Multiple Use Forest Management
Contributed by Dr. Mark Dubois, Extension Specialist, Auburn University.
Multiple Use Management - Land management for more than one purpose, such as timber production, wildlife, recreation, water and aesthetics. Multiple-use management is a system that manages all the renewable resources of forestland.
Steps to Multiple Use Forest Management:
- Identify specific management objectives and goals. Ask yourself, why do I own forestland and what are my goals? Also ask yourself, what do I want from my forest?
- Inventory forest resources and property including timber, wildlife habitats, streams, unique landforms and places of personal significance.
- Evaluate management alternatives and tradeoffs.
- Prepare a final management plan.
- Implement a plan.
Forest Resource Inventory
| Why? |
A landowner needs as much information as possible to develop alternatives and cost estimates given their management objectives. |
| What? |
Landowner management objectives will dictate what to include in a forest resource inventory. The inventory should provide:
- Information necessary to quantify existing forest resources.
- A property map identifying and delineating forest stands and other habitats, landform features, and unique areas.
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Timber Inventory
Objective: to obtain an estimate of the volume, grade and value of existing standing timber and identify silvicultural needs.
Information collected should include:
- Tree species, size (d.b.h. an heights), age, and quality.
- A delineation of forest stand types.
- Identification of silvicultural needs.
- Assessment of accessability and site characteristics that may limit management and timber harvesting activities.
Range Resource Inventory
Assessment of Vegetation
| Herbage: |
the annual above-ground weight production of grasses, grass-like plants and forbs. |
| Browse: |
current leaf and twig growth of shrubs, woody vines, and trees available for consumption. |
| Forage: |
the herbage and browse which may be eaten by grazing animals. |
Wildlife Resource Inventory
Management of the wildlife resource implies an effort to attain a degree of balance between the food and cover available and the animal population favored.
The inventory should:
- estimate the number of animals, composition, and trends of various wildlife populations.
- evaluate the adequacy of various habitats for supporting wildlife populations given their specific food and cover requirements.
Water Resource Inventory
Location, size, and quality
- Lakes / Ponds
- Streams - perennial or intermittent
- Seeps
- Springs
Recreation Resource Considerations
The product of a recreational experience are the satisfactions derived from the recreational experience.
Visual Impacts of Landscape
- A large proportion of human perception is based on sight.
- Need to identify landscapes that have beauty as well as utility.
Identify Other Habitats and Unique Landform Features and Areas
- Wetlands
- Pasture / Croplands
- Human impact areas - roads, trails, buildings.
- Areas of historical importance.
- Threatened/endangered wildlife and plant areas.
- Sensitive ecosystems.
Develop & Evaluate Alternatives
- Use information from the forest resource inventory to match management alternatives to management objectives.
- Evaluate cost of achieving alternatives. Are the alternatives within the financial limitations of the landowner? Explore cost-share alternatives.
School of Forestry & Wildlife Sciences Extension
602 Duncan Drive · Auburn University, Alabama 36849
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