of the

property Grapevines for wreaths Shiitake mushrooms

Potential Wildlife Habitat Projects

Create brush or rock piles Encourage growth of wildlife food trees Improve shelter opportunities by planting trees, brush piling or

creating soft edge

Potential Recreation Projects Create or improve trails Create a campfire or camping area Create a natural-area haven (place to relax) Improve opportunities for hunting or wildlife watching

Nelsons’ Constraints to Land Management Activity 5 – Page 13

Part II Getting to Know Your Property

Inventory Your Property - Page 15

• Your property’s in the

landscape • Surrounding properties • Land management units • Basic tree and shrub

identification

Patch Characteristics Affect Habitat Value Figure 2 – Page 18

Patch size and proximity affect wildlife habitat Larger, closer, and connected habitat is more useful to wildlife Figure D above is best for wildlife; Figure A is worst

Google Earth a Great Tool

Soil Survey from Web Soil Survey http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app

Designate land management Units

Add units to hand drawn map or whatever type of map used.

Tree identification basics

Activity 7, Page 23 - 24

The Nelsons’ Most Common Tree and Shrub Species by Land Management Unit

Activity 7, Page 23

Tree and Shrub ID

What kind of trees and shrubs grow on your land? Use simple MD Leaf Key to start. Peterson’s Guide to

Trees and Shrubs a great resource. Many online resources as well.

The “manual” covers the bare basics

Part II, Lesson 3, Page 25

Logging in Large-Lot Suburban Developments with a Good Forester

Use smaller and lower impact harvesting and processing equipment

Part III - Ecological Principles Ecology: the study of natural communities and how they function

and interact

Principles of succession Principles of forestry Water resources and your

natural area Principles of wildlife ecology

Natural areas change over time, whether or not you do anything to them.

You can alter the process of succession Tree vary in their requirement for sunlight.

The Dynamic Natural Area: Principles of Forest Succession

Different successional stages provide different wildlife habitat, aesthetics, and recreation.

Every small wooded lot may not contain every stage of succession

The Dynamic Natural Area: Principles of Succession

Each stage of succession supports different wildlife. Diversity of habitat a good thing.

Forestry Principles: Getting Down to Basics

1. Tree size not directly related to age 2. Different tree species require

different conditions 3. Trees grow at different rates -

compete for resources (i.e., sunlight, water, and nutrients)

4. Forests are 3-dimensional

Forestry Principles: Getting Down to Basics

5. Trees reproduce either from seeds or sprouts 6. Trees don’t live forever; dead trees valuable for wildlife and

soil 7. No matter how you manage your land, but especially if you

practice passive management, invasive and exotic species will inhabit it.

Improving Wildlife Habitat Value

Natural areas will increase food, cover, water, space

Get across the message, ‘Messy is okay’

New natural areas will attract wildlife that will increase wildlife-human conflicts (i.e. deer)

Designate land management Units

Add units to hand drawn map or whatever type of map used.

Tree identification basics

Activity 7, Page 23 - 24

Habitat Elements on Your Land

Activity 15 – Page 53

Special Section on unanticipated issues with wildlife - Pg 54

•Deer

•Cats

Creating a Wooded Natural Area • Managing natural succession • Maintain old field areas • Tree planting or “afforestation”

Natural Areas without Tree Cover • Occasional mowing • Warm season grasses • Native wildflower areas

Lawn Conversion Options

Best management practices Brush piles Create campfire area Firewood cutting Food plots Mast trees Tree planting Trails & roads Much more…

Conversion to Woodland “Taking forestry to the backyard”

Choosing Projects

Menu driven table helps landowners identify & rank objectives with some suggested broad project ideas. Similar table for other objectives

Make a Timetable – Spell out Details Lesson 5, Activity 19, page 74

Record Your Progress

Important: Take pictures…

Enjoy the Journey!!

Results of this Three-State Effort?

Maryland – Virginia - Pennsylvania

Sale of over 5,000 WIYB manuals Distribution of over 1,500 resource CD’s 4-Minute introductory video Workshop teaching modules and materials Effective outreach recognized by state forest stewardship

programs. Impact with new audiences

Lawn to Woodland Program

Small Acreage Professional Forester Directory

Revision of WIYB Guide

New Programs & Resources

Woodland Activities of Private Landowners 316 follow-up surveys sent in fall 2007 - 35% return

Woodland Activity Service Cat. % Done Activity

% Willing to Pay

Controlling vines Forest health 82 0 Wildlife brush piles Wildlife 77 2 Felling hazard trees Forest health 63 8 Recreational trail Recreation 55 5 Planting trees & shubs-water quality Water quality 45 7

Herbicide invasives & exotics Forest health 42 7 Cutting trees for firewood Forest products 42 5 Plant existing lawn w/tree seedlings Forest establish 37 10 Create tall grass–wildflower meadow Wildlife 29 7 Wildlife food plots Wildlife 17 5 Cutting logs to mill for lumber Forest products 10 17 Cutting trees for income Forest products 2 12

Follow-up Surveys from Two-Night Workshops - 2008

69% turned existing lawn into natural area. 89% said natural areas impacted by woodland activities. 54% developed a map of their property. Action: about 2/3 initiated a discussion with family or friends

about natural areas. 22% approached a neighbor. High percentages had completed woodland mgt activities and

39% wanted more in-depth info. Willingness to pay for others to perform woodland activities

very low.

Percentage of Green Industry Offered Woodland Services

Service Landscape Cont. & Architects/design

Arborist / Tree Service

Establishment/Water Quality Planting trees or shrubs along drainage ways, preparing, planting lawns with tree seedlings

69% 17%

Wildlife Management & Recreation Establishing wildflower meadows, designing or creating trails

68% 19%

Health Controlling vines in natural areas, spraying exotic and invasive species

57% 27%

Wildlife Management Building brush piles, establishing wildlife food plots, creating tall grass meadow with less frequent mowing or burning

65% 30%

Products Cutting trees for lumber, firewood, or for income

15% 77%

Landscapes and Backyard Woodlots: Business Opportunities for the Green Industry

Gettysburg, PA - November 11, 2008

Lessons Learned: Chicken ‘n Egg Problem Professionals realize they are not well qualified to make

management recommendations, but can implement them. Can work with a forester.

Green industry unsure of demand and potential profitability of woodland practices, especially in economic climate. Need success stories.

Arborists not interested in logging activities due to differing OSHA regulations.

Where to Go From Here? Revision of the WIYB guide is expected in early 2015. Webinar series once new guide released. Presentations and two-evening workshops as requested.

Even Later Peer to peer training for selected volunteers on WIYB Survey to identify interested loggers Training for foresters and loggers. Equipment? Identify green industry professionals interested in

implementing business model based on WIYB

Challenges to Overcome! Change in paradigm of forestry community – small

acreage owners are worth the effort. Why? Need to work on service provider problem. Use of small acreage harvesting equipment and

willingness of owners to engage. How to best market to this clientele?

Jonathan Kays

301-432-2767 x323

jkays@umd.edu

www.extension.umd.edu/woodland

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for sale

Low resolution pdf’s available