managing your forestland: common recommendations by virginia department of forestry

Managing Your Forestland:Common

Recommendations

Kyle D. DingusArea Forester

Virginia Department of Forestry NOVA Work Area675 Frost Avenue

Warrenton, VA 20186

Virginia Department of Forestry• Services

• Technical assistance • Prescribed burning• Equipment rental• Planting Coordination• Management Plans

– Stewardship Plan– Stand Plan– Pre-Harvest Plan– Planting Plans– Land-Use Plans

– DOF Cost Share Programs• Reforestation of Timberlands• Riparian Forest Buffer Tax Credit• Assistance with others

– EQIP– CREP– CRP– Ag BMP– Others

Law Enforcement1. Wildfire Laws2. Water Quality Laws3. Seed Tree Laws

NOVA Work Area

• Fauquier County• Loudoun County• Prince William County• Fairfax County• Arlington County

– Cities of Arlington/Alexandria • Culpeper County• Rappahannock County• Madison County

Understanding the forest

• What are the landowner’s objectives?– How can I make this forest work for them?

• How did these trees get here?

• What is the land use history of the property?

• What will be the future species composition?

• Are there any health concerns present now?

General Recommendations• The big 8

• These relate to every property that has forestland in the NOVA work area

• Designed to improve the health of the forest and protect the landowner

• All are recommendations, NOT mandatory

1. Have a management plan for your property

• Based upon your objectives

• How do you want the forest to benefit you

• Forestry takes time– Management Rotations

• Hardwoods 40-125 years• Pines: 20-50 years

You can lose income opportunit ies

2. Control and monitor invasive species

• Common Invasives for NOVA Work Area:1. Tree-of-heaven2. Autumn olive3. Mile-a-minute4. Japanese barberry5. Japanese honeysuckle6. Oriental bittersweet7. Multiflora rose8. English ivy9. Garlic mustard10. Royal paulonia11. Wineberry

Preventing regeneration

Hindering layer development

3. Control Deer

• A MAJOR problem to regenerating forest

• There are practically no natural predators

• Assistance through VDGIF and local hunters– DMAP Program

Regenerating plants deer do not eat

The forest should NOT be park l ike

Deer and Invasive together

• Deer eat natives and give the edge to invasives

• Deer have less food over time and suffer

• Native plants have to persevere against two formidable obstacles

They l imit managementFailed Plantings Low regeneration

Solutions

Invasives

• Give growing space to natives

• Prioritize work areas and set goals

• Systematically work your way through the forest

• Repeat monitoring and control

• Use integrated pest management and READ LABELS!

Deer• Encourage harvesting of

female deer • Encourage your

neighbors to do the same• Extra meat can be

donated to Hunters for the Hungry

• There are a lot of people that need places to hunt

4. Have you boundary l ines clearly marked

• Protects you and others

• Use a licensed surveyor

• Have them mark your lines not just your corners

• Virginia Code § 55-334.1

5. Have a certif ied arborist periodically check the trees around your home

• Preventative maintenance is typically cheaper than failure

• www.goodtreecare.com– International Society of

Arboriculture– American Society of

Consulting Arborist

6. Monitor the forest

• There are more options when you catch disease or insect pests early

• On the radar:– Emerald Ash Borer– Thousand Cankers

Beetle– Jumping Oak Gall

7. Enhance the riparian areas

• Allow trees to establish along streams minimum of 35’, but 50’ preferred

• Increases water quality

• May be cost share for farmers

8. Consider pines or warm season grasses in open areas

Pines• Quickest way to grow

timber• Loblolly or shortleaf• Cost share available

through RT

Warm Season Grasses• Not very common

anymore• Can interplant with

wildflowers• Will help quail and other

bird populations multiply in the area

Do you really need to keep mowing?

A healthy forest:

• Has a diversity of NATIVE species– Promotes resilience

• Has a variety of layers– Over, mid, and under stories

• Is something you benefit from every second of your life

Healthy Forest Need Management!

Questions