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A2M314

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TIMBER MANAGEMENT PLAN CONFERENCE
HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
MARCH 28 - APRIL 8, 1949

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U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

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UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
LIBRARY

Pte€»rv»

BOOK NUMBER

23402

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A2M314

8—7071

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4013

'MANAGEMENT PLAN .CONFERENCE i

HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
MARCH 28 - APRIL 8, 1949 X'

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item

Author

y - - - -

3-5 Ito

, 3-TR

10
11

11A

12A

16
17

Conference Program
Committee Assignments
Committee Reports and Comments
The Management Plan Situation
Timber Management Plan Needs and
Programs

Management Policy
The Working Circle

Objectives of Management,

Coordination with Other Uses
Objectives of Management
Objectives of Management
Basic Data Needed for Timber
Management Plans

Stop-gap Timber Management Plans
Stop-gap Timber ^Vlanagement Plans
Transportation Planning for Management
Plans

Comments on Topic 8
Supplement to Topic 3
Applying Silviculture to Management
Planning
Crop Security
Intensifying Management
Use of Aerial Photographs in
Management Planning
Use of Aerial Photographs in
Management planning
Inventories for Timber Management
Plans, R-8

Inventories for Management Plans
The Use of Yield Tables in Predicting
Growth, Mortality and Yield
The Prediction of Growth by Stand
Projection Methods
A Continuous Inventory Basis for
Determining Growth, Mortality and
Yield

Methods Now Used in Calculating Growth
Mortality and Yield

j_j *

D.
A.
T.
D.
R.
M.
D.
D*
G.
D.
A.

S. Gross, W.O.

0. Hughes, R-5

O. Lindh, R-3

J. Kirkpatrick, R-6
W, Sump, R-9
Krueger, R-2
N. Matthews, R-l

R. Reynolds, S.S.
Westveld, N.E.

W. Tabbutt, ' R-7
N. Matthews, R-l

S. Meagher, S.W.

J. Kirkpatrick, R-6
J* Streinz, R-8

N. Matthews, R-l

P. Dean, W.O,

O. Lindh, R-3

I. Barrett, W.O.
Westveld, N0E.

E, Ochsner, W.O,

W. Sump, R-9

Krueger, R-2

J. Streinz, R-8
A. Hasel, R-5

A. Briegleb,P.N.W.

R. Wheeler, S.S.

G. Osborne, W.O,

J. Kirkpatrick, R-6

j i

4018

t34Q*/

No.

18A

19A

19B

20
20A
2 OB

20G

23A

Item

Methods Now Used in Calculating Growth,
Mortality and Yield, R-8
Methods of Management and Methods of
Regulation of Cut - Western Working
Circles

Management of Lodgepole Pine
Methods of Management and Methods of
Regulation of Cut in the National
Forests of the North Pacific Region
Methods of Management and Methods of
Regulation of Cut, R-8
Management of Second Growth Shortleaf
- Loblolly- Pine -Hardwood Stands
Methods of Management and Methods of
Regulation of Cut, Eastern Working
Circles, R-7

A Method of Regulating Cut in
Individual Stands
Policies and Legal Limitations
Affecting National Forest Timber
Management Activities
Management Plans for Cooperative and
Federal Sustained Yield Units
Form and Preparation of Timber
Management Plans

limber Management Plan Outline, R-8
Control Records, Harvesting Plans,
Timber Management Plan Revisions

25 The Value and Use of Timber Management

Plans as a Public Relation Tool

26 Hot/ to Train Management Planners

28 Criticism of "Timber Management Plans

on the National Forests"

Author

A. J. Streinz, R-8

A. A* Hasel, R-5
B* Lexen, R«M»

P. A. Briegleb,P#N,W.
A, J. Streinz, R-8
R. R. Reynolds, S,S.

D. ¥. Tabbutt, R-7
P. J. Zehngraff,L.S.

I. J, Mason, W. 0.

L. S. Gross, W.O.

C. 0. Lindh, R-3

D. ¥. Tabbutt, R-7
A. J. Streinz, R-8

P. A.Grossenbach,R-4
A. A. Hasel, R-5
A« ViT. Sump, R-9

D. N. Matthews, R-l
P.A.Grossenbach, R-4
¥• T. Murphy, ¥.0.

W, H. Lund, R-6
P. H. Bryan, R-8
C. 0. Lind, R-3

-2-

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOREST SERVICE

Address Reply to
CHIEF. FOREST SERVICE

SUPERVISION

Meetings

(Management Plan Conference)*

and .wlur to

WASHINGTON 25, O.C;

January 12, 1949

Regional Foresters , ' Director , Tropical

Region, and Directors, Experiment Stations

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to Mr. Granger *s circular letter of November 1, 1948
and subsequent correspondence

Tie have delayed issuing the program for the management plan conference
because it took some time to develop the program and to make sure that
we selected a period during which hotel accommodations could be obtained
at Hot Springs o The dates have been set — March 28 through April 8.

Region 10 and the Rocky Mountain Station have advised that it will be
impracticable to send representatives to the- Conference . Because of
the desirability of limiting total attendance only a few Research men
were invited, largely on the basis of Regional recommendations 0 This
letter is going to all Regions and .Stations. If any additional Station
has a man whom they would like to send to the Conference and who could
contribute to it, we will be glad to give ; consideration to such a
re commend at ion.

The general procedure for the Conference is stated in the enclosed
program,, It is hoped that everyone will follow/ this procedure. Each
designated topic leader should write the listed contributors shortly
after receiving the program so that there will be ample time to develop
all papers. As indicated, material from contributors may be incorporated
in the paper presented by the topic leader or may be presented indi¬
vidually, the decision in each case depending upon the wishes of those
involved for the particular topic.

Hot Springs is served by the Missouri pacific and Rock Island Railroads,
as well as the Chicago and Southern Airline. Some of those attending
no doubt will have to change at Little Rock, Arkansas, from which point
there is frequent bus service, as well as train and airline connections
to Hot Springs. Everyone should plan on arriving at Hot Springs Sunday
March 27 so that the Conference can get under way promptly Monday morning
It is anticipated that the entire two weeks will be needed to cover the
subjects which should be discussed. The program has been arranged in
what appears to be a logical order, but it is flexible and it. may be
desirable to make sene changes during the Conference,

(Over)

3351 .. •

2 -Regional Foresters, Director, Tropical Region, and Directors, Experiment
Stations— l/ll/49

Each man who will attend should arrange for his own hotel reservations
by writing Forest Supervisor M. C. Howard, Federal Building, Hot Springs
National park, Arkansas. It appears likely that we will be quartered in
two nearby hotels. It is understood that the usual accommodation will
be single rooms with connecting baths. Region 8 has advised that hotel
rates should be about the usual commercial scale during this period. It
is important that Supervisor Howard be notified promptly so that firm
reservations may be made well in advance of the Conference.

The Supervisor will furnish Mr. Reynolds a list of those for whom reserva¬
tions have been mede at Hot Springs, so that Reynolds can make the reser¬
vations at Cr os sett for Sunday and Monday nights, April 3 and 4.

It is anticipated that the final Conference session will last all day
Friday April 8, and probably most of us will find it best to plan on
leaving Hot Springs the following day.

The. one day field trip on the Ouachita and the day and a half at Crossett
may be rainy and muddy. It would be well to bring suitable clothing.

It is hoped that some of the men attending the Conference will take ad¬
vantage of their presence in the South to spend a day or twe after the
Conference seeing some intensively managed working circles in Region 89
The coastal plain southern pine forests in Mississippi and Texas should
prove to be particularly worth while. Region 8 would appreciate hearing
from those who wish to take this sort of a trip*

If anyone whose name appears on the program finds it impossible to attend
the Conference, he should prepare or participate in the preparation of
papers for which he is assigned as topic leader or contributor. Any
leader who cannot attend should send the required number of papers for
distribution at the Conference to Supervisor Howard and the necessary
number of copies to this office.

It is hoped the t all those who attend the conference will be prepared
to join in the discussion of each topic. The material furnished with
the program is intended to serve as a guide but not an all inclusive out¬
line for the various topics. Each leader should feel free to develop
his subject as he. thinks it should be handled, but should consider the
points mentioned in the supplemental material 0

•If there are any suggestions for additional material or procedure in
handling the Conference, please let us have them promptly.

Very truly yours?

IRA J. MASON, Chief

Division of Timber Management

by i

Enclosure

v.Jc-

3351

MANAGEMENT PLAN CONFERENCE
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, ARKANSAS
MARCH 28 TO APRIL 8, 1949

Personnel Participating

Washington

Office I. J. Mason

. ; ■ . V *

H. E. Ochsner

Lc S. Gross

L. I. Barrett
W« T» Murphy

J. T. Osborne

Region

Station

D. N. Matthews

T. Krueger

•

P. J. Zehngraff

C. 0. Lindh

P. A* Grossenbach

N. E.

M. T.ostvold

A. P . Has el B* 0*' Hughes

D. J. Kirkpatrick

P. N. W,

P. A. Briegleb

W. H. Lund

D. W* Tab butt ;

Southern

P. R* Wheeler

P. H* Bryan, A. J. Streinz

R. R. Reynolds

A. W. Sump

S* w.

G. S. Meagher

H* C. Cook

Co s*

R. D. Lane

W. H. Cole

Conference

Secretary En Ma >fowell

procedure

1. All papers will be mimeographed. Each author should bring 25 or
more copies to the Conference, for distribution to those attending*
The Conference Secretary will be responsible for distribution of
each paper in advance of presentation. In addition, 30 copies of
each paper should be sent to the Division of Timber Management in
Washington. Complete sets of papers, committee reports, etc. will
be assembled after the Conference and one set furnished each Region
and Station.

2. Each topic presented will be open for full discussion. In most
cases, one or two men are assigned to aid the topic leader (who is
listed first) in the presentation. The objective is get before

the Conference the problems, plans and ideas of the various regions.
In each case of multiple assignment the leader is responsible for
contacting the others, ordinarily by mail, for their views* These
may be incorporated in the written paper prepared by the leader,
or may be written separately and presented by the author.

Regional or Station representatives not listed for any topic who
desire to present information or ideas thereon (in addition to the
verbal discussion) may forward their material to the topic leader

(over )

for incorporation in his paper. This may be particularly
desirable in topics %2 and This procedure is not

intended in any way to inhibit discussion of the topics as
presented-

3. The Chairman of each session will be responsible for encourag-r
ing and directing full discussion of each subject after it is
presented.

• 4

4. The Conference Secretary will arrange for advance distribution
of papers, take notes on discussions, record points in contro¬
versy and conclusions reached, and be responsible for clerical
help for typing committee reports or other services.

5. Working committees will be appointed as need arises. They will
be charged with analyzing papers and discussion pertaining to
assigned subject, and will report back to the Conference.

33 bl

MONDAY M..RCH 28

Chairman - Bryan

program

Announc emen t s

Howard

1. Purpose of Conference

2. The Timber Management Plan Situation

3. Timber Management Plan Needs and programs

Mason

Gross

A Statement by the
Representatives of
Each Region

... Management Policy

Hughe s

TUESDAY MARCH 29

Chairman - Lund

4. The Working Circle
Subdivisions .

- Concept, Boundaries,

Lindh

Kirkpatrick

Sump

5. Objectives of Management; Coordination v/ith
Other Uses

0, Basic Data Needed for Timber Management Plans

Krueger

Matthews

Reynolds

Tabbutt

Matthews

Meagher

7. Stop- gap Timber Management Plans

Kirkpatrick

Streinz

8. Transportation Planning for Timber Management
Plans

Matthews

Lindh

Cook

-3*

(over )

33‘51

T3EDHESDAY MARCH 30
Chairman - Meagher

5. Applying Silviculture to Management planning Barrett

10. Intensifying Management Oehsner

11. Use of Aerial photographs in Management Planning Sump

Krueger

Kirkpatrick

12. Inventories for Timber Management Plans Streinz

Grossenbach

Easel

13 o Development of Timber Management - Ouachita N. F. Bryan

THURSDAY MARCH 31

Field Trip - Ouachita National Forest

Group will be split into two parties. Each party will be conducted
by Ouachita personnel over one or more working circles to observe
and discuss management practices and the results thereof.

FRIDAY APRIL 1

Chairman - Lindh

14. Appraisal of Ouachita Field Trip

Lund

15. The Use of Yield Tables in predictions of Growth,
Mortality and Yield

Briegleb

16. prediction of Growth, Mortality and Yield by Stand
Projection Methods

Wheeler

17. Continuous Inventory as a Basis for Determining
Growth, Mortality, and Yield

Osborne

18. Methods Now used in Calculating Growth, Mortality,
and Yield

Kirkpatrick

Streinz

Cook

-4-

SUNDAY APRIL 3

Travel to Cr osset4-, Arkansas , Transportation by R-8.

v 4 "

MONDAY APRIL 4

Field Trip - Crossett Experimental Forest

Sample Plots and Demonstration Areas . Intensive
Management in Short leaf -Loblolly Hardwood Type Reynolds

Evening Session at Crosset.

(Chairman - Ochsner)

Round Table Discussion of Application of Principles
of Intensive Management to National Forests

TUESDAY APRIL 5

Morning - Opportunity to see sawmills, sulfate pulpmill,
hardwood distillation plant, wood preservation
plant, or logging by Crossett Lumber Company.

Afternoon - Return to Hot Springs

WEDNESDAY APRIL 6

Chairman - Sump

19. Methods of Management and Methods of Regulation of Cut,

Western Working Circles Hasel

Krueger

Briegleb

20. Methods of Management and Methods of Regulation of Cut,

Eastern Working Circles

Streinz

Tabbutt

Zehngraff

21. Policies and Legal Limitations Affecting National
Forest Timber Management Activities

Mason

22-. Management plans for Cooperative and Federal Sustained

Yield Units Gross

-R~

(over )

33 ol

THURSDAY APRIL 7
Chairman - Kirkpatrick

23. Form and Preparation of Timber Management Plans Lindh

Tabbutt

24. Control Records , Harvesting Plans, Timber Management

Plan Revisions Gross enbach

Ha s e 1
Sump

25 o The Value and Use of Timber Management Plans as a

Public Relations Tool Matthews

Grcwfienbach

26. How to Train Management Planners Murphy

FRIDAY APRIL 8
Chairman - Mason

27c Reports of Committees Appointed During Conference

28. Criticism of ’’Timber Management Plans on the National

Forests Lund

Bryan

Lindh

Adjournment

-6-

3351

Notes on Topics

Topic 3 - Timber Management plan Needs and Programs

Assignment - The representative from each Region.

The., mimeographed statement may be short, and largely statistical,

"" 'Tabular ...ddt a- should include;’ ’Working circles by name and forest,
acreage commercial forest land, timber volume, allowable annual cut,
acres planned to cut over annually, date of approved plan (if any).

A summary of the regional situation, including; Number of working
circles (and acreage) covered by satisfactory plans, needing new
plans or revisions.

Estimated costs of prepering plans; time schedule for bringing plans
up-to-date; maintenance schedule.

Each presentation should be aided by the use of naps, charts, photos, etc0

The purpose is to paint the picture of the current management plan
situation and the needed program in each region, so that all attending
the Conference will have a clear conception of the whole situation,

V *» _

v Topic 4 - The Working Circle - Concept, Boundaries, Subdivisions

-■ Assignment - Lindh (Kirkpatrick, Sump)

What is- a working circle? Review of textbooks, SAF Terminology,
propose a definition for adoption by Forest Service. Why are working
circles needed? Why not write management plans for entire Forests,
groups ' of Forests, or whole Regions?

Discuss working circle boundaries, and reasons for selecting them.

Need for careful analysis so as to select permanent boundaries.

Community aspects... Need for planned community support. Confusing
present cross hauls may be clarified in the future if logical working
circle' boundaries are selected now.

Administrative correlation. Should working circle and ranger district
boundaries coincide? ...

Frivato or other public lands, intermingled or adjacent c Problems
created.

Division of working circle - Consult textbooks and SAF terminology.

Should FS standardize?

< > • ■

What standards are-' needed?

-7-

(over )

33 51

Topic 5 - Objectives of Management Coordination with Other Uses
Assignment • Krueger (Matthews, Reynolds)

There may be several classes of objectives, such as economic, silvi¬
cultural and administrative 9

Should there be a high degree of standardization, or should the local
situation govern?

1.111 objectives vary with site quality, with accessibility, with present
and prospective markets?

Should NF management be directed toward maximum volume or highest value
production? Should any working circle be devoted entirely to production
of small size material (pulpwood, ties, mine timbers, fuel wood) to
support local economy?

Discuss priority of uses, such as watershed, recreation, wildlife, grazing,
compared with timber production. How far can we go in multiple use on any
area, considering timber production, water yields, esthetics, forage.,
production, etc?

Coordination with research - experimental forests, natural areas.

Exclusion of timber operations versus modification of cutting practices
in interests of recreation (roadside, strips., camp grounds, sc.enic areas ) *

Can wildlife management practices be -harmonized- -with effective silviculture?

v.hat guide lines or standards are needed?

Topic 6 - Basic Date Needed for Timber Management Plans.

Assignment; Tabbutt (Matthews, Meagher)

This subject is of great importance. It has large ecnomic significance.
The job of writing and maintaining management plans is big and costly.

Discuss needed data and required accuracy;

Timber - volume, age classes, species, etca
Land - acreage, site quality, etc.

Topography - as it affects logging, watershed values.

Economics - dependent communities, value of products, markets, etc.
Research results - silvics and silviculture
Protection needs

-8-

3351

Topic 7 - Stop-gap Timber Management' Plans
.Assignment : Kirkpatrick (Streinz)

Primarily a description of methods and results in R-60 Why and how
th^ j-t was done. Who did it. How satisfactory. R-8 may have some¬
thing to contribute.

Topic 8 - Tran sport ati -,n Planning for Timber Management Plan
Assignment ; Matthews (Lindh, Cook)

The importance of planning, developing and maintaining an adequate
transportation system for the working circle.

Classes of roads. Standards of construction. Methods of location.
Responsibilities for planning, location, construction, supervision,
maintenance, u putting to bed”.

This is of importance not only in undeveloped working circles, but
also. where growing stock is being built up. The brand of silviculture
which can be practiced is tied closely to the location and character
of the transportation system.

Cook should contribute a discussion of the plan evolved by Ranger Nixon,
Nicolet II, F,

Topic 9 - Applying Silviculture to Management Flanning

Assignment - Barrett

Importance of determining silvicultural systems before preparing
management plans. Effect of silvicultural decisions upon techniques
of management plan preparation. Correlation of silviculture and :
and management in planning.

Topic 10 - Intensifying Management Practices

Assignment; Ochsner N

Distinction between wild and managed forests. Developing desired growing
stock. Methods of management related to silvicultural practices and to
silvical requirements. Need for, and advantage of, improved markets.
Shaping the growing forest — cleaning, thinning, pruning, sanitation
cuts, reproduction cuts, harvest cuts. Treatment applied tc individual
stands. Importance of timing.

Some steps can be taken in working circles managed extensively.

Measures must be practicable. Cost must be weighed against values.

-9-

(over )

CO £1

Topic 11 - Use of Aerial photographs in Management planning
Assignment; Sump (Krueger, Kirkpatrick)

Type of photography. Scale. Ground controls. Type mapping on photos.
Area determinations. Volume determinations. Planimetric maps, type maps,
topographic maps. Use of photos in field in application of the plan.

Costs .

Recommended guides or standards.

Topic 12 - Inventories for Man a g eme nt Plans
Assignment; Streinz (Grossenbach, Hasel)

Purpose and needs of inventories. Consider both working circles with
excess growing stock and with deficient growing stocky Yfays of fitting
the sample to relative values involved. How define relative accuracy
required? Consider types, sites, age classes and condition classes.

Data needed on acreage, volume, accessibility, methods of gathering,
compiling and using data. Costs. Short cuts and dollar savers.

Topic 13 - Development of Timber Management, Ouachita N. F.

As s i gnme nt : Br y i

Brief history of Forest, Creation from Public Domain. Administration
by R-3. Purchase history. Early cutting and fire situation. First
sales. Trace development of working circles, philosophy of management,
methods of cutting. Discuss history of management plans. Development
and changes in industry. Present condition of growing stock, site, fire
situation, yields, markets. Future possibilities. Lay the background
for next day’s field trip. Discuss _ change from volume control to area
control; reasons for the change and advantages of it. How does timber
management contribute to community stability?

Topic 14 - Appraisal of Ouachita Field Trip
As s i gnment ; Lund

Point up desirable and undesirable features of national forest management
as seen on the Ouachita. What practices can be adopted or adapted to
western working circles?

Note : - Opportunity also will be had for expression of ideas by others.

-10-

%*z>

<-/ «-✓ ox

Topic 15 - The Use of Yield Tables in Predicting Growth. Mortality and Yield

Is s i gnment : Br i e gl eb

Advantages 'and disadvantages of the yield table approach -to regulation*
Lhat field data and office computations are needed? Is it a satisfactory
method for virgin stands on western working circles? For second growth?
Review the yield tables available for use* How satisfactory are they?
Limitations and methods of application of this, system*" ■ Should entire
reliance be based on volume control? Should yield tables be relied upon
for the future, should they be checked, revised if need be, or should we
plan on some other approach for regulation of cut on National Forest
•working circles?

Examples of use of this approach.

Topic 16 - prediction of. Growth, Mortality and Yield by Stand Projection
Methods T ir' ' ' T1

As s l gnnen t : Y/h e e 1 e r

- 1 - ' - - ■ - - - < V.

hhat is the stand projection method?
aged management . Lhat field data and
Is it necessary to gather and compile
circle of 50,000 to 100,000 acres or
working circles be combined? Limit at
for organizing a working circle, for

Application .in even-aged and uneven-
office computations are involved?
voluminous data for each working
an samples from several similar
.ons and advantages of this method,
ontinued use* Examples of use.

Topic 17 - Continuous Inventory as a Basis for Determining Growth,
‘ ■ Mortality and Yield-* : " " — '

. • •

Assignment •

L'hat is continuous inventory? Is it a substitute for other methods, or
an aid in application thereof? Discuss the mechanics of application to
national forest working circles, west and east. Is this a tool of
intensive management or does it apply also to working circles on which
only crude silviculture is possible?

Topic 18 - Methods New Used in Calculating Growth, Mortality and Yield

* * \

\ . . ■ ■

Assignment : Kirkpatrick (Streinz, Cook)

Methods in use in the different Regions. Checks as to adequacy and
accuracy. How accurate is it necessary to predict -- with volume
regulation, with area regulation? Cost elements. Is greater
coordination or standardization needed between Regions?

-11-

(over )

3351

Topic 19 - Methods of Management and Methods of Regulation of Cut -
Western Marking Circles

Assignment ; jjasel (Krueger, Briegleb)

Discuss present practices, recommend future action*

Even-aged versus uneven-aged management: Influence of type, silvical
characteristics, topography, markets, other uses ' (recreation, wildlife)
on method of mangement. If even-aged management is prescribed, is it
desirable or necessarv to restrict size’ and "location of clear-cut areas?

v _ __ .

Perhaps Ja ...third -method of management should be recognized - "Even-aged
by small groups". Discuss rotations and cutting cycles in relation to
even-aged and uneven-aged management., ..What is basis for selecting
rotation? Cutting cycle? »

May two or more methods of management be prescribed for different parts
of one working circle?

Regulation of cut by volume, by area, by volume and area, all should
be discussed. Formulas and other methods in use should be analyzed
and discussed. Should species, stands or products be unregulated?

How achieve reduction of excess growing stock? Increase of deficient
growing stock?

Topic 20 - Methods of Management and Methods of Regulation of Cut,

Easter ’n IVorki ng " Circle’s-’

Assignment; Strcinz (Tabbutt, Zehngraff)

Discuss similarly to Topic 19.

- policies and Legal Limitations Affecting National Forest
Timber ’IHnagemeh'G" ActivmfcTes-"

As s i gnmen t • Ma s on

Review of the authorizations for and limitations on the production and
use of national . fores t timber. There is some confusion as to procedures
and "stoppers" which are authorized, required, or permitted by the
several law’s and regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture.

Forest Service policies are based upon the foundation of laws and
regulations « There must be uniformity of procedure under these policies*
Specific actions in one Region -may have repercussions elsewhere.

Questions of measures which may be taken to. support communities, enhance
watershed values, insure better utilization of national forest timber
will be discussed.

-12-

Topic 22 - Management Plans for Cooperative and Federal Sustained
Yield Unit’s

Assignment : Gross

Care is needed in preparing plans for sustained yield_ ynits'-established
undo-r the Act of March 29, 1944. In Federal Unite there is the
obligation to : develop and use national forest timber resources to the
greatest practicable intensity, as support for ..the -.dependent community.

The sane philosophy applies to Cooperative Units, with the added re¬
sponsibility of directing the management of privately owned lands c

Discuss the form and substance of these plans.

\ ■ 4 •• •

■ i • • %

Topic 23 - Form and. Preparation of Timber Management Plans
Assignment - Lindh (Tabbutt)

Minimum requirements are stated in Manual. Hundreds of plans must be
written or revised in next five years. This is a continuing job in
each Region. Standardization and streamlining are needed. But how
much? ' A Service-wide standard outline? Regional outlines?

Management plan terminology should be discussed. Review' SAF definitions
Recommend standard terms and definitions .

Some procedures need study. How get flexibility into plans without
sacrifice of needed control.? ... How express cutting budget tied to the
ground with enough "allowance for fluctuating cuts to make it practicable
■and' still meet objectives for community support and for desired
silviculture?

Management plan . conference preliminary to plan preparation - to fix
objectives and effect proper coordination.

I ho should write .the plan? * Review e.nd coordination procedure in
Supervisor’s and Regional Office. Discuss approval of each plan by
Chief.

Cost of Flan preparation. ••

-13-

(over )

33:51

Topic 24 - Control Records, Harvesting Plans, Timber Management
Plan Revisions

Assignment: Grossenbach ( Hasel, Sump)

This subject should be treated as an analysis of present methods and
recommendation for future action. Simplicity in control records is
paramount «, Y/hat about- -uniformity? Varying methods .of management may
require different types of control records.. The greatest past failure
is in maintaining any sort of record of accomplishment w

The harvesting (or cutting) plan translates the allowable annual cut
and cutting budget into a short term (3 to 5 years) action program,,
Poes it replace the cutting budget?

Current accumulation of revision data is piously required in many
management plans,, How much is done? What is needed to keep plans
alive and to maintain them as working tools?

Discuss costsa

Topic 25 - The Value and Use of Timber Management Plans as a public
Relations Tool

Assignment; Matthews (Grossenbach)

Some management plans have been mimeographed and distributed to
residents of the working circle. Has this proved to be desirable?
Other plans have been furnished Forest’ Schools, etc. Discuss the
arguments for and against such procedures* Consider costs and values.
Recommend policy and procedure.

Topic 26 - How to Train Management planners

Assignment: Mur phy

Each Region has a big job of management plan preparation and revision.
Discuss techniques which can be used to advantage in training personnel
(Rangers, Staffmen, Supervisors) to do the job economically and with
proper emphasis on technical soundness, combined with brevity and
clarity.

Topic 28 - Criticism of "Timber Management Plans on the National Forests"
Assignment - Lund (Bryan, Lindh)

Mimeographed review edition furnished Regions November 18.

This should be a critical review which will form the basis for revision
and correction preliminary to issuance in final form.

-14-

3806

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOREST SERVICE

SUPERVISION

Meetings

(Management plan Conference)

March 28, 1949

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
for the

MANAGEMENT flan conference

1, Policy Committee

Chairman - Lund

Members - Bryan, Lindh, Hughes

Assignment - All matters pertaining to policy which come before
the Conference. Specific consideration should be given to
matters pertaining to topics 4, 5, 7, 21, 25, and 26.
Recommendations are desired regarding policy which should be
adopted for guiding the job of writing and maintaining manage¬
ment plans for all national forest working circles, including
how the job should be financed.

2. Silviculture Committee

Chairman - Matthews

MemEers - Tabbutt, Cole, Zehngraff, Y.estveld

A s s i gnment - All silvicultural questions which come before the

Conference » Specific consideration should be given to dis¬
cussions of topics 9 and 10, and the silvicultural aspects of
19 and 20.

3, Inventories, Growth and Yield Committee

Chairman - Has el
Members - Sump, W heeler

Assignment - Comparison and correlation of the methods used in

inventories for management planning, and in calculating growth
and yield. particular attention should be given to discussions
under topics 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18. Are minimum standards
needed? Should there be Service-wide correlation? Are Forest
Survey methods satisfactory for national forest use?

4. Regulation of Cut, Cutting Budget, Cutting Plans Committee

Chairman - Streinz

Member's - Krueger, Briegleb, Lane

Assignment - All questions relating to the importance, form, use

and standardization of methods of regulating the cut, cutting
budgets and cutting or harvesting plans. Specific consideration

(Over)

3806

•• . • ‘ ' • • * \ * . * .

* S - . : * \ *

should be given to topics 19 and 20 as to regulation, and 24,
5. Management Plans Committee

Chairman - Kirkpatrick

Members - Cook, Grossenbach, Meagher

Assignment - All matters relating to the preparation and form
of management plans. Should plans be formalized, should a
standard outline be followed? Recommendations should be made
on how and by whom plans should be prepared, reviewed, approved *
Special attention to topics 6, 8, 22, 23, 24.

4153

SUPERVISION

Meetings May 11, 1949

(Management Plan Conference)

COMMITTEE REPORTS

The reports of the five committees were discussed during the last day
of the Conference, April 8, 1949, Each report was accepted by the
Conference, with a few modifications. The reports, as modified, are
shown below, with comments of a Washington Office committee. This
committee consisted of Mason, Buell, Osborne and G-ross.

The committee reports and comments form a valuable part of the record
of the 1949 Management Plan Conference® They are guide lines which
supplement general policies and practices in the management planning
field. They are not issued as formal instructions.

REPORT OF POLICY COMMITTEE, No. 1

1. It is recommended the Division of Timber Management in the Chief’s
office provide leadership to the Regions in the inventory-sampling
field. This should include ’aerial photos and their interpret at ion,
continuous inventories, timber surveys, survey and measurement sampling
and permanent or continuing record Deeping. Work in this field should
be coordinated with that being done by the Forest Survey organization
and arrangements made wherever possible to utilize their experience and
personnel for training purposes.

2o It is recommended the Chief authorize Regional Foresters to give
final axjproval to all management plans with the understanding that
plans involving cooperative or Federal sustained yield units or
Regulation S-3 be submitted to the Chief for approval. Also, if
considered essential by the Chief, plans can occasionally be submitted
for review on a sampling basis.

3. On the assumption that National Forest lands will be continuously
managed for sustained yield production and that management will
generally provide for raising quality trees of various commodity sizes,
anc[ funds or efforts available should be directed toward more intensive
application of silviculture in especially selected areas for production
of particularly high quality products, rather than setting aside or
designating certain areas for raising specialty products or specified
types of trees to be "stockpiled" and only cut during a national
emergency o

4. It is recommended National Forest working circles be generally
managed with the objective of growing trees suitable for quality
products with most of the material for pulp plant use to come from
small stem improvement cuttings. In recommending this objective,

it is recognized there may be parts of some working circles or oven a
few working circles that may best be managed for volume production only,
because of species or other justified limiting factors.

4153

5* To got on top of the timber management planning job, the committee
rocomnonds the Chief establish a definite program for management plan
preparation. A schedule somewhat as follows night be established:

1. Each Region by 1951, through conferences or other means,
decide on working circle boundaries where this has not been
done*

20 Each Region, for all working circles without an acceptable
management plan and where a standard plan will not bo programmed
for preparation by 1955, to prepare a simple step-gap management
plan for each such working circle by not later than December 31,
1951*

3* Each Region to program its timber management planning job
so standard plans, which will be based on acceptable inventories
will be completed for all working circles by 1960.

Regions to be expected to schedule time and funds to accomplish the
above.

Bryan

Lindh

Hughes

Lund, Chairman

C0MLIEI1T - The recommended program for completion of the initial
management planning job by 1960 is sound. Each Region
should plan to use available funds to the end that this
program can bo accomplished*

The emphisis on management for the production of high
quality timber is in line with Eorest Service policy. Any
exception to the general policy should be fully justified.

The responsibility for Washington Office leadership
in the inventory - sampling - aerial surveys field is
recognized*

Eor the present the requirement that management plans
be approved by the Chief will be continued.

VI, 0. Committee

4153

R2P0RT OF SILVICULTURE COll RTTEE , NO. 2

1. Wo believe that -long -torn National Forest nan ag orient should bo geared
toward the production of quality products. In that way the National
Forests will nake the greatest contribution to national security in peace
or war. Furthermore, we believe that proper silvicultural practices can-
produce high quality without sacrificing quantity.

2. We believe that intensive silviculture should bo concentrated on the
best land first.

3. We believe that compositions characteristic of subclinax and climax
associations should be used as guides for establishing silvicultural
practices •

4. We believe that natural areas should be established in all forest

types as an important means of increasing silvicultural knowledge,
also believe in expanding the use of demonstration areas.

5. We believe more silvicultural knowledge exists than is being applied
in the woods today. We recommend that the experiment stations assemble
silvical guides by regions or by types in a form that can be readily
absorbed by field men. These guides would include abstracts of pertinent
literature and summaries of research findings.

6. We believe that close on-the-g
silviculturists and administrators
advantage of both»

round cooperation between research
is essential and will work to the

7. We believe that silviculture can bo improved in quality without
increasing its intensity or its cost. To accomplish this there is no
substitute for skillful men in the woods. To obtain these men, proper
selection and training are of paramount importance.

8. We believe that greater emphasis should be given to the plans for
the use of K-V funds because of their importance in obtaining desirable
silvicultural practices.

9. We believe that cheaper logging methods and closer utilization,
unless correlated with proper silviculture may boomerang and prove to
be a menace to the forest.

10. Wo believe that the experiment stations should gather up available
information and issue guide tables for optimum growing stock which, for
most species, is considerably below the stocking used in normal yield
tables . This information is needed in the preparation of management
plans*

Cole
Tabbutt
West veld
Zehngraff

Mat t hows , Ch ai man

- 3 -

»• . ' i

4153

COIIHITS : This report deals with basic silvicultural concepts and falls
short of recommending specific practices, standards, or guides
in management planning. The "don’t fight nature" principle is
overstressed. In many cases the real job of silviculture is
to devise means of maintaining as high proportions of the
desired species as possible in spite of trends toward the
climax and to do this without undue cost or site deterioration.

Greater use of research knowledge and improved on-the-
ground cooperation between Research and Administration is
stressed. Administrative officers who have management plans
to prepare, revise, or administer should trice the initiative

in extracting all pertinent information on their problems

from researchers.

Optimum g roving stock information for our many typo and
site combinations is indeed badly needed. Available informa¬
tion is scant. Regions should get from stations ell available
data, including estimations. Much more work is needed in
many cases.

VI, 0. Committee

REPORT OF IIIVIIKTORISS , GROliTH AID YIELD 0011 ATT AT, NO. 3

On the basis of the papers presented and the discussion of them, your
committee cn invent cries, growth, and yield submits the following recom¬
mend at ions :

1. Maps showing timber typos, stand size classes, end density should
bo considered essential to planning and applying forest management.

In some areas the mapping of site Quality nay be highly desirable in
addition to the above classes, and in all-aged stands age class structure
nay be important.

- 4

’

1 *

2* Aerial photographs provide the nost efficient and accurate basis
for the preparation of cover naps showing stand size class, age structure
density, and in many areas type and site also. Whatever ground napping
is done is facilitated by the use of aerial pictures. To acccnplish
effective napping, the pictures should be up-to-date to the extent thac
the present classification of at least 90 percent of the area can be
determined, and the scale should usually be not smaller than 4 inches to

the Hilo. There hardwoods and conifers occur in mixture or as inter-

mingling pure types, modified infra-red photography is recommended.

3. Estimates cf growth, mortality, and changes in stand structure can
best be obtained from permanent sample plots. In setting up the sampling
scheme, full use should be made of experience and data available from
Forest Management Research and Forest Survey. Use of the method of
optima allocation of plots to mapped classes should be considered with
reference to the most important variable being estimated, whether volume,
growth, or the monetary value of volume cr growth. The sample should
provide unbiased estimates for each condition class with the allowable
range of sampling error set at the maximum that can be tolerated without
affecting the major provisions in the management plan.

In even-aged stands, such as Douglas-fir in Region 6 and western white
pine in Region 1, it may be desirable to express permanent plot results
in the form of empirical yield tables, adjusted periodically by romeas-
urement of plots, end including both yield and mortality data.

4. Pending the first remeasurenent of permanent plots, growth prediction
should be based on existing procedures, such as yield tables, Forest
Survey estimates, and prediction equations.

50 The use of machine tabulating equipment in compiling permanent plot
data should be fully explored to determine whether cr not it is more
efficient in the long run than hand tabulation.

6. Full use should bo made of regression methods in the planning,
collection and use of permanent plot data, in order either to reduce
the sampling error of estimates cr, in planning surveys, obtain a
given accuracy with the least effort.

7. Tour committee recognizes the value of aerial photography and the
application of modern statistical techniques in the collection of manage¬
ment plan data. In order that all regions may keep abreast of these
important fields, it is recommended that the Washington Office serve

as a clearing house and provide guidance in the use of new techniques
and methods in these fields.

Sump

wheeler

H as el , Chai man

C QS1ENT : These recommendations call fcr a high degree of technical

performance designed to aid in reaching our sustained yield
objective at lowest cost consistent with the procurement of
adequate data of known reliability.

IJ. 0„ Committee

REPORT OF PECULATION OF CUT, CUTTING BUDGET, CUTTING PLANS

COMMITTEE, NO, 4

1. Regulation of the cut is the essence of the timber management plan.
It is the scheduling of the rate and volume of the regeneration and
intermediate cuttings to moot the. management objectives for the working
circle. These objectives include the following:

1. To provide a sustained flow of timber products,

2. To obtain a balanced distribution of age classes or size
classes as quickly as practicable.

3. To obtain maximum yields.

2. Until the second objective is attained, some temporary sacrifices
will have to be made in maximum yields if a sustained flow of products
is to be provided. In accordance with the previsions of Regulation S-3
the management plan must establish the maxi mm periodic allowable cut.
Standardization of methods for the determination of the allowable cut
is not recommended. The methods used must be flexible to fit the varia
tions in stands encountered and silvicultural systems employed, but in
all cases both volume and area checks should be made. The need for
separate regulation by species, forest types, or products should be
reviewed and appropriate controls provided, working circle by working
circle.

3. Regulation of cut is expressed in the cutting budget. The cutting
budget lists the amount and location of the timber which it is intended
to cut for a period of 5 to 20 years after which the cutting budget is
to be revised. The annual cut may vary from the periodic annual allow¬
able cut but the established maximum periodic allowable cut should not
be exceeded without approval by the Chief. It is recommended that the
following cutting budget revisions may be made with the approval of the
Forest Supervisor:

1. Change in the order of cutting of the budgeted timber.

2. Substitution of unbudgeted timber fcr budgeted timber.

Krueger

Brieglob

Lane

Streinz , Chairman

4153

corarr :

This st at orient is technically sound, but
reference to the need for regulation of
In most National Forest working circles
problems of reduction of excess growing
deficient growing stock. Chief problem

it omits specific
the growing stock,
there always will be
stock or increase of
on many working circles

is to determine, and work toward, optimum growing stock —
species composition and volume both are involved. Both
regulation and silviculture should be pointed toward develop¬
ment of optimum growing stock as the basis for maximum yields
of quality products.

Some flexibility, usually by 5-year periods, must be
written into the cutting budget. Some regions may wish to
hold authority in regional office for substitution of un¬
budgeted areas and volumes for budgeted items, rather than

extending blanket authority to the supervisor, as recommended

by the committee.

W,0, Committee

REPORT OF UAXiAG:

COIEETTEE, NO. 5

1, Management plans are needed and should be prepared at the earliest
possible time for every National Forest working circle in which timber
harvesting operations are in progress or in immediate prospect.

2, To accomplish the necessary planning with the least possible delay,
the committee believes that the work should proceed and that planners
should use the best resources data and social and economic information
now at hand, Uc foel, however, that a planned and conscious effort
should be made to continuously improve the factual data upon which
the plan is founded.

3, VIg believe that basically a timber management plan should be a plan
for the management of the timber resource and not a general resource
management plan. It should include only data and discussions which have
a direct bearing upon the prescriptions for the management of timber in
the working circle in question.

••• V.

4153

4„ It is the consensus of this comitt oe that except in unusual cases
the process of developnont of a nanag orient plan he divided into two
separate and distinct parts:

The first would he applicable to an entire National Forest or groups of
working circles in which similar conditions prevail, and would include
such items as social and economic aspects of the timber management prograr
generally applicable silvicultural prescriptions; physiographic features;
climate; correlation with ether legitimate National Forest uses; planting,
timber stand improvement , and fire control policies; etc. In brief, we
believe that this section of the management plan should treat those aspect
of timber management planning which arc common to a group of like working
circles; or an individual National Forest.

The second part of the plan would deal with the technical phases of
management for an individual rrorking circle included in the group covered
by the foregoing general discussion. It should include specific resource
data, sustained yield calculations, and provisions for the regulation of
cut. It should include also a discussion cf any deviations from general
resource management programs or policies established in the general
section of the plan and should contain an action program for the guidance
of the cn-the-grcund manager of the timber resource.

5. The committee believes that to instrument the foregoing program
a comprehensive outline or check list should be prepared from which
management plan writers could select items believed to be pertinent
and appropriate for discussion in each of the two separate parts cf
the plan. Strict standardization of plans is felt to be undesirable
and unwarranted*

6. It is the belief of the committee that management plans prepared
in the form indicated above should be developed as follows:

The supervisor and his staff, with assistance from the Regional Office
if desired and needed, should assume leadership in the preparation of
the general section of the plan. The second or technical phase of the
plan should be prepared and maintained by the district ranger or at
least with his full participation.

7. This committee has been specifically asked to state its views of
the tern ’’cutting budget.” Vic agree with the definition of the tern
implied by Gross’ discussion of the subject appearing on pages 55 and
56 cf the review edition of "Management Plans on the National Forests.”

Vic feel, however, that if cutting budgets as thus defined are incorporated
in management plans, full latitude should be provided for changing both
the location and volume of planned cutting as the exigencies of the situ¬
ation may demand — provided of course that the sustained yield concept is
not violated.

8. Transportation problems vary extremely from one section of the
country to another insofar as they bear upon the management of the
National Forest timber resource. No feel that it is inappropriate
therefore to recorxiend standard treatment for road and transportation
consideration in the management planning process. In all working circles
where proper utilization of the timber resource is dependent upon the

! " :•/- •

(

development of transportation facilities, the planning of these dcvelcp-
nents should he provided for in the tinier management plan unless trans
portation planning of an adequate nature has been done separately. The
decision as to whether transportation planning should be a part of the

Goncral phase or of the technical phase of the
will have to be nadc locally to best suit the

tinier none/* client
situations

plan

9. The exact nature of control records needed for the proper management
cf the National Forest timber resource will vary widely fron region to
region. It is the consensus of the committee , therefore, that wide
latitude in designing control records should bo allowTede It is the
feeling of this ccnnittee further that it is immaterial whether the
control records are .made an integral part of the technical section of
the rianngonent plan or whether their nature and extent is specified
within the manager lent plan with the requirement that they be maintained
as a separate document*

» Grossenbach

Cook
Me ache r

Kirkpatrick, Chairman

CO MMENT:

This is a realistic approach to the n
Particular emphasis is due the recomr.i
This should aid coordination, reduce

aneg orient planning job*
endation for 2-part plans
duplication, and speed up

the job of plan preparation*

The management plan conference is a useful, and sometimes

essential, stop in planning the plan. Regional Office partici

pation and leadership often will be desirable.

Control records show accomplishment of management plan

prescriptions and, therefore, are an integral part of the

plan, even though maintained separately. The form of control
\

records should be standardized by each region.

N.O. Committee

♦ t - ■

UNITED STATES- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
'FOREST SERVICE

Management Plan Conference

3-16-49

Topic 2 - The Management Plan Situation

L. S. Gross

Timber Management, Chief’s Office

T&iy management plans? Each national forest working circle
needs a management plan to insure continuity of sustained
yield management of its productive timber lands. Timber is a
long term crop, foresters come and go. We cannot meet Forest
Service 'policy of "sustained yield, working circle by working
circle" nor manage the national forests "to furnish a continu¬
ous supply of timber for the use and necessities of citizens
of the United States," without some means of coordinating and
continuing a program of timber cutting geared to the
productivity of the soil. The management plan should do so.

A Look at the Past

The need for management plans was recognized even before the
Forest Service was created. The report of the Forester for
1902 discussed the problem and what was being done about it.

"The preparation of working plans for the National
forest reserves is one of the urgent pieces of
work before the Bureau. It has arisen from the
request upon the Secretary of Agriculture from
the Secretary of the Interior for advice as to the
best management of the reserves, which now comprise
a total area of 58,850,925 acres. The study on the
ground necessary to a wor Icing plan was carried on
during the past year in the Prescott Forest Reserve,
Arizona, ' which contains 423,680 acres, the Priest
River Forest Reserve, in Idaho, with an area of
645,120 acres and the Big Horn Forest Reserve, in
Montana, which includes 1,216,960 acres. The field
work in the Prescott Reserve occupied a party of
11 men for three months. Measurements of the stand
wrere taken upon 1,648 acres, and 1,340 measurements
were made of volume and rate of growth; the Bull
Pine was carefully studied, particularly with reference
to the effect of the present methods of lumbering upon
the reproduction of the tree, and the data were
obtained for a comprehensive plan for the best management
of the reserve with due regard to its value in the
production of timber and in maintaining the water
supply. The field work carried on in the Big Horn
Reserve occupied a party of 7 men a period of four

(Over)

3767

months. The stand was measured on 820 acres, and
1,299 measurements made upon felled trees. In the
Priest River Reserve "a. party of 6 men were at work
^or three months * The stand was measured upon
879 acres, and 720 measurements of volume and rate of
growth were made.

nA thorough preliminary examination preparatory to a
working plan is now being made of the San Francisco
Mountains Forest Reserve, in Arizona

In Volume X, Proceedings of the Society of American Foresters,
July 1915 issue, Barrington Moore describes the period 1905-1911
as one of rapid change and of experimentation in the making of
plans o He says in partt

’’Conditions peculiar to America make this experimentation
a necessary part of the normal growth of plans. These
conditions fall under two main heads: (l) The large
size of the areas to be managed. This controls the
character of the feasible operations, preventing
altogether much that on smaller areas is considered
essential, ' and modifying the rest, (2) Economic
conditions, in particular the undeveloped nature of
much of the territory containing the National Forests,
combined with the rapid but by no means uniform
development of this territory.

"Methods of management based on calculations of
requirements for only a few years to come are liable
to be badly disturbed by radical changes in these
requirements. It has therefore been due to conditions,
as well as to development in ideas, that plans have
required revision almost as soon as they had been
written.

"In spite of these conditions, the main idea of
European plans, regulation of the cut, persisted to
a great extent in American plans and gave rise to
considerable trouble. The Indian idea of including
forest description, or siivics, and silviculture was
also introduced in some places; but the conception
of a working , plan as consisting solely of regulation
of the cut was, however, so strong that among many
foresters the terms working plan and regulation of
cut wore synonymous. There sustained yield was for
the time impossible, and this' was and still is the
case on many National Forests, plans were often
considered impossible.

-2-

3767

"This should not be taken as condemnation of regulation
of tile 'out in working plans; regulation is extremely
desirable where feasible, and must eventually be applied
’r''v - ; '.liy. Plans can and should exist without detailed
hard and fast provisions for sustained yield until such
time as sustained yield becomes possible* At the same
time the best available approximation of the yield of
the forest’ should be given, even though it need not be
adhered to, so that it will be possible to tell roughly
the amount of the undercut or over cut.

. ' / „

"There is another important condition which must be
realized before the development of government working
plans or forest plans can be understood. This is the
relation between the plan and the management of the
forest. The actual work of handling the forest
received first attention, as it quite properly should,
and the plan followed in the wake of this work rather
than loading it ,

"Protection against fire was the first and foremost
need, calling for trails, telephone lines, ranger
cabins, etc. in hitherto inaccessible mountains,.

Grazing lands must be utilized and timber sold.

To do this without injuring the forage crop or
destroying' the forest required adequate supervision 0
Although the work on which the growth of plans
depends was being done, nobody had time to think of
writing plans."

The Regions (Districts then) were organized in December 1908*
Prior to that time all national forest activities ware
centralized in Washington. Organizing of the Regions
decentralized the work of timber surveys and management plan
preparation* A lot of effort was devoted to management
planning, particularly in those areas where market conditions
were favorable and there was an immediate demand for national
forest timber. In the annual report of the Forester for
1912, progress is summarized. In those early days demand for
national forest timber - and hence the urge to prepare
management plans - was most accentuated in areas of good
accessibility and where there was not much private timber
available'. The 1912 report records;

"The collection of the detailed data for working plans
is carried on under the immediate direction of the
supervisors, with inspection and supervision from the
district offices and hhshington* Completed plans are
finally reviewed by the assistant foresters in charge
of each branch, and approved by the Forester.

-3-

3767

"Preliminary plans .are being prepared as rapidly as
' practicable fer all forests except those on which
working plans are needed. Tforking plans are now in’
preparation for the .following forests? The Kaniksu,
where the demand for western white pine has become
very great, and sales are desirable to permit the listing
of agricultural lands; the Deerlodge, on which there is
a very extensive demand for timber to supply the Butte
mines; the Crook, where approximately the total
production of the forest is and will be needed to supply
the needs of settlers in hind near the forest; the
Coconino and Tusayan, where there has been for a number
cf years an extensive demand’ for yellow-pine timber for
the general market; the Gila, where a strong demand has
existed for fuel wood to supply the mines at Mogollon;
the Plumas, from which it will be possible to dispose
of a large part of the annual production to supply the
general market; the Medicine Bov:, with a large amount of
material suitable for railroad ties, which in the future
are practically certain to be in great demand for
railroad maintenance and extension; and the Florida,
where an active naval stores industry is ready to
utilise the entire turpentine yield of the forest that
can be made available."

lie still have with us some of the problems which faced foresters
30 or 40 years ago. In Moore's 1915 article he discussed at
some length the argument that virgin stands on the National
Forests should be cut over as rapidly as possible. He pointed
out that those who advocate rapid liquidation of old growth
timber overlook the fact that heavy volumes occur on a
relatively small percentage cf the total area, that the rate
cf deterioration cf these old stands is exaggerated by the
proponents cf rapid liquidation, that there would be future
need for high quality stumpage which could not be obtained
from second growth stands „ Some recent spectacularly high bids
for high quality old growth timber bear out his contentions,,

Moore' apparently advocated our present concept of "sustained
yield, working circle by working circle," He opposed a
tendency to rationalize over-cutting accessible stands by
extending working circle boundaries to include two or more
national forests in one working circle, even though there
seemed little likelihood that the "back country" areas would
prove to be operable under existing conditions®

Thus it seems that seme of our present day management plan
problems are not new - maybe they are chronic.

Development of national Forest Timber Cut

By 1915 the cut of national forest timber had climbed to about
half a billion feet. The increased timber demands incident to
and following 17orld kar I raised the total to about eight-tenths

-4-

3767

of a billion in 1920 and to a billion feet in 1925.

Added emphasis was given -to the need for preparation of timber
policy statements and management plans at the Cooley Conference
in lyAA. One result of Cooley was the preparation in 1928 of
Eldredge’s USDA Miscellaneous Publication No. 11 "Management
Plans with Special Reference to the National Forests." This
bulletin - long since out of print - remains the only published
official Forest Service word on the subject.

The need for mere and better timber management plans continued
to increase as the cut climbed to 1.6 billion feet in 1930,
receded during the depression, reached 1«7 billion in 1940«

Again under the stimulus of war and post-war demands, the total
national forest cut exceeded 3 billion feet in 1945* reached
'3-3/4 billion in 1943, and may break 4 billion feet in 1949.
Total cut this year is more than double the cut 10 years ago.
Another 50^ increase - to 6 billion feet - will bring us to
estimated "present" sustained yield capacity. Now that we are
this far along toward sustained yield for the national forests
as a whole, we can’t afford to be very much wrong in very many
places, he need to be sure of what we are doing on each working
circle.

Management Plan Preparation

It is difficult to write management plans, and harder yet to
prepare plans which actually are worth their cost. Lots of men
have talked and written about the problem. In 1914 Joe Kircher
stated six reasons why management plans had foiled.

"10 They are long reports, and largely silvical.

"2. They give in detail unimportant considerations and
ofton slight important ones. (Good silviculture)

"3o They fail to take local and American conditions into
consideration. (Accessibility)

"4o They are too- academic.

"5* They attempt to regulate the yield by scientific
and mathematical principles, based on insufficient
data without reference to loca.1 conditions.

"6C They are not practical."

Many of us have expressed somewhat similar opinions of some
more recent plans c Yet there are some working circles for
which the original plans written 20 or 30 years ago - revised
to fit changing conditions - have served well to guide and
direct management. For example, Eagletcn 'forking Circle here

-5-

3767

on the Ouachita National Forest, The first management plan
was approved in 1921, Successive revisions in 1926, 1938,

1942, and 1946 leave resulted in marked changes, have kept the
plan current.

Another example of continuity is the Flagstaff Working Circle,
Coconino National Forest. This includes the nSan Francisco
Peaks Area” mentioned in the passage I quoted from the
Forester's 1902 report. A plan was drafted in 1911* Professor
Chapman wrote the first real plan in 1919 - 30 years ago.
Chapman's plan established sustained yield. Changing economic
conditions, better inventory data and improved silvicultural
practices - resulting from research - have caused a number of
revisions c One example of change is the reduction of the
length of the cutting cycle, 100 years in 1919, 20 years

in 1947,

There was a great deal of activity in management plan
preparation following the Cooley conference and again during
CCC days. Many of cur approved policy statements and
management plans were written in the 20 's, many more in the
30' s. You knew; how they have worked - hew useful they have
been* Maybe we share Joe Kircher's opinion regarding many
of them.

Perhaps the chief lessons for us in this review of the record
of study and accomplishment in the management plan field are:

1, Management plans should bo written when needed - not too
long ahead of actual need,

2,, Each plan must be practical,

3 e Plans always will be subject to revision as conditions
change .

Tfe have plenty of background in management plan preparation
and use. Vie have a big job ahead of us0 It is imperative that
we get on top of the management plan job. Yftiat that job is,
wdiat we are doing about it, and wrhat should be done, mil be
developed in the next discussion. Before we complete this
Conference we should agree how to do the job. The other big
problem involves financing, Tfe should' be able to estimate the
cost, and, I hope, arrive at sound recommendations on methods
of paying the bill.

-6-

TOPIC 3

TIMBER MANAGEMENT PLAN NEEDS AND PROGRAMS

Region One

Summary

Number

Approved plans less than 5 years old 1
Plans being written 3
Other plans started 15
Other working circles 57

Total 76

Acres

1,211,000

473,694

3,744,000

7,563,502

12,992,196

Estimated cost of preparing management plans

Surveys

Plan preparation
Total cost

$0.10 per acre
.04 per acre
<jpO a 14 per acre

The cost of maintenance with a revision at 5-year intervals is estimated
to average one-half cent per acre per year.

There is an urgent need for the preparation of management plans for at
least 50 percent of the region’s working circles within 5 years. These
plans should be reviewed and if necessary revised every 5 years.

WHITE- PINE FORESTS

Forest and working circle

Commercial
forest
land (NF)
available
for

management

Average annual
cut

Allow¬

able

annual

cut

Date of
approved
plan

New plan
W-writt en
S-started
and year
will be
completed

Past

5 years

Acres

MBF

MBF •

MBF

Year

Clearwater

Pierce

98,024

15,000

20,000

26,000

W-1949

Canyon

226,807

' 6,000

15,000

50,000

—

Kelly Creek

57 , 510

6,000

10,000

—

Lochsa

64,157

not s et

—

North Fork Area

10,675

2,000

—

All

457,173

21,000

43,000

88,000

Coeur d’Alene

661,000

55,000

63,000

75,000

1936

Kaniksu

Priest River

294,000

18,500

18,000

27 , 500

1927

Bonners Ferry

347,000

15,000

14,000

17 , 500

1929

Pend Oreille

328,000

10,500

20,000

12,000

1929

Sandpoint

290,000

4,000

6,000

11,500

—

All

1,259,000

48,000

58,000

68,500

St. Joe

Fishhook

140,422

4,840

10,000

14,000

—

S-1949

Upper St. Joe

134,820

5,000

12,700

S-1949

Lower St. Joe

211,914

1,000

5,000

4,700

—

S-1949

St . Maries

77,669

3,530

5,200

—

S-1949

Potlatch

132,957

7,640

9,800

—

S-1949

L. N. Fork Clearwater River

58,775

130

3,000

7,800

—

S-1949

All

756,557

17,140

38,000

54,200

Total (White Pine Forests)

3,133,730

141,140

202,000

285,700

-1-

- '"WESTERN ’FORESTS

Forest and working circle

Commercial
forest
land (NF)
available
for

management

Average annual
cut

Allow-

able

annual

cut

Date of
approved
plan

New plan
W-writt en
S- started
and year
will be
completed

Past

5 years

Acres

MEF

MBF

Year

Cabinet

■ •

Sanders County

• 501,000

4,110

12,000

18,000

—

S-1950

St. Regis

170,000

4,827

4,000

6,000

Av-1949

All

67 1,000

3,937

I67066

24,000

Colville

• t *

Curlew

72,170

959

3,000

3>374

Colville

150,892

2,560

2,000

2,700

—

Kettle Falls

246,825

6,922

6,000

6,577

•

Republic

143,734

2,763

’ 5,700

5,700

All

613,671

13,204

16,700

18,351

•

Kootenai

Libby-Troy

1 ,211,000

36,000

56,000

69,000

1947 .

•• ' ’

Tobacco River

205,670

7,605

11,000

15,000

W-1949

All

1*416,670

43,605

67,000

84,000

. :

Nezperce

Middle Fork

523,212

2,000

12,000

24,000

-»

s-1949

South Fork Clearwater T&ver

469,785

20,000

38,000

47,000

.S-1949

Salmon River -

444,293

7,000

15,000

58,000

.3-1949

All

1,437,295

"29,000

65,000

.. ” >.

129,000

Total (Western Forests)

4,138,636

" 94,746

164,700

255,351

■2-

' WESTERN MONTANA FORESTS

Forest and working circle

Commercial
forest
land (NF)
available

Average annual
cut

Allow¬

able

Date of

New plan
W-written
S-started
and year

for

management

Past

5 years

annual

cut

approved

plan

will be
complet ed

Acres

MBF

Year

Bitterroot

495,303

17,571

20,000

25,000

1941

Deer lodge

Philipsburg

242,241

2,900

5,800

10,000

—

Deerlodge

83,728

550

1,000

2,900

—

Anaconda

33,217

1,750

2,000

2,250

—

Butte

112,545

360

500

3,300

—

Boulder

47,065

1,400

1,500

3,550

—

Whit ehall

105,000

760

500

1,900

All

629,256

7,720

•11,300

23,900

, .

Flathead

Swan Valley

154,901

3,367

6,000

11,580

Stillwater

251,954

7,450

8,000

9,500

—

S-1950

North Fork

190,021

3,746

11,000

13,000

—

S-1949

South Fork

443,975

12,200

13,320

24,000

—

All

1,040,851

26,763

38,320

58,080

Lolo

Superior-Ninemile

379,688

3,120

5,000

12,000

S-1949

Lolo

97,057

4,374

3,000

3,500

—

Seeley Lake

94,963

1,346

3,000

4,689

—

Missoula-Bonita

194,043

1,729

2,000

6,500

—

Powell

50,752

100

9,500

—

North Fork Blackfoot

42,422

2,400

2,020

All

858,985

10,653

15,500

38,209

(PS— 1926)

Total

(Vfestern Montana Forests)

3,024,995

62,707

85,120

145,189

-3-

EASTERN MONTANA FORESTS

. I

Forest and working circle

Commercial
forest
land (NF)
available
for

management

Average annual
cut

Allow¬

able

annual

cut

Date of
approved
plan

New plan
W- wit ten
S-started
And year
will be
completed

Past

5 years

Acres

MBF

Year

Beaverhead

• • -

Big Hole

575,000

. 2,000

7,800

—

* .1

Beaverhead

235,000

2,000

1,500

3,250

—

Ruby

90,000

200

300

1,333

—

•• /

Madison

185,000

1,000

2,500

All

1,085,000

5,200

4,800

14,883

Custer

Beartooth

50,000

2C0

250

Ashland

40,000

150

250

400

1921

Fort Howes

50,000

300

350

600

1921

.» • ;

Ekalaka

13,000

400

250

1920

Long Pines

33,000

450

550

1920

• • • '

All

186,000

1,500

1,550

2,050

Gallatin

• ' . ‘ ; •

Madison Basin

97,870

4,165

6,000

6,500

—

•• r. h .

Cooke

'■ 9,040

250

—

• . >

Shields

33,800

525

1,200

1,400

—

Yellowstone

121,400

768

1,400

2,800

—

Big Timber

•58,825

544

600

2,000

t -

' - •. - • i ' 1 ; ' ■

Gallatin

127,485

■ 4,276

. 9,000

11,000

S-1950

All

448,420

• 10,290

/ . -

187225

23,950

Helena

■ ■ '

Canyon Ferry

•13,800

920'

3,000

Smith River

7,500

'• 50

380

750

Helena

70,000

688

700

1,500

—

Lincoln

17,000

1,000

3,500

—

Townsend

: i 14,610

321

210

648

• • ~ • ■

r )

Little Blackfoot

37,100

244

1,100

1,500

—

All

160,010

2,278

57390

10,898

Lewis & Clark

Highwood

15,725

—

Judith River

106,695

220

3,500

7,258

—

Musselshell

121,800

770

1,500

1,400

White Sulphur Springs

100,000

4,049

9,000

7,800

—

3-107.9

Dearborn

48,070

200

—

Sun River

72,325

395

Little Rockies

21,125

1925

Belt Creek

155,500

274

1,200

3,160

—

Teton

37,095

200

350

991

—

Snowy Mountains

42,665

215

150

895

—

Marias

94,405

Negl.

878

All

815,405

5,835

15,845

237057

Total

(Eastern Montana Forests)

2,694,835

25,103

46,910

74,848

REGION ONE

Commercial
forest land
(NF) avail-
able for
management

Average annual cut

Allowable

annual

cut

Past

5 years

Acres

MBF

Western forests

4,138,636

94,746

164,700

255,351

White pine forests

3,133,730

141,140

202,000

285,700

Western Montana forests

3,024,995

62,707

85,120

145,189

Eastern Montana forests

2,694,335

25,103

46,910

74,848

Regional total

12,992,196

323,696

498,730

761,088

(

M-1095-R1, Sheet 1

PLANS

Timber Management

STATUS OF PLANS FOR -MANAGEMENT OF

NATIONAL FOREST TELLER

SUMMARY

Working Circle National Forest

Nonnational Forest Commercial Forest Lands in or tributary to
this working circle:

1. Area _ acres, suitable for management.

2. Total volume now available _ ; M ft. B.M,

3. Average annual cut past 5 years _ j; _ M ft. B.M.

4. Anticipated annual cut next 5 years _ M ft. B.M. *

National Forest Commercial Forest Land in this working circle:

5. Area _ _ acres, available for management.

6. Allowable annual cut _ H ft. B.M. *

7. Average annual cut past 5 years _ M ft. B.M.

S. Anticipated annual cut next 5 years _ M ft. B.M.

9. Status of plans for management of national forest timber:

10. Principal Recommendation:

Prepared by

Date _

Approved by

Date

Forest Supervisor

M-1095-R1, Sheet 1

' SUMMARY
Instructions

This is the first or cover sheet of the report.

1. Item 6, sheet 2, nonnational forest net commercial forest
land suitable and available for management.

2. Based on item 6(a) and 6(b), sheet 2, the work sheets for
item 6 will show estimated acreages. Where there is no
better method of obtaining the volume of saw timber it can
be approximated by applying volume per acre averages to the
estimated .acreages.

3. Item 4(b), sheet 3.

4. . Base on item 4(b), sheet 3, items on sheet 5, mill capacity,

market outlook, knowledge of local factors, etc.

5. Item 6, sheet 2, national forest net commercial forest land
suitable and available for management.

6. Item 1, sheet ,5,-use'the total in which poles, pulpwood,
etc., are converted to board feet.

• » » . .» •

7. Item 4(a), sheet 3.

* *

8. Base on items 4 and 5, sheet 5 and judgment of other factors.

9. Give name and date of last plan or policy statement for the
working circle. If there is no plan or policy statement for
the working circle, simply state that fact.

10. Principal recommendation with .respect to the preparation .of
a management plan for the working circle. Indicate the date
of completion and the priority on the forest. If none is
needed, so state.

v_n

M-1095-R1, Sheet 2

physical 'Mots

, . * • ./* » *'.'*'* "***

Location - Principal drainages:

Counties: County'

- A>

County

Ranger Districts:

District

District •

% '

National Forests.:

N.F. ■ ' %

F. • %

. . * • • * «•
... • •*'* ■

National -• Nonnational
Forest Forest

Total

Gross area forest land:

. cf

_ 1_P _

•

7°

100%

• ’• • Acres

Acres

Net Commercial Forest Land

Suitable and Available for

Management: *

_ p

100%

: Acres

Condition (percentages by area) :

Acres

(a) Overripe saw timber

♦

(b) Saw timber

' • p

J_%

(d) Seedlings & Saplings

_ /°

cf
_ p

(e) Nonstocked

' cp

(f) Total

100 .

100

_ p

Principal Species:

cf
. p

All other

c,a All other

All other

Total 100

% Total ‘

100 %

Total

100

8. Principal owners by
Size of holdings -
Largest first:

9 . Distance from common carrier railroad :

Within 10 miles _ %

Within 25 miles ; %

Within 50 miles _ cp

M-1095-R1, Sheet 2

PHYSICAL FACTS

Instructions

1. List principal drainages - Upper Green River, Bear Creek and Ox
Creek,

2. Show percentage distribution of the gross area included in the
working circle by counties to nearest 5 or 10 percent. Indicate
the state too if more than one is involved. The total should
equal 100 percent,

3. Show percentage distribution of the gross area inside the national
forest boundary in the working circle by ranger, districts to
nearest 5 or 10 percent. The total should equal 100 percent,

4. Same as 3 for national forests where more than one is involved.

5. First item in a table. Gross area of forest land within the
exterior boundary of the working circle before any reductions are
made for reservations. Therefore, not limited to lands inside
the national forest boundary. Forest land includes all timber
types as well as subalpine and nonre fores ted cut-overs and burns.
Does not include agricultural land, barren, or water.

6. Net commercial forest land after subalpine and informal and formal
reservations are taken out of 5 (see item 4 "Status of Timber
Management Plans" for examples of informal and formal reserva¬
tions) . Open woodland types and areas of lowest site quality that
will not produce saw timber as defined below should be excluded
too,

6(a) (b) Saw timber - Stands in which more than 50 percent of the net

cubic volume is in trees 11,0 inches DBH and larger and generally
contain at least 3000 board feet per acre. Over-ripe saw timber
shows excessive mortality or decay due to age, insects or disease.

Poles - Stands in which more than 50 percent of the net cubic
volume is in trees 5.0 to 10.9 inches .DBH,

Seedlings and saplings - Stands that are at least 10 percent
stocked with trees below 5.0 inches DBH that contain more than
50 percent of the net cubic volume,

Nonstocked - Less than 10 percent stocked.

An estimate of the principal species in the saw timber stands.

Principal owners of the nonnational forest net commercial forest
land suitable and available for management. Give acreages if .
available,

Rough approximation of the percentage of the gross area of the
working circle that is, each distance from a common carrier
railroad. The percentages are cumulative.

6(c)

6(d)

6(e)

M-1095-R1, Sheet 3

SOCIAL AMD ECONOMIC FACTS

1. Communities in Working Circle:

Percent dependent
upon forest products
Name Population from working circle

2 . Mills Dependent on This Working Circle :

Daily Capacity

Over 50,000
25,000-50,000
11,000-24,000
10,000-or less
Other plants

Number of Mills

3. Volume cut from national forest lands in working circle by years for

past 10 years: (millions of board feet.)

1939 _ _

1940 , _

1941 _ _

1942 _

1943 _

4. Average annual cut past 5 years:
(a) From N* F. lands _

(b) From other lands _

5. Other pertinent facts; markets

. • 1944 _

1945 _ _

1946 _ _

1947 _

1940 _

(millions of board feet.)

percent rallied in U. C. _ %

percent milled in lT. C. _ %

other industries, etc:

M-1095-R1, Sheet 3

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTS

Instructions

1. Use 1940 census if no more recent population figures are available.
Estimate dependence to nearest 10 percent.

2. List only the mills that get over 50 percent of their raw material
from the working circle, (From the gross area of the working
circle.) Under other plants include pole plants, mine timber plants,
shingle mills, etc. Prepare a list of plants to go with Overlay A.

3. Can be obtained from timber sale records. Convert poles, pulpwood,
etc., to board feet.

4. (a) Obtained from 3 above. Estimate percent milled inside the
working circle to the nearest 10 percent.

(b) Amount cut on other lands will have to be an approximation based
on mill capacities and number of days worked per year. Use a work
sheet and preserve it.

5. The proportion of the cut that is consumed in the working circle is
' significant or if most of it is shipped to distant markets, that

should be noted. Other items that might be mentioned are alternative
opportunities for labor and capital in the working circle ip agri¬
culture, mining, etc., in case forest industries shrink. Any local
pressure for allocation of national forest timber to local industries
should be noted. Also note evidence of interest in sustained yield
management.

M-1095-R1, Sheet 4

STATUS OF TIMBER MANAGEMENT PLANS

1 . Existing management plans or policy statements :

2. List of intensive cruises in working circle: (minimum area 640
acres)

Location Acreage Percent of Cruise Date

(attach extra sheet if necessary) -

3 # List sources of information for extensive coverage of working

circle,;

- L

4. List. of currently recognized or formally dedicated reservations
affecting management of the working circle: (also show on a map
or overlay)

5 • List current files having special bearing on management plans

for this working circle:

M-1095-R1, Sheet 4

STATUS OF TIMBER MANAGEMENT PLANS

Instructions

1. List current plans and policy . statements by name and date of
approval. If the plan has not been approved indicate status.
Also indicate whether plan or policy statement applies to entire
forest, entire working circle or part of the working circle.

2. An intensive cruise sampled 5 percent or more of the area.

Cruises more than 20 years old are of doubtful value unless
converting factors have been recently obtained.

3. The grazing survey and the forest survey will be the most common
sources of information. Aerial photows may also prove to be use¬
ful, List the sources of information that proved to be most
helpful in the preparation of this report.

4. Formally dedicated reservations incJ.ude natural areas, primative
areas, wilderness areas where approved by the Secretary, etc.,
but they do not include informal reservations such as roadside
strips, campgrounds, etc. Show area of formal reservations if
you can.

5. List inspection reports, letters or memos having pertinent
statements bearing on the preparation of a management plan for
the working circle. Give the gist of the statement as well as
the designation and date. Also state who signed it.

M-1095-R1, Sheet 5

FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

1. ESTIMATED ALLOWABLE ANNUAL CUT of the national forest lands in the
working circle:

_ Million hoard feet, saw timber

_ Poles" by number, pulpwood by cords, etc.

_ Total, million board feet (or board feet

equivalent)

2. Estimated number of years nonnational , forest timber in working .

circle will last at present rate of cutting: . _

3. List mills or industries that appear destined to shut down in next
5 years unless they can obtain a supply of national forest timber
from this working circle. Show annual capacities: _

4. Estimated demand for national forest stumpage by years (million
board feet) :

•1949 _ _ _ _ 1952 _ _

1 1950 _ 1953 •

1951 _ _

5. Amount that can be sold with present roads (million board feet):

——————————— * » f

1949 _ 1950 _ 1951 _ 1952 _ _ 1953 _

6. List of additional roads needed in order of priority and their
•costs to meet estimated demand above (next 5 years):

7. List areas in need of cutting in order of priority with* notes on
volume, availability, and cost of selling: _

8. List of other high priority areas in order of priority with notes
on volume, availability, and cost of selling: _

M-1095-R1, Sheet 5

FUTURE' POSSIBILITIES

Instructions

1. A good method for computing the allowable cut will be found on page ,
25 of the mimeographed "Management. Plan for the Kootenai Sustained
Yield Unit" (1946)* la essence this can be reduced to the formula:

C = V ; ;• ,

• t. N

C s allowable annual cut

V = volume in stands over rotation age that will be available
for cutting (after taking out the "left" volume and making
deductions for losses)*

N = number of years in the adjustment period,

2, Estimate the total available saw timber stand on nonnational forest
land in the working circle and divide by the average annual cut,
based on item 4(b), sheet 3. One way to estimate the saw timber
stand on these lands is to apply estimated per acre volumes to the
area estimates used in estimating items 6(a) and 6(b), sheet 2.
Preserve the work sheet,

3, Mills obtaining entire supply from a -sale would be listed as shutting
down at termination of present sale unless they have other sources of
logs. Purpose is to show possible future dependence upon national
forest timber.

4. If you prefer, estimate an average demand per year for next 5 years,

5& Base estimate on common practice of the Forest Service in building

6. access roads as well as common practice as to operator built roads.

7. Ripe saw timber areas are in need of cutting unless the losses have
gone too far. List here only the ripe saw timber areas that it is
practical to sell considering volume, accessibility and cost.

8. The purpose here is to show what it will take to meet the demand
shown in 4 above.

The location of items 6-7-8 will be shown on Overlay B„

Use extra sheets for items 6-7-8 where necessary.

M-1095-R1, Sheet 6

POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

Consider need for reconsidering or changing the boundaries of
this working circle and make recommendations:

Recommend the priority for the preparation of a management plan

of this working circle. It should be number _ of the _ _

working circles on the forest. Indicate the date the manage¬
ment plan should be completed:

Consider the need for land exchange and make recommendations:

Consider obstacles to selling the allowable cut in the working
circle and make recommendations:

Consider the desirability or undesirability of making this
working circle a federal or cooperative unit under Law 273 and
make recommendations:

Make and explain any other recommendations applicable to this
working circle:

M-1095-R1, Sheet 7

MAPS

Map of working circle, l/4" scale. Make-up as a letter-size
sheet if possible. Show boundary of working circle with a solid
heavy black line.

Make overlays on clear vellum with suitable binding as follows:

OVERLAY A Sawmills and other forest products, industries.

Legend Sawmills: (A) over 50,000 per day
" . (B) 25,000 - 50,000 per day

(D) 10,000 or less per day
Other plants (W)

Prepare a list of plants tied to their symbols by number:

Star Pole Company (W)5

OVERLAY B Road system and future cutting areas.

Existing access roads (and connecting roads and
highways) solid black lines.

Needed access roads, next 5 years, broken black lines
National forest areas in need of cutting, solid red.
Other high priority areas, solid green.

OVERLAY C Intensive cruises. Minimum area 640 acres. Outline
in black, use various colors to distinguish different
areas and number to correspond to list in report.

OVERLAY D Principal reservations. Outline in black and number
to correspond to list in report.

OVERLAY E (Optional) Area of national forest land cut-over in
past 10 years. Outline each yearls cut in black and
use a different color for each year. Show year of
cutting in black. Minimum area 160 acres.

PLANS - R-2

Timber Management March 7, 1949

MANAGEMENT PLAN CONFERENCE - TOPIC #3

Timber Management Plan Needs and Program in Region 2

by Theodore Krueger.

The Forests in Region 2 have been divided into 83 Working Circles.

For purpose of planning the work in the Regional Office, we maintain
a standard 1&| x 21-g-inch binder, which contains a base map of each
of the National Forests in the Region with Working Circle boundaries
shown on the map. In addition, the binder contains a summary sheet
showing the name of the Working Circle, date Management Plan or Policy
Statement was prepared, date revised, date next revision is due, and
allowable annual cut:

: Date Plan: : :A1 lowable

: or Policy: : : Annual

Forest and : Statement: Date :Revision due : Cut

’Working Circle: Prepared :Revi sed :1S48 :1949 :1950,etc. :M ft.b.m*

Remarks

IrulkHi;!!

This provides a quick reference summary when the annual program of
work for the Region is prepared.

As of January 1, 1949, Plans or Policy Statements for the leas Importa-nt
have been prepared for 66 Working Circles, leaving 17 ^forking
Circles for which we do not have a Management Plan or Policy Statement.
Of the 66 Plans, 33 with an acreage of 4,387,000 acres are satisfactory
for our use.

For the calendar year 1949 we have included the following in our
program of work:

Revise existing plans 4

Prepare plans for Working

Circles now without plan 6

Due to lack of good basic information on volumes, acreage, and growth,
many of our present plans are weak, but we hope that within the next
10-year period, as better information is collected or business
increases, we will be able to prepare adequate (not elaborate; plans
for each of the Working Circles in the Region and then be able to
meet revision dates as they come due. We will have to work on the
basis of gradual growth or development of plans as revisions are needed.
As additional facts are available, they should be used; as conditions
change, they should be met„

Our special need for accomplishing our objective is aerial photos
to cover the Forests in the Region in order that we might get
correct condition class maps and volumes.

The estimated costs of preparing Management Plans vary according
to topography, size of Working Circle, complexity of problems,
types of timber, availability of growth data, whether or not
aerial photos and ground control are available, and other factors,
but the actual Management Plan work, exclusive of aerial photography,
control, and timber survey, is about 1^ per acre.

-2-

K \

WORKING CIRCLE INFORMATION
Region 2

Working Circle

Commercial Forest
Acreage : Timber Volume

M Acres :M ft- b«m»

Allowable

Annual

Cut

M ft. b.mc

Acres

Planned
to Cut
Annually

Date

Plan

Approved

Notes

Colorado

Arapaho

• ■

Bear Creek

190*000

925

110

)1S49 New

Clear Creek

284,000

2,842

355

5/27/43

) combined

plan to be

prepared.

Dillon

85,900

1,250

160

7/13/48

Fraser River

: 259,800

4,950

620

2/25/47

Middle Park

262

: 1 , 009 .,000

2,000

6/13/47

Totals

489

: 1,828,700

25, fs n.

3,245

Grand Mesa

: 160,000

5,500

1,800'

7/ 3/40

-V

Gunni s on

Baldwin

: 136,000

2,034

250

1/12/40

Cebolla

125

677,000

6,162

770

2/25/39

Crested Butte

: 275,000

4,575

570

4/ 9/42

North Fork

: 71,000

1,400

450

Pitkin

: 311,000

3,020

380

2/25/39

Sapinero

: 215,000

4,300

540

1949 Plan in

process of

preparation.

Taylor River

125

j 1,221,600

18,000

2,300

5/11/34

Tomichi

111

: 501,000

7,300

900

3/11/39

Totals

536

: 3,407,600

46,791

6,160

Pike

Bailey

122

: 113,000

1,000

400

Devils Head

: 79,000

1,250

500

1949 Prepare

Flan

Lake George

: 20,000

600

240

Pikes Peak

11,000

400

160

South Park

117

: 1,100

1,100

440

9/27/41

South Platte

: 31,100

690

270

1949 Some

revision of

• .

plan sub-

mitted in 1918

needed

Totals

442

"1 255,200

5,040

2,010

Rio Grande

Bonanza

: 65,200

690

170

3/31/39

Carnero

: 125,800

2,000

500

3/ 7/38

Rio Grande

391

: 2,375,400

12,800

1,600

7/ 1/30

Saguache

110

: 426,700

5,150

1,300

3/31/39

San Luis

: 110,500

1 , 000

200

Valley

120

: 630,500

10,400

2,100

Totals

694

: 3,734,100

32,040

5,870

-3-

(

■

♦

. 1

Allowable

Acres

Commerc

Lai Forest

Annual

Planeed

Date

Acreage

Timber Volume

Cut

to Cut

Plan

Working Circle

M Acres

M ft 6 bfim-

M ft* b0m«

Annually

Approved

Notes

Colorado ( Cont : d )

Ro j s eve It

Boulder-Est©

100

162,, 700

8,500

2,100

2/27/23

Laramie River

110

404,700

14,400

3,600

12.Ro/25

Pondre

203

746,600

12.500

3,100

S/iS/ES

’49. Revise

& prepare

Totals

413

1; 314; 000

35 - 400

8,800

now plan

Routt

Little Snake

1949 Rev.

River

307,600

4.500

500

I/2I/33

now in R0

North Park

130

896,600

10,000

1,250

9/l 8/42

Yampa River

206

687,000

10, 000

1,250

2/10/41

Totals

367

1,891 ,200

24., 500

3 , 000

San Isabel

A. kans as River

150

107,000

2.500

1,250

6/ 4/40

Huerfano

76,000

1,000

5 CO

9/ 4/34

Las Animas

203,000

2,200

1,100

12/ 4/41

Poncha

156,000

2,000

500

3/31/39

San Carlos

155,000

2,000

400

Westcliff

109,000

3,250

810

4/ 7/42

Totaj s

353

806,000

12,950

4,560

San Juan

1949 Prepare

Animas

507,400

6,000

2,000

Plan.

Pagosa

150

1,458,900

10,000

3,300

2/13/42

Piedra River

110

892,200

17,364

4,300

1/24/31

Pine River

328,000

2,685

670

4/10/41

Dolores

125

287.000

11,300

2 ,800

2/ 5/42

Dove Creek

7,300

228

110

5/l 8/42

Rico

502,800

6 , 000

1,200

Totals

652

3, 983. 600

53,577

14,380

Unoompahgre

Alpine -Ouray

133

911,700

8,000

2,600

2/ 7/47

Uncompahgre Val.

195

168,400

2,000

660

5/26/47

Miguel

151,600

2,100

700

4/ 7/42

Naturita

19,200

400

130

6/ 5/42

Totals

401

1,250,900

12,500

4,090

l/Lhite River

Bear River

363,100

7,000

700

1/23/40

Colorado River

678,000

13,500

1,350

1/23/40

Crystal River

182,200

2,500

400

1/ 4/40

Dotsero

582,000

10,000

1,000

1/23/40

Eagle River

255

490,000

7,350

1,200

6/ 6/40

Frying Pan

175

554,200

6,000

1,000

Roaring Fork

607,800

12,000

2,000

5/18/34

White River

790,000

31,000

3,100

1/23/40

Wi Ilians River

782,000

15,000

1,500

1/23/40

Totals

867

4, 829 .300

104,350

12,250

COLORADO TOTAL

5,305

23,460,600

358,615

66,165

^ .

■ . .. • '

- » •

. ^

. ■ > ‘

y * „ ^ *

; ‘

'it..

* •

* *

if ‘ -

Allowable

Acres

Commercial Forest

Annual

Planned

Date

Acreage

Timber Volume

Cut

to Cut

Plan

forking Circle

M Acres

M ft, b.mo

M ft. b.m.

Annually

Approved

Notes

Wyoming

bighorn

Buffalo

169

134,200

4,754

1,000

12/29/39

Porcupine

94,000

4,683

1,000

3/11/39

Tensleep

282,000

7,284

1,800

12/29/39

Tongue River

273

311,200

8,858

2,000

1/12/40

Totals

590

821,400

'257579

5,800

Medicine Bow

Bow River

113

564,000

10,000

1,400

6/ 3/32

Laramie Peak

282,000

2,500

360

1949 Prepare

Plan

Platte River

353

1,431,400

23,500

3,350

12/10/40

Pole Mountain

15,500

500

H/24/39

Railroad

107

363,000

10,000

1,400

12/ 3/41

1949 Rev .Plan

Snake River

97,000

1,000

140

Totals

66$~

£',752,900

47, 50(3

6,720

Shoshone

•

Clarks Fork

432,800

3,800

630

5/ 6/42

Glacier

19,200

200

Greybull

101,000

1,240

200

3/18/43

Lander

58,800

1,400

230

4/ 3/42

Shoshone River

340,600

2,400

400

12/13/40

Wind River

513,000

9,450

1,570

3/ 2/35

Totals

313

1,465,400

18,490

3,070

vVYOMING TOTAL

1,571

5,039,700

91,569

15,590

South Dakota

Black Hills

Bearlodge

194,500

3,200

940

8/ 7/39

Nemo-Rapid

250

454,600

6,750

1,980

9/20/44

’49. Complete

rev. of plan

Spearfi sh

238

567,900

6,500

1,910

12/15/43

Totals

567

1,217,000

16,450

4,830

Harney

Custer

174

537,100

9,830

3,900

4/ 2/41

) *49. Pre-

Elk Mountain

65,700

412

110

2/ 8/40

)liminary

Hill City

127

204,400

3,700

1,500

9/18/11

)work to

Lime stone

122

291,938

5,480

2,200

II/7/4O

) combine all

Totals

439

1,099,138

19,422

7,710

)into 1 W.C,

\ /

S, DAKOTA TOTAL

1,006

£,316,138

35,872

12,540

■Jw/control

V.,-; 4- ■*-. 101

Nebraska

yWl U Ill 11 DJjKS t

Bessey Division

’49. Prepare

Niobrara Div.

plan for
thinning of

plantations

TOTALS - R-2

Colorado

5,305

23,460,600

358,615

66,165

Wyoming

1,571

5,039,700

91,569

15,590

S , Dakota

1,006

2,316,138

35,872

12,540

TOTAL R-2

7,882

£50,616,438

T86^056

94,295

-5«.

$ - ■ - /"• ' =:■' - . : : : .. ... * . -gr 8 ,

■

i ■

. •

Tone 3

TIMBER MANAGEMENT PLAN NEEDS AND PROGRAMS
SOUTHWESTERN REGION (3) — FOREST SERVICE

March, 1$?U9

Prepared for presentation at the Management Plan Conference,
Hot Springs National Parle, March 28, through April 8, 19U9®

C. OTTO LINDH

Assistant Regional Forester

-i-

•V ,

—

STATUS OF MANAGEMENT PLANS* - REGION THREE

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STATUS OF MANAGEMENT PLANS* - REGION THREE

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■*

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STATUS OF MANAGEMENT PLANS* - REGION THREE

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'

SUMMARY OP MANAGEMENT PLAN STATUS

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B. Costs and Time Table for Preparing and Maintaining Plans

"(includes sawtimber working circles only)

!• Status of Inventories for Management Plan Purposes

Most of the forest lands were initially inventoried in the period
1912 - 1915* Ocular estimates were made and volumes recorded section by
section which have been adjusted one or more times since by random checks
for each individual doing the initial work. On about 15% of the acreage,
estimates are based on office guesses* Good estimates, reoently made,
are available for 97° of the commercial acreage*

The Region has no standard timber type maps* No work has been
done on site classes or maps* The Forest Survey projeot has not been
extended to the Southwest*

Aerial photos, on a scale of 1|20,000, are now available for 17%
of the commercial forest area* They were being used for the first time,
in December 1948, to delineate stand structure, and density classes,
operable and inoperable areas and to a certain extent for timber types*

It is anticipated they will serve as the first step in obtaining reliable
data for management planning*

It is apparent that the first systematic inventory sinoe 1915 has
just been initiated* If the aerial photos prove to be as valuable as
we think they will, it will be the Regional polioy to do no field work
on the ground for management plan purposes exoept in those areas where
satisfactory photos are available#

2* Cost of Plan Preparation (initial or Major Revision)

a. Field Work and Qffioe Reoords

Unfortunately the Region has not had suffioient experience in
modern field inventory programs to make an intelligent guess on oosts*
Costs will probably depend somewhat on whether the oontinuous or book¬
keeping system is adopted, whether large soale aerial photos are avail¬
able and whether mensurational researoh findings are available* A
rough estimate would be that initially it should not 00 st over 10 oents
an acre for aerial photos, photo interpretation and maps, essential
field work and permanent reoords for those areas still under extensive
management as our working oiroles are at this time* The estimate is
based on the premise that 2-inoh to the mile planimetrio base maps will
be prepared from other funds* At this rate the total oost would be
♦457 #800 or about $90,000 per year for five years*

b* Plan Preparation (Qffioe)

^ Regardless cf the aoouraoy of the available data, it is as¬

sumed the plan will be based on the best information available and
that summaries and maps are in reasonable fair shape. The oost of
plan preparation is, therefore, based on offioe work only# Taking the

-9

kind of resource data presently available in the Region, the cost of
plan preparation is as follows;

(1) Individual Plan Items (Average)

Item Man- Days

a* Source data - compiling and summaries ® . ® * ® . . ® • . ® ® ® 7

bo Preparing type and/or classification and

ownership maps o®ee®o*®®®®«oo®e®®®®e®o®oe®eo®®oo«eo®oso 1^.

Co Preparing transportation plan map and record « • . • • . • . . . • 2

do Preparing rough draft o®««o«io®ooo9ooee®o®e®®e®e®e®®®®ooo 10

e o Clerical and map reproduction o®®®®®®®®...®.®® . 4

fo Review of rough draft byF«Se (any redrafting) o®®®®®*®® 2

go Review of rough draft by RoO® (redrafting by FoS® ) . . . ® ® ® 3

ho Clerical - final draft - assembly and checking ®®o®.®..® 3

i© Final review in RoOo by interested Divisions «.®®®®®®o®® 2

Sub-total Regional . . 37

jo Review in W®0® by all concerned o®®®®®®®*®®.®®®®®.®.®®®® 2

T Ot al ®®®®co®o®#oe®®o«oooooe®®»o®o®oe®ee«oooooocoeooooo 39

(2) Cost of Meeting Regional Program for Plan Preparation

T5moeryyT95IT - ~ - -

Year Noo Plans Regional Cost &

19U9

7.U50

1950

6,705

1951

5,215

1952

5,960

1953

7k3

1954

7h5

Cost

$ 1U6

210

7h5

809

Total

o o

26,820

Plan Maintenance Program and Costs

Beginning in 1951 existing acceptable plans are scheduled
for revision« Presumably over 10 per cent, or 5 of the plans, will
on the average have to be revised each year<> If the original plan
was based on accurate inventory data and adequate inventory data
are currently maintained , the revision job should not be difficult
or costlyo Unfortunately, the Region will not reach that point,
except possibly in a few cases, until after each plan is revised
once0 The average cost of the maintenance or revision job start¬
ing in 1951 will be about as follows t

a0 Field Work and Office Records

On the basis that good aerial photos and maps are origi¬
nally available, the cost of maintaining a permanent inventory -
either the continuous or bookkeeping system - should not exceed
on© cent per acre per year even as the trend is towards intensive
management (a guess, of course, as the Region has had no experi¬
ence for a base)» If so, the annual cost of inventorying would
be about $U5s>000per year for planning purposes starting in 1953
(on the basis no maintenance work will be initiated until after
field work is completed in the entire Region) »

bo Maintenance of Plans (office)

The first major revision will be as costly as that
planned for 19k9 * 19 5h° On the basis of revising an average of
five plans per year, starting in 1951* "the annual cost at $7^5
per plan would be 15,725 Per year®

“11™*

4* Summary of Plan Costs (Estimates)

Initial

Year

Field

Office

Total

1948

| 90,000

$ 7,450

i 97.450

1949

90,000

6,705

96,705

1950

90,000

5,215

95,215

1951

90,000

5,960

95,96o

1952

90,000

745

90,745

1953

745

1954

1955

1956

1957

1958

1959

I960

Totals

450 * 000

26,820

476,820

Field

Revision

Office

Total

Grand

Total

» 97,450

—

96,705

95,215

« 3,725

* 3.725

99,685

3,725

94,470

! 45,000

3,725

48,725

49,470

45,ooo

3,725

48,725

45,000

3,725

48,725

45,000

3.725

48,725

45,ooo

3,725

48,725

45,ooo

3,725

48,725

45,ooo

3,725

48,725

45,ooo

3,725

48,725

360,000

37,250

397,250

874,070

Following i960 the annual cost should be reduced considerably on the basis that
reliable inventory data are available and currently maintained e

-12-

March 25, 1949

SUPERVISION

Meetings

(Timber Management Plan Conference) /

TOPIC ‘3

TIMBER MiUTi;GEJ;.r3rT PLAN NEEDS AND PROGRAMS

REGION 4 " .

Ey Paul A# Gross enbach

A glance at the tabular data attached to these sheets will help a great
deal to explain the R-4 situation, .. ■

Column (9) really tells the story of ou” needs for management plan prepara
tion and revision. Out of a total of 8L v;orking >circle,s there are only
four approved plans considered satisfactory for present needs. These
were approved in 1339 and 1942 and are in heed of and due for some slight
revision this year. \

- >.

The blank spaces on the table are those for which no information was
readily available.

The table is a partial copy of a rough work sheet prepared in our office
last winter as an appraisal of" bur needs. It will be maintained as a
progress record for our 10-year program of plan preparation and -revision
and the blanks filled in as the data become available.

As a part of the program we" have tentatively classified our working’
circles into the following three’ broad groups:

Class I. - Plans or revisions urgently .’needed; maximum allowable cut

in sight, reached, or exceeded; available, inventory data either
unsatisfactory or incomplete; .relative importance high; project
work required for inventory purposes in most cases.

Class II. - Plans or revisions needed; maximum allowable cut possible;
additional or improved inventory data necessary; Relative
importance medium; surveys can be handled by contributed time
with minor expense.

Class III. - No immediate need for better plans than are now in
existence or can be prepared from data available; present
cut generally far below maximum permissible; relative
importance low; little or no field work required for inventory.

The purpose of this classification was primarily to point out where our
needs for now or revised plans are most urgent. These, of course, are
the ones to be given the most attention. It shows roughly what wc need
in the way of inventory data. This will be explained more fully in

(over )

Topic 12 discussions. The classification was meant to be elastic as well
as the conditions within each class,

H ■ « '

No plan preparation or revision will be held up awaiting better inventory
data except when such data are assured within the period set for the
preparation of that individual plan. The time schedule will be set by
the forests as needed. The only ' Regional Office requirement is that
plan preparation and revision be started as soon as possible and be com¬
pleted within the 10-year period,

* .

The., date of first revision will be listed in the plan and the Regional
Office work sheet containing that information will be used as a promise
card to assist the forests in keeping' the dates as set but the forests
will be expected to revise the plans at any time the need becomes
apparent.

Our inventory cost figures wore borrowed from other regions as we have
not as yet done enough work with aerial photo surveys to know what they
will cost us, 3/ per acre was used for Class I working' circles with a
total of $110,000. l/s/ per acre was used for Clast II surveys where
only minor expenses are involved— total $11,000. Class III plans and
work other than surveys on Class I a'nd XI plans will be nearly all
contributed time and any estimate of. such costs that we might make would
bo so rough as to bo useless. . *'

i- ' • ’

Several, items in the following table heed explanation.

Column 3 is of use only for an estimation of aerial photo coverage needed.
No deduction for primitive areas or other largo areas withdrawn from
timber use has been made. This will bo dono later as forest plans arc
completed. It will not affect Class I working circles.

Columns 4 and '5 figures were obtained from tho Extensive Revision of
1945 where no management plan figures wore available 'and in such cases
no. breakdown by working circles was possible*

Colump. 6 figures represent, 1% of column 5 where no management plan
estimates were available.

Column 7 figures were taken from the quarterly Cut and Sold Reports
for tho forests and in some cases are greater than Column 6 figures. For
some forests this reflects increased war demands but wherever noted in
Class III working circles we have roason to believe that column 5
figures are low.

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SUMMARY OF MFJAG-Fi>oEiIT PLAN NEEDS BY FORESTS xiND UOREING- CIRCLES

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March 23, 1949

SUPERVISION
Meetings

(Management Plan Conference)

TIMBER MMAGEUEUT PLAIT MBPS MS PROG-HAMS

Topic 3

Austin A* Ha.sel
P-egion 5

PEE SUIT STATUS

HO. WORKING- CIRCLES

M ACRES

Approved Plans

1,089.5

Data adequate for plans

466.4

Data inadequate for plans

2,124.2

Ho data

2,069.3

Total

5,7^9>

PROGRAM FOR 1949;

Inventory ef two working circles in the Klamath Forest*

Revise plan for Alturas Working Circle and submit to Washington Office,
Revise plan for Eastern Lassen Working Circle,

Prepare plan for Alder Springs Working Circle, Mendocino Forest,
Initiate preparation of plans on other forests, one plan assigned to
each forest where existing data are adequate,

GENERAL:

Follow behind Forest Survey and collect additional map and cruise data

needed for management plan preparation.

• *

\ ..

March 23, 19^9

G-Zi'TSHAh : (Continued)

Give first priority to areas where applications for cooperative sustained
yield units have been received.

In cut-over, "burned-over, and in stands making net growth, permanent plots
will he established to determine future growth and mortality.

In virgin timber, permanent plots may or may not be established, depending
upon need for inforamtion on logging damage and available resources for
pushing the permanent plot program*

Austin A. Hasel

: i. - '

;» • * • \>y

U. S. FOREST SERVICE

Rp-6

S Portland , Oregon

PLANS - R-6

Timber Management March 17, 1949

TOPIC NO. MANAGEMENT PLAN CONFERENCE

TIMBER MANAGEMENT PLAN NEEDS AND PRO GRAINS

On the appended pages will be found a detailed statistical summary of the
Region Six timber management situation. In brief it shows that we have an
aggregate of 13-1/2 million acres available for management with a total stand
of 190 billion board feet, and that our estimated allowable annual cut is al¬
most 2-1/2 billion feet. This resource and allowable annual cut is distributed
among 92 working circles. For 23 of these, or about 25%, we have approved
management plans, some of which date back as far as 1924* In addition, we have
almost complete coverage with current local management plans, I am scheduled
to speak about these tomorrow on Topic 7 of this conference and consequently
will not take your time to discuss them now.

Some impression may be gained of the general size and shape of Region Six
working circles by reference to the regional map displayed here upon which
generalized working circle boundaries have been drawn.

The cost of management planning in Region Six is hard to appraise. Our organi¬
zation of the work is such that except for specialist leadership from the
Regional Office, and research, all of the work is done by forest field personnel
- supervisors, their timber staff men, rangers and their timber management men.
At the Regional Office level there is perhaps the equivalent of one man year
of time devoted strictly to management planning each year. The contributed
time of forest personnel to the activity is difficult or impossible to evaluate.
In no case has special management planning personnel or extra funds been allo¬
cated to the forests for the purpose of conducting the activity.

Another element of cost which may be considered to be part and parcel of the
development of management plans is the collection of resource data - management
surveys. In Region Six we have the complete results of the Forest Survey,
working circle by working circle, which we generally use for planning purposes.
It is not all that a management planner might wish for but at this point in
the history of management planning in Region Six vre consider it to be entirely
adequate except for a very few critical vrorking circles. For these we have
management surveys in progress or planned. Where it is necessary to conduct
special inventory projects the cost of collecting the requisite information
amounts to some 7 cents per acre, or about $10,000 for the average working
circle.

Our job ahead in the field of management planning as we see it is to improve
our local plans so as to bring them up to acceptable standards within the next
ten years and to maintain existing approved plans by completely revising them
and providing cutting budgets on a 10— year renewal basis.

» r ■ r

PLANS

Timber Management

U. S. FOREST SERVICE
REGION SIX

Portland , Oregon
March 18* 1949

SUMMARY OF UNRESERVED COMMERCIAL FOREST ACREAGE, TIMBER VOLUME,
AND ALLOWABLE ANNUAL CUT FOR NATIONAL FOREST LANDS

AS OF January 1, 1948

STATE OF OREGON

• Subregion

D-Douglas-

fir

Forest Working Circle P-Pine

Deschutes- Sisters P

• • Pauline P

-*Bend P

See

Fremont -*Bend (Deschutes) P

Lakeview P

^-Klamath P

Rogue River ^damath P

■Applegate D

•Medford D

Rogue River D

Siskiyou Coquille D

Grants Pass> D

N. Coastal D

Rogue River (W) D

S. Coastal D

-x-Cow Creek D

' » •* ,

Umpqua , *-Cow Creek D

. ' Evans . ■ D

(Row River) Cottage Grove D

Diamond Lake . ■ D '

.. N. Umpqua •, \ . D

■ . S. Ump qua D

*» . & \.j

$ •

Mt. Hood Clackamas -Sandy D

Hood ‘River • D

Silverton D

East Side . P

Allowable

Forest

Timber

Annual

Acreage

Volume in Cut in Date of

in thou-

million

million Approved

sand acres

ft. BM

ft. BM Plan

log seal

e log scale

jy \ '

206

2,340

*/\7\

31.5 (26.5) 2/17/31

312

852

6.0 ( 6.0)

846

3,527

50.0 (41.4) 5/25/32

1,364

6,719

87.5 (73.9)

346

3,022

44.0 (40.0) 6/23/31

222.

2.532

32.5. (31.5) 2/17/34

735

5,554

76.5 (71.5)

169

1,562

14.0 ( 8.4) 2/17/34

113

1,388

14.5 ( 4.5) 6/21/48

1,944

19.6 ( 6.2)

198

6.104

55.5 ( 8.0) 4/24/42

579

10,998

103.6 (27.1)

1,631

24.0

178

1,754

20.0

804

9.0

136

1,589

16.0

557

9.0

1.0

472

6,409

79.0

202

4.0

0.5

2,521

42.0 3/20/26

121

2,326

25.0

268

8,622

115.0

247

6,659

.78.0

738

20,359..

264.5

424

10,170

125.0

2,019

■28.0 •' •

223

3.0- -

239

4.070

47.5 (14.6)

751

16,482.

203.5 (14.6)

Allowable
Timber Annual

Subregion

Forest

Volume

in Cut in

Date of

D=Douglas-

Acreage

million

Approved

fir

in thou-

ft. BM

Plan

Forest

Working; Circle

P=Pine

sand acres

log; scale log; e

;cale

-x-x- (Alder only)

Siuslaw

Hebo

106

1,928

54.0

(10/26/40)

Waldport

141

3,999

42.2

Maple ton

151

4, 048

87.0

Mary’s River

D '

368

4.3

408

10,343

187.5

Umatilla

Grande Ronde

562

7.4 ( 2.9)

Heppner

152

859

12.0

( 9.2)

Pendleton-Pilot Rock P

357

2,416

28.5

(15.4)

-$'-La Grande

478

6.4

( 0.9)

680

4,315

54.3

(28.4)

Whitman

-"-La Grande

351

1,256

14.6

( 5.2)

Powder River

188

832

10.1

( .3.8)

-"-Wallowa (See Wallowa) P

---Baker

486

2,535.

22^1

(22.7)

1,025

4,623

58.2

(31.7)

Malheur

-x-Baker

631

11.5

( 8.2)

John Day Valley

153

1,120

14.9

(12.3)

-"-Burns (Silvies)

571

4.419

55*8

(42*1)

5/23/28

803

6,170

82.2

(69.8)

Ochoco

---Burns (Silvies)

224

1,441

26.6

(26.0)

Mitchell

584

7.3

( 4.1)

Grizzly

134

1,504

19.3

(16.2)

Summit

P ■

251

2,824

36.5

(3.1.3)

688

6,353

89.7

(77.6)

Wallowa

-x-Wallowa

251

1.516

16.9

(10.4)

253

1,516

16.9

(10.4)

Willamette

Fall Creek

102

3,754

50.0

Little N. F.

615

7.2

Lower 'Willamette

1,028

15.0

3/8/42

McKenzie

166

3,705

58.0

Middle-S . Santiam

190

4,694

63.0

N. Santiam

110

3,130

32.5

8/21/43

N* F. Willamette

107

1,729

32.0

1/19/24

Salmon Creek

* D

1,854

20.0

Salt-Hills Creek

' D

2,047

16.0

Middle Fork Willamette D

160

4.850

48.0

1,039

27,406

341.7

Working Circles in more than one forest

-'B(- In parentheses - allowable annual cut for' ponder osa, sugar, and white pines.

-2-

STATE OF '.WASHINGTON

’ Allowable

Forest

\ . f.

Working Circle

Subregion .
D=Douglas-
fir

P=Pine

Timber Annual

Forest Volume in Cut in

Acreage million million

in thou- ft. BM ft. BM

sand acres log scale log scale

Date of
Approved-
Plan

Chelan

P •

273

\/\/

*/\ 0S

2.5 ( 1.1)

Methow .

372

1,907

27.0 (17.0) 2/11/40

r •

Omak-Okano gan

290

1J31 1

26.9 ( 7.7)

" * ; .

» "* 1 .

718

3,995

56.4 (25.8)

Columbia

Cowlitz

441

6,120

70.0

* Klickitat

P ’

231

2.0 ( 1.0)

‘ Lewis River

312

5,976

70.0

10/14/42

' Little White Salmon D

986

12.0

7/5/40

Longview

416

6.0

' Trout Lake

485

5.5 (4.0)

Wind River

140

1,467

18.0

6/26/40

-"-Silver Creek (See

• Snoqualmie )

1,050

15, 681

183.5 (S.O)

Mt. Baker

Glacier

1,040

14.0

Baker River

2,272

24.0

Marblemount

1,078

15.0

' Suiattle

863

12.0

Sauk

138

3,224

40.0

3/26/31

S. F. Stillaguamish D

2,114

22.0

8/2/30

Boundary

373

4.0

Skagit

628

9.0

557

11,592

140.0 '

Olympic

Calawah

2,186

26.0

Dungeness’

0.6

Hood Canal .

1,002

15.0

8/9/43

Hump tulips

1,827

25.0

Matheny

2,029

26,5

Quinault

671

8.5

Shelton

100

5,006

55.0

1946

Soleduck

1.650

25.0

•

417

14,413

181.6

-3-

Allowable

Forest Working Circle

Subregion
D -Douglas
fir
P=Pine

Timber

Forest Volume in

Acreage million

in thou- ft. BM
sand acres log scale

Annual

Cut in
million
ft* BM
log scale

Snoqualmie Big Creek

2 4

374

9*5

Cedar River

808

9.0

Green River

969

19*5

Pil chuck-Sultan

176

2*0

.... * Puyallup

474

5*0

Skykomish

1,769

22.0-'

: • . Snoqualmie

335

6.3

Tolt

542

6.r

Vail

648

21.0

White River

2,669

29.0

* ^Silver Creek

997

12.0

Naches-Tieton

183

1.932

31.2 ( 9.2)

• • *\

541

11, 693

172.6 ( 9.2)

, *• * ■ .

Umatilla .Clearwater

90 ••

417

5.5 (1.9)

‘ .Walla Walla

271

1*6 (0^1)

138

688

9.1 (2.2)

Wenatchee . 'Ellensburg

223

2,347

24.4 (2.0)

Entiat

110

450

7.2 (4.0)

. Wenatchee

273

1.696

26.0 (7.1)

606

4,493

57.6(13.1)

Date of

Approved

Plan

6/8/29

* Working Circles in more -than one forest

In parentheses - allowable annual cut for ponderosa, sugar, and white pines.

REGIONAL TOTALS

Allowable

Forest Acreage

Timber Volume Annual

Cut in

Thousand Acres

million ft.

BM million ft

log scale

Oregon

\t \/

/V /\

Pine subregion

5,956

40,882

526.8

(386.3)

Douglas-fir subregion

1*572.

86,365

1.118.3

(-18.7)

9,535

127,247

1,645.1

(405.0)

Washington

Pine subregion

1,734

11,824

161.8

( 55.3)

Douglas-fir subregion

2.293

50,731

639.0

4,027

62,555

800.8

( 55.3)

Totals for Region

Pine subregion

7,690

52,706

688.6

(441.6)

Douglas-fir subregion

5.872

137.096

1,957,3.

( 18.7)

13,562

189,802

2,445.9

(460.3)

TOTAL NUMBER OF WORKING

CIRCLES

Pine Subregion

Douglas-fir Subregion

Total

Oregon

Washington

Total

In parentheses — allowable annual cut for ponderosa, sugar, and white pines.

-5-

SUPERVISION

Meetings

Management Plan Conference

TOPIC 3
REGION SEVEN

TIMBER MANAGEMENT PLAN NEEDS AND PROGRAMS

Of the 4.2 million acres of land in the seven National Forests of the Region,
approximately 3.8 million acres are classified as commercial forest land. About
half of this area because of good site, rapid growth and ready accessibility is
susceptible of intensive forest management with very frequent light cuts while
the balance of the area is subject to less intensive treatment. Most of the
accessible sawtimber was removed by private operators prior to acquisition of the
land by the United States. However, many of the areas cutover around the turn
of the century now support thrifty young stands which are rapidly developing
into sawtimber size material. It should be borne in mind that the greater por¬
tion of the total acreage in the Region has been in Government ownership less
than 20 years.

Management Plans

There are 33 working circles now designated on the seven National Forests, Of
these, 25 are covered by approved management plans. The Allegheny, Monongahela
and White Mountain are completely covered. The Cumberland, Green Mountain,
George Washington and Jefferson have gaps. Of the 25 working circles covered
by approved plans, 12 working circles containing approximately 1.4 million acres
are classed as satisfactory and 13 working circles containing approximately 1.6
million acres are unsatisfactory. About 3/4 million acres in eight working
circles is being operated on assumed budgets, awaiting opportunity to get at
the job of management plan preparation. A list of the working circles in the
Region, together with a summary of the status of planning and the estimated 5
year needs and costs for plan revision and preparation are shown in the tabula¬
tions on Pages 5 and 6 . It is obvious the Region is getting behind in the job
of plan revisions, and that it also has considerable need for new plans.

Summary of Estimated 5-Yea r Needs and Costs

Management plans for a total of 32 working circles require attention during the
5-year period - F.Y. 1950-1954. These have been classified into three categories;
namely, Minor Revisions - 11; Major Revisions - 13; and New plans - 8. See
tabulation, Page 6.

The 11 working circles included in the first category have a total of about 064
thousand acres and the management plans are classified as satisfactory, although
several of these are already due for revision and the remainder will fall due
within the five-year period. Considerable reasonably reliable basic information
and data are already available, and it is estimated that the job of revising
the plans will cost one cent per acre or a total of $9,640.

The 13 plans requiring major revisions include approximately 1,647,000 acres.
While we have some information and data on these working circles, it is unreli¬
able in varying degrees. Considerable field inventory, office compilations

- 1 -

and map work will have to be done as a basis for building a satisfactory plan.
The cost for doing this work is estimated at 3 cents per acre or a total of
$49,410.

For the 8 working circles requiring new plans, we will have to begin practically
from scratch and build complete new plans. Our best estimate for this job is
seven cents per acre or a total of $53,550 for approximately 765 thousand acres.
This estimate takes into consideration the possibility of making use of the
techniques and skilled services of the Forest Survey. However, to secure
adequate data for the smaller areas involved in management of National Forest
working circles, more intensive sampling is required than for the County break¬
downs used in the Forest Survey Summaries. For our small working circles
averaging about 100,000 acres each, the additional work by Forest Survey costs
between 4 and 5 cents per acre.

The total acreage included in the 32 working circles requiring attention in
varying degrees during the five-year period is approximately 3,376,000. Total
cost of the job is estimated at $112,600 or an average cost of 3,3 cents per
acre. On the basis of Fiscal Years, the program would be as follows:

1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 Totals

Estimated Cost $ 30,040 $ 26,180 $ 26,850 $ 16,390 $ 13,140 $ 112,600

Acres 480,000 374,000 574,000 673,000 1,275,000 3,376,000

Av. Cost per A. .062 .070 .047 .024 .01 .033

Working circles to be covered during each of the above fiscal years are listed
in the tabulation on Page 5 ♦ The program contemplates preparing the new plans
and revising those most in need of revision during the first part of the five
year period. Revising the plans classed as satisfactory, even though due for
early revision, would be delayed until the more urgent plans had been completed.
If the job is spread over a longer period than five years, this same general
priority would be followed. Following completion of the sizeable job of placing
all of the working circles under up-to-date plans, it is believed that current
maintenance can be handled within the limits of the Region’s regular P&M
finances.

In F.Y. 1948 the value of timber cut in the Region was a little over $653,000.

In F.Y. 1939 -it was $71,296. If trends for the first half of the present
fiscal year continue it should come close to $700,000 for F.Y. 1949. Taking
the various factors into consideration, including adequate facilities to handle
the anticipated demand for National Forest stumpage, it seems reasonable to
figure that the Region’s timber sale receipts for the ten-year period during
which the management plans included in the program would be effective, will
average $700,000 per year or a total of $7,000,000 for ten years. On the basis
of this assumption, the cost of the management plan program ($112,600) figured
against the estimated stumpage value of the timber to be harvested ($7,000,000)
during the effective period of the plans (10 years) would be at the rate of
about 1.6% for planning purposes. This would seem to be a fairly reasonable
business expenditure for planning.

Timber Sales

During the past ten years the volume of the Region’s timber sales business has
nearly trebled and the total value has increased about nine times. In F.Y. 1939,

timber together with convertible products had an average stumpage value of
$2.17 per M. In 1948 the average stumpage value was $7-73 per M. A summary of
the Region's timber sales business by fiscal years for the period F.Y. 1939-1948
inclusive is given below:

Timber Cut ,

Including Convertible products

Fiscal

Year

Volume MBM

Total Value

Av. Value Per M

1939

32,861

1 71,296

$ 2,17

1940

49,130

106,901

2.18

1941

67,529

165,096

2.44

1942

62,487

167,229

2.68

1943

56,044

206,508

3.68

1944

69,680

364,548

5.23

1945

82,884

468,324

5.65

1946

97,313

536,654

5.51

1947

94,304

620,010

6.57

1948

84,511

653,123

7.73

Limitation of cut is authorized separately for sawtimber and for other products.
The annual cut may not exceed the limitations for any three-year period. Prior
to July 1948 the Region’s authorized sawtimber cut was 64,600 M. During F.Y.
1945-1947 inclusive the average yearly cut was 64,549 M or substantially the
same as the authorized cut. However, as a result of changing market conditions,
which makes possible the operation of lighter and less accessible stands,
together with some new inventory data, the limitations of cut established by
the Chief was revised upwards last July. It is now placed at 75 million for
sawtimber. On the basis of the new authorization an increased cut of about
12 million sawtimber per year is desirable. In the products field the average
yearly cut is way below the allowable. In order to attain the needed increase
in products business, requires promotion of larger sales to existing outlets
and the development of new outlets.

- 3 -

^assr

The following tabulations indicate the size of the job confronting the Region
for both the sawtimber and products categories:

SUMMARY OF SAWTIMBER CUT

F.Y. 1945-1948

MBM

George Green

White

Year

Alleg.

Cumb.

Wash.

Mtn .

Jeff.

Mcnon,

Mtn .

Total

1945

5,286

14,806

6,624

7,889

1,557

11,579

12,271

60,012

1946

6,458

15,298

7,136

7,645

3,462

11,249

15,584

66,832

1947

7,244

13,072

8,628

7,695

6,771 •

11,923

11,471

66,804

1948

5,025

10,588

8,775

7,530

6,207

7,091

10 , 522

55,738

Total

24,013

53,764

31,163

30,759

17,997

41,842

49,848

*249,386

4 Yr.Ave*

6,003

13,441

7,791

7,690

4,499

10,461

12,462

62,347

Auth.

9,000

12,500

9,000

8,000

5,500

12,000

19,000

75,000

Diff.

-2,997

/ 941

-1,209

- 310

-1,001

-1,539

-6,538

-12,653

SUMMARY OF

PRODUCTS

CUT

F.Y. 1945-

-1948

MBM

George

Green

White

Year

Alleg.

Cumb.

Wa sh .

Mtn.

Jeff.

Monon.

Mtn.

Total

1945

3,310

635

5,961

616

5,837

1,492

5,019

22,872

1946

9,806

534

6,942

135

7,394

1,018

4,651

30,480

1947

3,281

514

7,891

4,234

7,736

2,291

1,969

27,916

1948

2 ,183

533

5,553

3,564

7,284

2,389

4,034

25,540

Total

18,580

2,216

26,347

8,551

28,251

7,190

15,673

*''-106,808

4 Yr.Ave.

4,645

554

6,587

2,138

7,063

1,797

3,918

26,702

Auth.

50,000

6,000

10,000

24,000

120,000

Diff.

-45,355

-5,446

-3,413

-7,862

-2,937

-8,203

-20,082

-93,298

Note: Authorization established by Chief June 8, 1948
* Exclusive Experimental Forests

Contributions to local units of Government through the 25% fund has increased
steadily. This is a very important matter, especially to the small town units
of Government in New England. The average per acre receipts by forests for the
total acquired acreage during the past four years is shown below. Fractically
all of the Region's receipts comes from timber sales.

RECEIPTS FROM TIMBER USE

F.Y. 1945 - 1948

Year

Alleg.

Cumb.

George

Wash.

Green

Mtn.

Jeff.

Monon,

White

Mtn.

Total

1945

f 78,757

$ 94,663

I 60,047 $ 71,010

1 36,174 $ 69,797

$ 96,134

$ 506,581

1946

93,157

106,652

66,368

58,885

57,519

75,318

120,086

577,986

1947

100,085

89,873

72,189 104,450

66,893

97,214

81,895

612,599

1948

80,922

116,652

100,311 118,598

64,769

84,344

106,615

672,211

Total

$352,921

1407,840

$298,915 $352,943

$225,355 $326,673

$404,730

$2,369,377

4Yr. Av 88,230
Av./A.

101,960

74,729

88,236

56,339

81,668

101,183

592,344

Acq.

.19

.24

.08

.52

.10

.14

- 4 — D. W. Tabbutt

March 21, 1949

(1) Includes some cross ties (3) Includes some pulpwood

(3) Assumed budget (4) Includes some products

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DETAILED SUMMARY OT MANAGEMENT PLANS BY FORESTS
(As of 3-1-49 J

F.Y. 1939 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 F.Y. 1939

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PUI8 BT TOKESTS (A* of S-l-49)

SUPERVISION

Meetings

(Management Plan Conference)

Topic 3 — Timber Management Plan Needs and Programs
Southern Region, Region 8

A, J. Streinz

As of June 30, 1948,' the' area of land in Region 8 under Forest Service
administration was 9,580,000 acres. This land area with the exception
of 1,000,000 acres' of Public Domain land was acquired by purchase,
exchange, donation, and transfer from other agencies. Most of the timber
stands thereon were cutover or culled prior to acquisition. The present
day timber stands are mixtures of second-grovrth and old growth timber.

The net merchantable sawtimber volume is at least 13 billion board feet,
Scribner. Shortlcaf pine and loblolly pine are the predominating soft¬
woods. The red and white oaks are the predominating hardwoods. The
average annual cut for the last three year period was 400,000,000 board
feet of sawtimber and convertible products. Its contract value was

$2,990, 000.

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The 9,380,000 acres of national forest land has been subdivided to form
64 units of timber management or working circles (See Table 1). The*
working circles range in size from 20,000' acres to 557,000 acres of
national forest land. The average is 147,000 acres* The average annual
cut for the last three year period by working circles ranges from 0 to
25,910 MBF with an average of 6,372 MBF. Each of the 12 Forest Supervisors
has from 2 to 8 working circles. The average is 5.

There are 14 working circles with timber management plans approved by the
Chief which are satisfactory for a period of at least 5 years (See Table 2)
During this period 11 of these plans will require cutting budget revisions.
Seven of the 11 cutting budget revisions are now in preparation and should
be completed by June 30, 1949. There are 50 working circles without
satisfactory timber management plans. It is the Region’s objective to have
timber management plans prepared and written for these working circles by
June 30, 1953. Timber management plans for 27 working' circles are in
preparation of which 21 should be completed by June 30, 1949.

The estimated cost of the Region’s 5— year program is $172,971. This
includes $6475 for cutting budget revisions of approved plans and $166,496
for the preparation and revision of timber management plans. The latter
includes the preparation of two types of plans: (1) based on available
data and a study of Forest Service cutover sale areas to check on the
cutting cycle; (2) based on an up-to-date type and stand class map and
up-to-date estimates of volume and increment for each type and stand
c3.ass and for the working circle.

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Class 6- Working Circles for which timber management plans are to be prepared based on stand map, up-to-date
estimate of volume and increment »

Milwaukee Wisconsin
March 1?5 19 1&

mmmmm yim cohfeeehcb

Topic 5 “» Timber iianagemant Plan Heeds and Programs >

imm niifiimr iiimiii ■■■!■— w n— — n— nunii ~i mr iTmi®i — nnnin ini » i vi m>i n »> i ■ i— >nwm tnau®n mw i~m —h iw»mra.u«»im ■ .V.-v^w ■ iv»- --• y

At tli® present tin© all Forests in Region 9^ with the exception of the
Hoosiar end Wayne purchase units , are covered with management plane or
policy statements * In all instances the ©listing plans are based on vary
extensive data resulting from acquisition surveys and old timber surveys*
Hone of the plans arc tied to the ground® They are in of foot policy state¬
ments and in this capacity hav© served a useful purpose as guides in the
management of the forest resource® Most of these plans have either passed
the indicated revision date or will b© up for revision so one ( Sen Table 1
Status of Management Plans and Policy Statements,)

Daring th© past tvronty year period the emphasis in management has been to
build up th© growing stock by stand improvement measures and to reforest
the many thousands of acres of understocked and denuded land* Such a
program of management, in conjunction with excellent fir© protection, has
resulted in a growing forest capable of producing a substantial volume of
timber products® Those products are and have boon for the past few years
in groat demand by wood using industries and the time has cone to arrange
for the orderly harvest of the products from th© forest® The present policy
statements ar© not believed adequate to guide us in the intensive management
of th© forest resource® Accordingly 9 Region 9 has initiated a program 'bo
cover all Forests .. except the Eocoior and Wayne purchase units s with an
intensive management plan survey within th© next ten years, Management
plans will be prepared for each of th® working circles after the survey
is completed and th© data analysed® Tabic 2 seta forth a summary of the
Regional situation, tim© schedule for bringing th© piano up to date* and
the estimated coat® It is our plan to re- inventory th© forest pesouru -
every 10 - 15 years and raako any necessary revisions of th© plans at that
time® In the meantime a record of accomplishments will b© maintained as
wall &e a correction map for each working circle to aid in maintenance of
tho plans®

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TIMBER MANAGEMENT PLANNING ON THE CARIBBEAN NATIONAL FOREST

William Ha Cole - Forest Supervisor

The Caribbean National Forest is in an environment which differs
considerably from other national forests. It seems necessary therefor©
in presenting the details of management planning in the Forest to first
describe local conditions and the character of the stands-.

The Island of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is one of the West Indies, located about lr400 miles
southeast of New York and 965 miles southeast of the southern tip of
Florida, in the Atlantic time zone* Its area of about 3,500 square miles
is smaller than some of the western national forests, such as the Gila
and the Flathead* The average winter temperature is 76*; summer, 80° *
Extremes are 41° and 102*, Annual rainfall ranges from 25 inches on the
southwest coast to 180 inches in the eastern mountains* Most of the
island is mountainous, and the highest elevation is 4,400 feet*

The island was Spanish from the time of discovery in 1493 until the • -
Spanish-American War in 1898* Its population has grown rapidly until it
now stands at about 2,200,000, or one person per acre. The birth rate- was -
39 per 1,000 in 1940, as compared with 18 for the States* Two-thirds of
the population is rural* Income is inadequate*. Eightyvf ive percent of the
families received an average annual income of $341 in 1940, The main eropa
are sugar cane and tobacco, with coffee third. There is little heavy
industry*

The island was originally entirely covered with hardwood forest* No
softwoods are native* More than 500 tree species are present* Compare this
with 717 species for the United States, Canada, and Alaska* Thirty^eight

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tree Species or Puerto Rico are found in the United States but of these
35 are confined in the States to southern Florida^

Less than one percent of the island is covered with virgin forest®
Some 420,000 acres, or nearly 20 percent of the island bear cutover forests*-
An additional 180,000 acres is dedicated to coffee plantations under tree
shade, yielding posts and fuelwood as by-products*

The Tropical Region

All work of the Federal Forest Service in Puerto Rico is combined
under the Tropical Region# This is made up of the Tropical Forest Experi¬
ment Station, the Caribbean National Forest, and cooperation in forestry
with the British^ French, and Dutch possessions and the independent
countries of the West Indies, Central, and South America*

A unique situation is the unified supervision of the Federal and
Insular Forest Services 0 The Director of the Tropical Region is,, by
appointment of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, also Director
of the Insular Forest Service# This arrangement where the top Federal
Forest Service man has also been head of the Insular Service started in 1918
and has now rim for 30 years under only a gentlemen 4 s agreement between the
Commissioner and our own Secretary of Agricultures There are 12 Insular
Forests of from 2,000 to 10,000 acres each scattered from one end of the
island to the other* with a total area of 45,000 acres*

The Caribbean National Forest

The Caribbean National Forest has developed from a nucleus wbich was
originally a reserve of the Spanish Forest Service, set aside in about 1876.
It was conceded by the Spanish Crovm to the United States in the Treaty of
Paris in 1898, It was proclaimed a forest reserve by Theodore Roosevelt in

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1903 but no supervisor was appointed until 19180 The area conceded by-
Spa in was 12 , 400 acres* Subsequent land acquisition has increased the
area to about 32,000 acres* There are now two Divisions, Luquillo In the
eastern mountains and Toro Negro in the central mountains*

Twenty-eight percent of the area of the Forest is non-timber lande-
Xncluded in this category are a natural area, an area for the protection
of the nearly extinct Puerto Riean parrot, critical watershed areas, two
recreation areas, and numerous small tracts suited to farming.*

The commercial timber area of the Forest contains nearly 24,000 acres
and some 230 species of trees* As many as 50 species may be found on one

acre* Of these 230 species, 47 produce sawfeimber? 63* poles t 06, fueiwood;
and 24 are weeds* Stands vary considerably as to volume* The heaviest
run to possibly 30^,000 board feet per acre, but these are merely small
groups of large trees c The average is below 3,000 board feet*, About one

third of the area is economically inaccessible at present*

Some 6,000 acres of deforested timber-lands have been planted* On
the poorest sites difficulties of tree establishment have made it necessary
to consider hardiness of the species more than the value of the first crop^,
Eucalyptus is promising under these conditions* C fe. better sites Honduras
mahogany grows well% A number of other less familiar species are also
planted* Bamboo is being tried experimentally with six species.*

Local Factors of Importance to Forestry

1 "* i — ■ i in jg, — i ’mi *i m i «. jU. ■ r- j m—mm * .ct,*— — i n ■ ■

A number of local factors have an important bearing on forestry *

The most important of these are:

1* Dense population creates a high demand for forest products
of all sorts, including saw timber, polesE crossties, posts,.

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oxcart yokes and tongues, stakes* fuelwood, leaves and grass
fbr thatch* hark for rope* vines for "basketry* and numerous
fruits for human and animal consumption*

2» Most woods decay rapidly on the island and frequent replacement
is necessary* Preservatives are little used*

3* Fuel is not needed for warmth in the winter, "but faggots or

charcoal are the cooking fuels for possibly half the p©puiatie&s
4* Forest growth is rapid®

The high demand for forest products makes possible intensive silvicul¬
ture,# Very few trees will not pay their way to market* The fuelw&bd demand
places the limit of utilization at 1 Inch®- No slash is left* Rapid growth
means high yields and quick response to silviculture*

Fundamentals ef Managements Imli a r to the States
The fundamentals of timber management are as applicable in the
Caribbean a»> elsewhere^ The Timber Management Section of the Manual %S
sufficiently broad to apply directly almost without qualification® As- in
other national forests the overall objective is production for the needs
of society as a whole with emphasis on local requirements® The goal i3
sawtimber production* The silvicultural objective of present cutting
practice is the betterment of the growing stock both in species and in the
balance between the different sises, with a selection forest operated on a
5- or 10-year cycle as the goal* Working circles have been tied to the
forest worker community and are defined by topographic features as in the
States* Compartments are bounded by rivers* ridges..* and type lines® The
only possible method of budgeting the out has been through control by area,
since no reliable data on volumes ha^s been available*

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Details of Management - Different, from the States

The great demand for forest products and the complexity of the
forest make necessary certain differences in the details of management f
Some of the more outstanding differences ares

1* The Caribbean is not subject to fireSj. so that fire control
is not a feature of managements

2. Timber marking rules are complicated by the large number of
species and the great 'Variety of products# Little is known
regarding the utilities many species so that no grest
degree of refinement of marking practice is possible®

The fact that woods workers walk to work means that working
circle# should be small if stable communities are to result®

The average size of the working circles in the Caribbean is
about 1,800 acres for timber production* Compartments average
200 acres®

4. * The forest i$ so mixed that extraction of any one product

any one species involves removal of comparatively few trees from
a large area® Sales must therefore be by amount rather than area®
Sale are irregular and sales are small-® Diiring the past

5 years 4fff00 individual sales were made involving 9*936 M feet
of all products on about 6$300 acres.

5. Knutsen~Vandej©berg funds cannot be used® Maintaining the idea-
tity of each sale area is impossible and innumerable suspense
accounts would be involved® Cutting of weeds 9 vines 6 and worth¬
less trees is thus impracticable through K-V at presents.

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6* Intense rainfall and step slopes require costly transportation

facilities^ Truck trails must be surfaced* Unsurfaced trails

are satisfactory o:i*y fcr c::en anl even these must be carefully
drained t

7-f, Lumber values up to f'300 per M Feet for the better species make
practical single-tree logging* Pit-sawing is the rule*

Sawtimber is so scattered and variable as to species that any
sawmill large enough to handle the dense material cannot be
provided with adequate volume, and finishing mills refuse to
surface some species, due to hardness of the lumber.

S t at us of Management Planning

A policy statement was written for the forest in 1932* No revision
or management plan has been made since, although the forest was cruised and
a plan was begun toward the end of the 1930’s * Cutting began on a large
scale in 1943, using area as the only form of control » In 1945 a volume
budget was added as a check to area control* This budget was based upon
the average yield per acre from cuttings to that date*

A 3-percent recruise of the timber producing area is nearing comple¬
tion* The cruisers recorded species d«boh., total height, merchantable
height of all trees of 4 inches d&b.he "Or more* Those which should be cut
in the first cycle were also indicated*

Volume tables have Just been completed for merchantable stemwood
volume and total cubic volume of the tree* following each branch cut to
vhe 1-inch point* It is thus possible by subtraction to determine from
the cruise data the respective sawtimber", polewood, and fuelwood volumes
by species and whether to be cut or left. These data will be ssed as a

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check on are& control and as a basis for improvement in the first Transport
tat ion Plan* drawn up in 19d5.

An estimate of future yields and the proper length of cutting cycles
(now 5 years in one type and 10 years in the other) is being provided by a
series of 25 growth plots ranging from 1/4 to 2 acres in size* Growth
ring studies are net possible because there are no growth rings as a rule^
and where there are they are probably not annual* Periodic remeasurement
of tagged trees is therefore the only source of growth data* These data
are being used to project forward the stand tables of the cruise* The
rotation is unknown* Reproduction is considered generally adequate*

Timber management plan integrating timber production with other land
uses and covering all 13 working circles but separated by Divisions of the
Forest will be submitted to Washington during the coming fiscal year* This
plan will include background information of permanent value in considerable
detail. The general revision of the plan is proposed after 10 years, with

an interfm study of cutting rates and changed conditions at the end of
5 years*

In spite of the differences between the tropical forests of Puerto

Rico and yours in the temperate zone there are many principles and premises

of management planning that are common to both* and so we in the Tropical

Region have looked forward to the discussions and findings of this

Conference as a source of much help in resolving many of our management
problems®

- 7 *

}'♦»

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Working Circles

Caribbean

National

Forest

Area

- Acres

Total

Coimaeroia-l tisnber land

Luquillo Division

Cubuy

2,217

276

Gurabo

1*290

1,261'

La Mina

4,601

1,815

Cienaga Alta

2,154

Espiritu Santo

3,252

2,068

Jimenez,

2*G91

1,896

Cacique

2,641

1,289

CriStal

2,G86

2*075

Faj ardo

2*814

1,961

Hioaco

3,275

2,897

Subtotals

26,401

17,692

Toro Negro Division

Dona Juana

1,084

730

Matrullas

776

708

Guineo

4,728

4*849

Subtotals

6, 588

5 a 984

Grand totals

32,989

23,676

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March 23, 19^9

SUPERVISION

Meetings

(Management Plan Conference)

M A H A 0 S M I I 1

B. 0. HU0H3S

Region 5

The objectives of management will vary as widely as do the special interests
of the timber landowner. A farmer ma.y be interested primarily in opportunities
for off-season employment of farm labor. A wood-buying pulp mill might be
interested in the bargaining advantage it gains by having an alternate source
of raw material. A sawmill is interested primarily in insuring a source of
logs to provide a profitable sawmill operation. And then there is the
relatively small group that manages timberland to make a profit on the sale
of stump age. They are interested in the maximum return on their time and
investment in timber growing. Ipt is this group that has most in common
with public timber managers. They are fundamentally tree growers, rather
than processors who are growing timber by force of circumstances. However,
the management of national forest timber is concerned v/ith other objectives
than the maximum return on time and investment, important as they may be.

Regulation S-3 states these objectives as follows:

”1. Aid in providing a continuous supply of national forest

timber for the use and necessities of the citizens #of the
United States.

rl2. Provide, so far as feasible, for the stabilization of communities
and of opportunities for employment.”

To intelligently carry out the first of these objectives requires a deter¬
mination of national needs and the probable supply of raw material.
Miscellaneous Publication No. 668 contains a great deal of useful information

for this purpose. In brief, the balance between current growth and use, in

(

March 23, 19^9

terms of cubic feet, is so close (13«7 "billion cubic feet drain and 13*^

billion cubic feet growth) that a continuous supply of timber appears assured.

However, when growth and use in sawlog material is compared it is apparent
that use far exceeds growth (35 billion board feet growth and 5^ billion
board feet drain). Clearly the United States has too much of its total
growth in small sizes and far too little in sawlog sized trees, if lumber
is to continue to be in ’’continuous supply for the use and necessities of
the citizens of the United States/’

If this is the situation, the objective of national forest management should
growing

be /sawtimber rather than cordwood. Actually this is over-simplification.

The real shortage is in quality. It is in veneer logs and high grade saw-
logs that the greatest unbalance between growth and needs will be found.

Every so often someone makes the statement that only the Government can
afford to carry stands for the long rotations necessary to secure large
sizes and high quality. large sizes and high quality are not always the
same thing. And artificial pruning will make it possible to gro w high-grade
sawlogs in short rotations, if long rotations are undesirable. Quite
possibly both pruning and long rotations will be employed in many cases.

The statement has also been made that the chemical uses of wood will assume
such importance in the future that cellulose production should be the main
objective. It is not impossible that this may turn out to be true. On the
other hand, it is possible that expansion of chemical uses will no more than
absorb the tremendous volume of material that is now being wasted in the
woods, mills, and in mortality in young, unthinned stands. In view of
present and prospective markets for plastics the second possibility appears
much more likely.

- 2 -

March 23, 19^9

* J . , *

The seCohd objective requires Stabilisation of communities and of opportunities

( ' , , ,

for employment* A combination of a dontinuous supply of timber and a
$ profitable industry with integrated utilization and a minimum of waste should

meet this requirement* The problem arises when the condition of the stand is
such that, from a silvicultural point of view, the excess growing stock
should be reduced as rapidly as possible* This indicates a more rapid rate
of cutting than can be maintained permanently* When the inevitable adjustment
comes stabilization and employment will suffer.

One approach to this problem might be as follows:

1. Caluclate the rate of cutting which can be maintained permanently*

2. Compute the amount of employment which such a cut would provide, on

the basis of primary manufacture only, and on the basis of a degree of

refinement and re-manufacture carried on by some typical operations in
the region.

3. Establish an allowable annual cut for the first cutting cycle which will
not involve more employment in primary manufacture than would the
sustained yield capacity with refinement and re-manufacture*

It might clarify this approach to work out an example: Assume that the

sustained yield is 20 million feet a year, and that primary manufacture of

this volume involves 250 jobs. Assume that the. addition of a cut-up plant,
moulding manufacture, box factory, sash and door plant, or similar facilities,
would increase this to 375 jobs. This is the amount of employment which can
be sustained and stabilized with an annual cut of 20 million feet and remanu¬
facturing facilities. A cut of 30 million feet involving primary manufacture
only would also involve 375 jobs. In other words if, in order to reduce an

excess of growing stock, the allowable annual cut for the first cutting

cycle were set at 30 million feet, it would be possible to drop /20 million

- 3 -

k . ■

’ '>

March 23, 19^9

feet later on and still sustain employment at the same level by adding
remanufacturing facilities coincident with the reduction in rate of cutting
Community values would he protected.

There are other solutions of the same problem. One is to keep the allowahl
annual cut on a sustained yield basis separate in all calculations. The
excess cut, whether it is primarily to anticipate mortality, or to reduce
an excess of growing stock is then treated as a temporary arrangement*.

If we use the same example, the allowable annual cut will be 20 million
feet. An additional volume of 10 million feet will be offered annually
on a temporary basis*. There will be no excuse for establishing permanent
community facilities or making other long-time commitments on the basis
of this extra, volume. A relatively small "breakdown" mill built in the
woods might be one answer.

There is another situation for which there is no easy answer. Here there
is a deficiency of growing stock.

From a silvicultural standpoint, the cut should be limited to material
which is not good growing stock, and to stands which have the localized
overstocking typical of many areas which are, in general, understocked.
However, from the standpoint of community stability it might be better to
include in the allowable annual cut some of the material which might other¬
wise go to build up growing stock* To the extent this diversion is made
it will take longer to bring these stands to maximum productivity.

There appears to be no guide as to just how far to compromise. If a major
re-organization of the established industrial set-up is inevitable there
might be no point to postponing it. If, however* a portion of the present

'.'•Wf 4

March 23, 1^49

facilities could "be operated efficiently by providing an annual cut somewhat

V •

higher than pure silviculture would dictate, there might he a net gain in
doing so. The disadvantage in delaying the rebuilding of growing stock
could be more than compensated by the maintenance of continuous employment
during the interval necessary for this rebuilding#

In conclusion we need to keep in mind that the lumber industry is often at
least as dependent upon markets for stability of employment, as upon the
source of raw material. Therefore community stability will not result
automatically if a. continuous source of stumpage is assured. Some types of
mills are notoriously so wasteful and inefficient that they can operate
only during periods of high prices. We should encourage, as far as possible,
efficient operators who are well enough., financed to maintain employment in
the face of a fluctuating lumber market. T'Te also want to encourage close
utilization both in the v/oods and in the mill. By-products, such as lath,
and utilization of short lengths not only increase profits but also increase
employment. An operator with a variety of markets has an advantage and this
is particularly true of a mill man who also operates a box factory or other
manufacturing plant using lumber as raw material. When lumber prices are
low he can market his lumber in the form of box shook, if that alternative is
the more profitable. The profits from the box factory have kept some mills
running during periods when they might otherwise have shut down.

B. 0, HUGHS S

TOPIC 4*

THE FORKING CIRCLE
CONCEPT - BOUNDARIES - SUBDIVISIONS

1. INTRODUCTION

The review of books, bulletins, conference reports, manuals, etc.
issued during the past several decades gives recognition to "working
circles" with various subdivisions and fine definitions. Apparently
the main reason for different definitions is that each author wished
to be different. However, each definition has a common objective.

The source material primarily considered in this statement is SAF
"Forest Terminology"; Regulation S-3 (GA-A3(7))j Sub-Part 1, Part 3 ,
Chapter 2 and particularly Sections 203.2 through 203. 5, of the re¬
view draft of the Manual revision; and the review edition of "Timber
Management Plans on the National Forests" by L. S. Gross.

2. A WORKING CIRCLE

The technical definition in SAF "Forest Terminology", i.e. "A forest
area from which a sustained yield of forest products is planned" is
satisfactory for our use. Objectives and policies can and should be
considered and established administratively under the technical defi¬
nition.

Regulation S-3 defines five major policies which are to be adhered to
in considering a working circle and preparing a plan of management
therefor. Section 203.4 of the proposed Manual revision includes
three major items or objectives which should be considered in order
to accomplish Regulation S-3 policies. They are:

(1) Afford maximum employment opportunities and stability
to dependent communities (logging or manufacturing or
both) .

(2) Present or potential usable transportation arteries in
relation to topography and dependent communities.

(3) Sufficient productive capacity for practicable sustained
yield.

'“For presentation at Hot Springs Conference - March 28-Apri'l 8, 1949

-1-

The foregoing satisfactorily covers the situation from a Service¬
wide standpoint and appropriately should be included in Service
manuals. Further guides, detailed descriptions and suggestions ^

should be included in the proposed "Timber Management Plans on the
National Forests" (as they are in the review edition). Further
interpretation should be optional with the Regional Forester.

forking circles are needed to break up a large forest property in
order to attain Service objectives, particularly that of community
stabilization; to facilitate efficient administrative management and
to insure skillful or intensive timber management including sustained
yield. A working circle could include one or more national forests
or a Region if there were no interest in or concern about employment
opportunities, community stabilization, steady 25 percent contribu¬
tions to Counties, an integrated stable industry, continuous use of
transportation facilities and other capital investments, and a stable
volume of work for local forest managers. Such a concept is obviously
not in the public interest. Except for a few unusual cases the same
is true, but to a lesser degree, for Forest-wide management. The
national forest ’working circle should be established to meet the pre¬
scribed objectives and the long-time Service concepts of timber manage¬
ment.

Except for broad historical or condition descriptions which, in many
cases, should be made on a Forest-wide basis, a management plan should
be written for each working circle. It is the best method whereby
on-the-ground intensive management will be obtained unit by unit.

Regional timber summaries or analyses may be needed and prepared for
other reasons, but they cannot replace the unit management plan.

3. WORKING CIRCLE BOUNDARIES

In delineating a working circle boundary the objectives, discussed
above, should be given primary consideration. A number of other
items, depending on the individual case, should be considered or
thoroughly analyzed. A few items are:

a. Acquisition possibilities including Forest boundary extensions.

b. Administrative boundaries, particularly Ranger Districts, and
work loads.

c. Relation to other uses on the national forest.

d. Distribution of timber types and age classes and condition
of the stand including large scale cultural operations.

-2-

e. Location of existing or potential industrial plants suit¬
able for using the available forest products from the working
circle.

f. Opportunities for all-season harvesting operations.

g. Adequacy of logging community sites (some working circles)

h. Small sawmills in the woods vs. transporting raw products
to central points.

i. Possible allowable cut in relation to capital investment re¬
quired for highly efficient or special plants.

The yield by a number of different classes of products must be given
major attention in the establishment of many working circles and
gradually on most of them. High grade logs may go to a plywood plant,
low grade logs to a sawmill, small stem thinnings or certain species
to a pulp plant, certain hardwood species to turning plants and so on.

Some plants, such as large plywood or pulp plants, may obtain supplies
from several working circles or several national forests which will
necessitate the coordination of management plans and sales programs.

An open log market (only a few in the Nation) is somewhat the same
situation except all of the products may be cut ana sold by one pur¬
chaser in contrast to making separate sales by class of products.

These conditions will be affected far more by the coordination of
plans and timber sales than by working circle boundaries and in such
cases the attention to dependency will often largely be based on stable
employment opportunities locally for harvest workers.

The planned location, relocation or abandonment of highways or rail¬
roads need special consideration as does the location of large storage
dams, particularly in rough country, in establishing working circle
boundaries.

Where the growing stock is being built up or there are no transportation
or topographic hurdles the working circle boundary can often be arbitrarily
placed on the Ranger District boundary, at least temporarily. Through
the sales program there will be an opportunity to maintain a steady flow
of harvestable products to dependent communities.

After full consideration is given to all analjrzable factors the working
circle boundary should be established on boundaries easily described
and discernible on maps and on the ground. It is apparent that work¬
ing circle boundaries should become permanent. Working circle boundaries
should not be switched around at will; any revisions should be based on
justifiable reasons. Community dependence upon a steady flow of forest
products is an established fact. There is also the mechanical problem

-3-

of changing management records and the technical problem of maintain¬
ing^ in a given management unit, a suitable balance of growing stock
if changes are made after the management program has run for any ap¬
preciable length of time. Management unit boundaries will become
even more inviolate as time passes, ahd properly so.

There is a definite exception to the foregoing in some Eastern units
where decrepit acquired forests are being "built up" or where acquisition
programs have not been completed. There should be no insistence in
such cases that permanent working circle boundaries be established at
this time; timber management plans can be based on administrative units
such as a Ranger District for an interim period.

4. WORKING CIRCLE SUB-DI VISIONS

In the past many working circles have been formalized by numerous
sub-divisions and management plans tied thereto in various ways with
only limited value, particularly during the initial harvest cut in vir¬
gin stands. The delineations have undoubtedly cost far more than they
have been worth. An old-time forester recently said, "The bulldozer
has eliminated blocks and compartments," It is apparent that the use
of working circle sub-divisions must be justifiable when used, in con¬
trast to making use of them because of habit or past practices.

The "block" is a major sub-division of a large working circle. Larry
Gross'”* says "unless there are clear reasons for use of this sub-division,
blocks should not be recognized...." He gives a few examples of de¬
sirable use. vie agree with him but would suggest that block sub¬
divisions may also be useful in large rough Western working circles to
define by "names" main sub-drainages. Some major sub-divisions are
needed not only to provide "names" but also to delineate broad statistical
material which serves to tie down main roads in transportation planning.

The "compartment" is a smaller sub-division useful for applying intensive
timber management methods or practices or as a definite planning unit.
Again Larry Gross'”' cites examples of desirable use. Their use should
mainly be confined to working circles being intensively managed or where
intensive management is apparent within the planning period. The use
of compartments must be justified on the basis of definite need by the
unit manager and balanced against planning and "bookkeeping" costs.

Finer sub-divisions than blocks and compartments are not needed in
management planning. The two sub-divisions are adequate for use on
the national forests.

-;;-In "Timber Management Plans on the National Forests"

-4-

5. COMMUNITY SUPPORT (STABILITY)

More and more the national forests are contributing their just share
to supplying the Nation's wood requirements - both in the West where the
harvest of virgin stands is approaching sustained yield and in the East
where acquired forests are producing increasing high value yields.
National forest timber cutting is becoming big business and is bound
to increase in size and importance. As the business becomes big the
livelihood of more people becomes tied to it. Likewise, certain
businesses, with large capital investments in plants and harvesting
facilities, become more and more dependent on national forest timber -
for many, they are wholly dependent. Increasingly, Forest Service
administrators have the responsibility of so managing national forest
timber that dependent communities, with all the implications, are not
disrupted by unwarranted management revisions.

Our first and main responsibility is to make available a stable sus¬
tained flow of usable wood products from a given unit. That responsi¬
bility must not be overlooked in establishing or revising working circle
boundaries, developing transportation arteries, preparation of management
plans and conducting sales programs. Suffice to say, under this topic,
that the permanent establishment of working circle boundaries is of
major importance in the long run to a large number of people and merits
special attention and consideration, Such is true whether the objective
is the stability of dependent harvesting communities, manufacturing or
processing communities, or both. The objective may, of course, vary
widely between areas with specialized industries, open log markets,
excess plant capacities, or with diversified ownerships in contrast to
the interior forest community with a small custom sawmill wholly dependent
on national forest timber. Each case will have to be decided on its
individual merits.

6. ADMINISTRATIVE CORRELATION

The Forest Service is organized on the basis of local on-the-ground
administration by the District Ranger. It is, therefore, highly im¬
portant that correlation between Ranger District and working circle
boundaries be achieved. A Ranger District might include more than one
working circle, but it should not include one working circle and part
of another. If, in order to accomplish this objective, it is necessary
for one type of boundary to yield, the administrative boundary should
be adjusted to fit the working circle boundary rather than vice versa.

Unfortunately, there will have to be exceptions to the objective, but
they should be infrequent. In a few cases logical working circles will
be too large to be administered by a District Ranger. Likewise, in a
few instances other uses than timber management will take priority and
govern the location of the Ranger District boundary.

-5-

7. OTHER OvJNERSHIP CORRELATION

ihere cooperative sustained yield units may realistically be anticipated
it would be desirable to correlate forest management programs for the ,c

national forest and adjacent ownerships. Otherwise, the forest resource
on national forests will largely have to be managed independently of
other ownerships. Private lands or other public lands, adjacent or
intermingled, create problems which are a deterrent to fully accomplish¬
ing the ideal objectives in the field of forest management but, as a rule,
there is little that can be done about it. Consequently, it is advisable
to manage national forest lands and timber to the best advantage of the
public as an entity unto themselves. This does not mean that every
possible means should not be considered to correlate management with
other forest owners, but we should go ahead independently in the interim.

This may mean condemnation of road rights-of-way to make national forest
timber accessible; it may mean extensive land and timber exchanges to
consolidate ownerships^ and it may mean contributing to an already ex¬
cessive overcut, all ownerships considered, in some production areas.

Regardless of disadvantages involved, the time has passed when the
Forest Service should wait for the arrival of some favorable circum¬
stance in the indefinite future before initiating real programs of
management on national forest lands for which it is administratively
responsible.

8. SUMMARY

Working circles should be permanently established to conform to the
policies and objectives set forth (or to be set forth) in the Manual.
They should include a forest area of such size that local dependent
communities will be afforded maximum stabilization, contain sufficient
productive capacity for practicable sustained yield, and be given in¬
tensive management by an on-the-ground administrator. The use of
working circle sub-divisions must be justified on the basis of definite
need by the unit manager. To the extent possible Ranger District and
working circle boundaries should be correlated. Except where there
are immediate possibilities of correlated timber management between
national forest and other intermingled or adjacent properties, na.tional
forest timber should be managed independently as an entity and without
delay.

Assignees :

Lindh

- R-3

Kirkpatrick

- R-6

Sump

- R-9

-6-

PLANS - R-2
Timber Management

March 7, 1949

MANAGEMENT PLAN CONFERENCE - TOPIC #5
Ob je ctives of Management, Coordination with Other Uses
by Theodore Krueger

There should be general agreement, I believe, on the dictum that the
type of forest management to be practiced on any piece of forest land,
large or small, private or public, depends upon the objectives it is
to fulfill or the purposes it is to serve.

From the overall point of view, there are a number of objectives to
be considered in Timber Management planning, including:

National objectives.

Regional objectives, and
Local objectives;

Objectives for managing timber on public forest lands,
such as National Forests; and objectives for managing
timber on private lands.

These are all important* The primary objectives determine the type
of timber management one can practice and the kind of plan he must
prepare for it„ In Region 2, because of its tremendous importance
in water production for some of the western States, not maximum timber
production but an overall Regional objective of watershed protection
and production of usable water becomes the main consideration for the
management of our timber and other resources.

The Region 2 policy states that "consideration of sound watershed
management must underlie and influence all other uses of National
Forest lands and surface resources within Forest Service control."
Other Regions and localities have other primary and. local objectives,
and, in my opinion, there should not be any high degree of standardi¬
zation of objectives. It would not be practical or desirable.

The objectives for the management of each and every working circle
should be varied to fit its position in the general picture. The
objectives for the management of every working circle must be varied
to fit physical conditions of site and accessibility, and each one
should be adjusted to the social and economic environment.

Assuming that the general. National objective of Federal forestry is
to supplement private forestry and not to take its place. National
Forest Working Circles in the better timber-producing areas should be
managed for the production of quality rather than quantity. Private
enterprise, with its generally better sites at lower altitudes, can
produce maximum volume on shorter rotations, but there are National

Forest Working Circles where maximum volume or maximum dollar
return should be emphasized; however, I do not believe that for the
National Forest system as a whole, the prof it-f rorn-timber motive
should be rated very high, as our objective of management.

There should be some working circles to be used to demonstrate the
practicability of forestry to other owners « The Nebraska Forest is
an example; the primary objective in establishment of this Forest
was to make it serve as an example of whrt can be done by way of
planting on private lands in the 20,000 square mile area of the
sandhills

There are working circles which, because of location of paper mills
or other wood using industries, would serve their highest use if
devoted entirely to the production of pulpwood or other special
products to sustain the local industry.

At the other extreme _0 there are working circles in the West which are
dependent upon markets several thousand miles away in the East and
middle western States o

The small size to which it is possible to grow some trees, such as
lodgepole pine in Region 2, cause some of our working circles to be
necessarily devoted entirely to the production of ties, posts, poles,
mine timbers, and a small amount of low grade lumber for local use.
There may be other working circles in which the timber is largely
of the pinon- juniper type;, with local demand the only available outlet.

There is one overall Timber Management objective in our western
Forests which aims to convert the virgin forests as quickly as
possible into managed forests. Conversion, however, must be consis¬
tent with other objectives of management. On page 5 of the proposed
"Instructions for Preparation of Timber Management Plans on the
National Forests," Gross says:

"The objective should be to plan for the greatest practicable
use of the growing capacity of the soil."

All of this sums up to the conclusion that there cannot be any high
degree of standardization of objectives.

In planning the management of one of our western working circles, we
generally have to consider more than only the timber use or maximum
possible production of timber. The Manual instructions (203.8)
provide that coordination with other activities should be obtained
at the Regional level end provide for referring proposed plans to
other Resource Divisions for review.

"Forestry Terminology," issued by the Society of American Foresters
in 1944, defines a ^nagement Plan as:

"1. A written prescription to be followed in applying
business methods and technical principles to the
production of forest or other crops and services of

all kinds on a specific area."

"2. A plan limiting or regulating the cut on a given
administrative working circle."

This definition, under 1, recognizes the various resources and ser¬
vices of the Forest. Under 2, it refers specifically to timber.

The Chief’s report for 1948 states that the "Multiple Use" principle
was endorsed by the Mouse Committee on Public Lands following a
series of hearings in western States. This principle has been es¬
tablished as one of the guiding rules of the Forest Service and is
recognized in Sections 206.1 to 206.7 of the proposed new Timber
Management title of the Manual. The question arises, however:
how far can we go in multiple use on any area, considering timber
production?

Let us consider some of these multiple uses as they affect Timber
Management planning.

Watershed Protection

Region 2 can well serve for illustration. Almost every acre of forest
land here has a major influence on water supplies used throughout much
of the West. Wo produce about 20 million acre feet of water annually,
only l/4 of which is used within the Region; the rest is used through
the arid we stern States. For example, the Colorado River supplies
water to Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. It has been
estimated that the annual yield of water from the forested watersheds
of the Central Rockies is worth from 35 to 40 million dollars. It
would seem apparent, therefore, that proper watershed management
affects all of our working circle plans. As an example, on the Pike
National Forest, with its loose granitic soils and extremely high
watershed value, even though cutting would be silviculturally
desirable and there is a good local market available for lumber, the
timber on about l/3 of the Forest can’t be included in the allowable
cut, as the only way to hold that soil is to get a leaf mulch on it
and not disturb it by logging.

On important watersheds in the Engelmann spruce -fir type, a group
cutting or partial cut system will serve the needs of watershed
management best.

Recreation areas, roadside strips, and wilderness areas all require
other calculations of cut than growth and yield; yet, they are
recognized uses of the forest and must be considered in making a
Timber Management plan. We can’t cut in wilderness areas, for
example, even to salvage bug-killed timber, unless we first hold a
public hearing and get a revision of the policy for that wilderness
area. A wilderness area may also restrict logging or the size of the

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mills on the remainder of the working circle. I do not believe that
it is necessary to exclude timber operations on recreation areas,
roadside strips, camp grounds, or scenic areas. It is necessary,
however, to modify our cutting practices, and this generally means a
light partial cut rather than a cut based on the productive capacity
of the soil.

Grazing

Moderate grazing use by domestic livestock or by game can, I believe,
be coordinated with proper timber use without excluding grazing;
however, there are a number of conflicts which can generally be ad¬
justed; for example, grazing and planting do not mix well. Grazing
by livestock or game in places has to be reduced at least temporarily
to prevent excessive damage to reproduction or young growth. Then,
we also have the question of the high spruce burn: should it be
planted to trees or left for range?

Research Notes (No, 49 January 20, 1949) of the Pacific Northwest
Station advocates the seeding to grasses of logging roads as an
effective method for stabilizing soil and increasing production of
forage. In the Black Hills ^ natural seed^n^ ,ofog^as| keeps some
logging roads open for the nix? cuq/fina furnishes somd forage between
cuts.

W i ldlife Manage me nt

Forests furnish food and shelter for game, and the correlation of
forest management and wildlife management practices is receiving in¬
creased attention throughout the country. I believe that maintenance
of satisfactory habitats for game and fish can be correlated with
Timber Management activities.

There are many points of common interest; for example:

1. Roads constructed by timber operators or by the Forest Service for
timber use are also used by hunters and fishermen, although
heavily used timber roads may have to be closed to all but timber
use for part of the year.

2. Clearings made by timber operations provide desirable variation in
wildlife habitat.

3. Timber cover and cutting practices that protect the watershed
also stabilize runoff for many miles of trout stream.

Timber Management plans recognize this needed correlation to an in¬
creasing extent. To illustrate:

1. The North Kaibab Working Circle plan in Region 3, completed in
1948, includes such practices as

a. Cutting aspen to encourage sprouting.

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b. In dense ponderosa pine, with no openings for a .half mile
or more, areas of l/2 to 1 acre of overmature trees without
reproduction are clearcut to see if it will increase deer
browse and, at the same time, let reproduction come in.

2. On the Allegheny Forest in northwestern Pennsylvania with large
acreages of second growth hardwoods, marking rules provide:

a. For marking a strip 1 chain wide along streamsides in such
manner as to give aquatic values first priority.

b. Common apple, mountain ash, butternut, serviceberry, black
gum, and trees supporting wild grapevines are not cut,

c. An average of 1 den tree per acre is left.

d. Clear cuttings of up to one acre in size for game food are
considered in large unbroken areas of second growth.

In the Lake States, I understand, there are some areas of open grass¬
land that would grow forest products but have not been planted because
they provide suitable habitat for sharp tailed grouse, and some areas
of browse have been excluded from areas to be planted. In our Region 2
Forests (and this, perhaps, applies to other western Regions) we have
many natural open parks in the timber that are of high value to game,
and we create other openings by logging operations. We retain forest
cover on the banks of fishing streams; thinning operations in young
stands are of value to game; and we are considering leaving some oak
brush areas for game instead of planting them.

We have to realize that due partly to a tendency to impose restrictions
against the use of private land and water, and an increased interest
in hunting and fishing, the Rational Forests and other public lands
are assuming increased importance, and coordination of timber use and
wildlife use becomes a necessity. We can't ignore it. It is estimated
that 4|- million hunters and fishermen used the National Forests in
1947.

How far can we or should we go in Timber Management plans to encourage
game is a question which has not been answered. It needs to be
decided for each individual working circle. Personally, I believe
that the designation of forested areas for the primary purpose of
wildlife management is seldom justified. I further believe that it
is seldom necessary, as adjustments can usually be made to correlate
wildlife needs with effective silviculture.

Research

In applying multiple use to forest lands, a process of trial and error
is not efficient or desirable. Systematic research carried on partly
at Experimental Forests and natural or other areas should provide the
administrator with information on the effects of various miltiple uses
on timber production under various conditions in order that he may
plan each working circle for . the. maximum multiple benefits.

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Summary

To sum up, I believe that by proper coordination we can grow trees for
use on land that is also of high value for water, wildlife, grazing,
and recreation. We have merely made a beginning in multiple use of
forest lands. Our objective should be the greatest good to the
greatest number in the long run. Standardization and exclusive use
will not make our National Forest Working Circles produce the greatest
good.

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Crossett, Arkansas

March 17, 1949

OBJECTIVES OF NATIONAL FOREST TIMBER MANAGEMENT

R. R. Reynolds, Forester
Southern Forest Experiment Station

One could list a large number of objectives to aim for in the management of
National Forest or, in fact, any forest land. In some cases it may be the
production of high-grade sawlogs ; in others, production of pulpwood, poles
and piling; in others, it may be recreation, water or game; and in some, the
main objective may be to use the area to hold the world together. If we
scrutinize the subject closely, however, I think we will find that all these
objectives have a common denominator. I think that wo will find that there
is really only one objective to the management of any land. It can be
stated in some such fashion as this: "Regardless of location, the objective
of management should be to attain the greatest possible public benefits the
site is capable of producing."

In some cases management to control water supplies or to regulate stream
flow provides, by far, the greatest returns. In other cases, recreation
provides the highest possible use for a given piece of land. In still other
cases, grazing may provide the best over-all return per dollar of investment.

I have no objection to multiple use. Where two objectives are compatible
and the return in dollars or in public benefit will be greater than from one
management objective — well and good. We should take advantage of such
possibilities. Since I am not well versed in watershed conditions and values
and know very little about areas where grazing or other uses are of primary
importance, I would like to limit my few remarks to that portion of the
National Forests that are clearly of primary importance for timber management.

On such areas I believe that sooner or later we must make a choice of manage¬
ment objectives for any given area where multiple use results in poor returns.
For example, due to heavy cutting and burning in the past there are many open
grass areas in our southern forests. At the present time grazing of such
areas is very desirable because this extra return is needed to keep the forest
enterprise liquid. However, if the site is good, if we are good timber
managers and rebuild our timber stands to good stocking, we must expect that
the trees will soon crowd out the grass and the grazing. On the other hand,
if our primary objective is to raise stock then we must use fire or some
other means to keep the stands open.

Hogs and deer do v/ell on oak mast and theoretically hog raising and timber
farming can go hand in hand. In reality, however, most of the oaks that
provide the mast on the pine uplands aie of very low grade and are producing
little or no timber return. At the same time they are reducing the possible
pine growth by perhaps one-half over large areas. Again we must make a
choice. We either can have hogs and get little returns from timber manage¬
ment or we can have timber and do away with the hogs.

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If we subtract areas that are of more value for uses other than timber
management from the total area of National Forests, a considerable area of
land will still be available for timber production purposes. At least we
have always assumed that it should be used for the growing of trees, How¬
ever, I wonder if our thinking on this subject is too good? Too often, it
seems to me, we have said in substance that after the land wanted for farms
is subtracted from the total land area, after the land needed for pasture,
recreation, water production, game production, roads, towns, streams, lakes
and for all other uses anyone can think of is deducted from the total land
area of the country, what is left is "forest land" and we should manage it
for timber production.

It seems to me that accepting this philosophy has given forestry numerous
black eyes in the past and will give ue many more in the future. Much of
our so-called forest land is low in productive possibilities. Regardless
of what we spend on it the timber yields will be low and much land will
never repay the investment we make. We should remember two things; (1) in
the foreseeable future we will not need all the so-called forest land to
produce all of our expected requirements for forest products assuming full
productivity, and (2) much land now in farms or being farmed will produce
greater returns from timber than from row crops, and much of it has recently
been or soon will be returned to timber production. If we can accept these
statements and also accept the fact that we do net have sufficient funds with
which to intensively manage our lands it seems only good business to concen¬
trate our efforts on our best land first.

I well realize that we cannot concentrate our efforts in the two or three
regions of the country that have the best timber growth possibilities.

Neither can we limit our efforts to a few forests in a given region. At the
same time, to a considerable extent, we can concentrate a large proportion
of our efforts to those portions of a forest that contain the better sites.

By doing so we not only will produce more products needed by local industry
but also we will produce more jobs, more returns to the counties and a

higher standard of living for the territory.

I know that we have many areas of good forest land, on which tree farming is
the highest possible use, that we are not managing intensively. In many
cases we are getting only $1.00 return from $1.00 of investment whereas we
can and should be getting $3.00 or $4.00 or $5.00 of return for every dollar
we invest. To me it seems only reasonable that we should get the largest
possible returns from the good areas before we go into the areas that will
return only $0.50 or $1.00 for each $1.00 of investment. In fact, we may
never be justified in attempting management on these poor areas. Perhaps
we should face the facts and do nothing on the very poor sites — just
provide fire protection or insure site stablization.

This, then, means that we need to study our lands and classify them. In
some cases it may mean that some apparently hopeless areas need to receive
some attention before other better looking areas. It may mean that an
investment of $5.00 per acre in stand improvement in some cases will pay off
better than a $1.00 per acre investment in others. It means that we must
think in terms of one man managing 5 >000 to 10,000 acres instead of 100,000
or 200,000 acres in many cases. I well realize that we often are not in a
position to accept the choice. At the same time, now is a good time to begin
to chart our course.

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If we can go in for intensive management of our better sites we should do
everything possible to get everything possible out of them. On and off
National Forests, we often have allowed stands to stagnate, low-grade species
to take over much of the effective growing space, or have failed to do any-
cutting because there was not much volume per acre. As a result our growth
rate may have been very low and we have been utilizing only a very small
amount of the productive possibilities of the area. For example, according
to the Forest Survey the average board-foot growth for the unmanaged short-
leaf-loblolly pine sites of southern Arkansas is 135 board feet per acre per
year. What would you guess the growth on managed stands of this type and
area would be — 200? We don't know for sure but a selective timber manage¬
ment study that has been underway on the Crossett Experimental Forest for
the last 10 years gives us some leads.

During the 10 years between 1937 and 1946 an average of 1,755 board feet
(International l/4-inch rule) of pine logs has been cut per acre from the
study area. The average volume per acre in trees 12 inches and above before
cutting started in 1937 was 4>807 board feet. Even though 1,755 board feet
had been cut the average volume in 1946 was 6,253 board feet. Thus, even
though 37 percent of the original volume was cut during the 10-year period,
the stands increased in volume by 30 percent. The growth per acre per year
has been 320 board feet and we know we have not even come close to the maxi¬
mum possible. Of more importance, perhaps, is the fact that partly as a
result of the harvest cutting that has been done over the last 10 years, and
partly as a result of the improvement cutting that was done, the pine growth
has increased by about 100 board feet per acre per year during the period.

I realize that the reason we have not always obtained similar cuts, increases
in growing stock, and growth increases on similar sites on the National
Forests is, in many cases, because we have not had the money or manpower to
do the management job. I also realize, however, that part is due to the fact
that we have been reluctant to cut a tree from any stand unless the tree was
a poor risk.

In some instances the fact that the stand was not ’'fully stocked" has been
responsible for our policy of very light cuts of only defective timber. We
should not, however, allow this policy to restrict growth to only 200 board
feet or less per acre per year on areas fully capable of producing 500 or
more board feet per acre per year. Certain near mature but otherwise
perfectly good trees in dense groups need to be removed from understocked
stands at periodic intervals in order to obtain maximum growth of the stand.
Consequently, removal of a considerable volume of good trees from our under¬
stocked stands is often necessary if we are to obtain maximum production.

Actually, we do not know the amount of stocking that is necessary for maxi¬
mum growth. We do know that it will be considerably less for shortleaf and
loblolly pine, managed in all-aged stands, than the "normal" as given in the
yield tables. Our experience has been that the yield table "normal" stands
will produce considerably less growth than more lightly stocked stands so
there apparently is no reason for attempting to develop such heavily stocked
stands. In our all-aged selection management of short lea f-lob lolly pine
stands a stocking of perhaps one-third to one-half of yield table "normal"
stocking will probably give us maximum growth.

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It seems to me that we are also worrying too much about future markets,
future distribution of tree sizes, rotations, transportation and long-time
and over-all objectives and too little about todays work and possibilities.
We actually know very little about the future and find that we can’t even
guess what will happen 10 years hence although we are spending a lot of time
talking and planning for events that will happen 100 years in the future.

Too* markets and demand for certain sizes and certain products of the forest
are constantly changing. Who knows what we will be called on to produce 50
years hence. It seems to me that if we attempt to grow good material of
relatively large size we can take care of any market that may be available
when the trees are mature. If we grow this kind of material, we can sell it
on any kind of market.

Let us remember that regardless of whether we are managing public land or
private land we sooner or later must justify any expenditures we make by
the public benefits we provide. Let us then:

(1) Concentrate our timber management efforts on our better sites within
our forest, giving the poorer areas fire and site protection only.

(2) All other things considered, revamp our marking and management policy so
that maximum returns will be obtained.

(3) Manage our good areas intensively so that we can look forward to an
average growth rate that approaches maximum potential of the site.

(4) Prepare management plans to take care of immediate needs — say 10 or
15 years — and eliminate unnecessary detail.

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NORTHEASTERN FOREST EXPERIMENT STATION
Upper Darby, Pa.

R-NE March 24, 1949

SUPERVISION

Meetings

Management Plan Conference
March 28-April 8, 1949

Topic 5. — Objectives of Management; Coordination with Other Uses
Timber Reserves for Future National Emergencies

A review of "Timber Management Plans on the National Forests"
leads me to raise a question as to the adequacy of management objec¬
tives set up therein. I am thinking specifically of the desirability
•f managing blocks in our national forests to provide reserves of
material available for the more exacting war requirements. This added
objective need in no way alter the broad objectives set up for national
forests. It does, however, inject new considerations in setting up
objectives for specific working circles on a number of national forests*
Little if any consideration has been given to the possible contribution
working circles can and should make to meet future national emergencies*
All management plans should be appraised from this point of view*

Industry* because of economic considerations, cannot be expected. /;•"
to direct production primarily to the needs and welfare of the govern-^*
ment. National forests being public investments should serve primarily
the needs of the government* thus redeeming their responsibilities to
the public*

Specifically, I believe that areas should be set aside in our

eastern, western and Alaskan forests for the production of spruce

airplane stock as well as areas for the production of high grade yellow
birch veneer stock used in airplane manufacture and the construction of
PT boats. Areas selected should be on highly productive sites and
readily accessible. If areas on the White Mountain National Forest had
been dedicated to spruce airplane production 25 to 30 years ago they might

Topic 5,

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have made valuable contributions to World War II. Fortunately we were
able to fall back on our Pacific coast and Alaskan forests for high
grade spruce stock. The last war, however, made heavy inroads on these
forests for such material# Hence it is not too early to make provision
for a future emergency.

In like manner certain other national forests could well devote
areas to the production of large size, high quality oak for ship timbers
and non-magnetic mine sweepers, gun stock material, special grades of
naval stores, top quality piling, truck body squares and other products.

In fact it may be desirable to establish new national forest units in
regions whose soil and climate are favorable to the production of
specialized products particularly needed by the nation during an
emergency.

All of such units should receive special care, thinnings and other
cultural measures should be directed to the production of well formed,
uniform growing trees to meet unique specifications. The objectives of
specialized wood products cannot be attained by "overall” good silvicul¬
ture. War has become highly specialized, hence demands highly specialized
products. Failure of these products to fully meet requirements may mean
construction of equipment inferior to that produced by the enemy. World
War II has shown time and again what superior equipment means in the
successful conduct of a war.

The best airplane fuselage during World War II was made of yell®w
birch which met certain specifications with regard to specific gravity,
grain, number of rings per inch, degree of stain, shake, warp, knots,
etc. For gunstock, ship timbers, etc., other species and a different

Topic 5*

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set of specifications were demanded. Under nature’s haphazard methods
scarcely -#ne tree in a hundred would meet the specifications demanded,
and less than one in a thousand would meet the ideal* Is it not the
responsibility of national forests to grow timber stands meeting such
specifications and on a much more successful basis than nature will under
a mere regime of overall good silviculture?

This constitutes a real challenge to foresters and will require the
skill and application of the best forestry brains in the country. It
calls for highly refined silviculture involving pruning as well as
thinnings, and release cuttings of just the' right intensity to achieve
a crown density and distribution of stems which will insure attaining
specified rates of growth, certain specific gravities, etc. to meet
the exacting demands of war products. And what agency is better equipped
with forests and personnel to undertake this task than the United States
Forest Service with its array of national forests dedicated to the country’s
welfare and embracing a wide range of tree species and soil and climatic
cond itions?

M. Westveld

SUPERVISION

Meetings

Management Plan Conference

TOPIC 6

BASIC DATA NEEDED FOR TIMBER MANAGEMENT PLANS

The needs for additional timber management plans in each of the National Forest
Regions, discussed during the first day of this conference, clearly emphasizes
the fact that the job of writing, revising and maintaining management plans
for nearly 700 National Forest Working Circles involves a continuous work load
of considerable proportion. The cost and effort incident to the collection of
a great amount of detailed information and data often considered necessary,
has frequently discouraged an earnest attempt to obtain it. In many instances,
this viewpoint has resulted in no plan. If the task of collecting data and
information, and the writing of a management plan is actually too great for
our busy Supervisors and Rangers to undertake, even with some assistance and
help, the results will frequently be that few plans will be prepared. With
these conditions in mind and in view of our present rather limited funds for
management plan work, it is highly important that this conference give careful
consideration to the simplification and streamlining of plans.

It seems obvious that management on a considerable portion of our wild forest
lands will be relatively/- extensive for a number of years and that intensive
management will be confined largely to the best and most accessible sites for
the present. How best to take our working circles apart, prescribe simply
for each set of conditions as the}/- now exist, tie this into the needs of local
people and provide for periodic revision, seems to be the essence of planning.
In other words, it is felt that a management plan for a working circle and
especially the regulatory features thereof, plus the action program, should be
built up into a summary from a number of prescriptions for individual areas
readily identified on the ground. In the past we have frequently done just
the opposite. We survey a whole working circle and come out with an inventory,
stocking and growth data and a type or condition class map. Then we sit down
in the office and write a plan. The results are often disappointing and lack
utility. It is necessary, therefore, that we have a clear understanding of
the kind and amount of data that are essential in the preparation of a good
management plan. This is the foundation on which to build the plan. It must
be strong enough to support the structure and thereby insure the confidence
of those charged with the application of its prescriptions.

The foundation needed for the preparation of a management plan will vary with
the conditions and circumstances pertaining to different working circles.

The intensity of the use of the working circle as a source of timber and
products governs to a considerable degree the intensity of management that may
be practiced. The greater the diversification in the products to be harvested,
the greater the variety of species, forest types and sites, and the larger
the number of users of the forest, the more complicated becomes the plan of
management. Accessibility, topography and the silvicultural system or systems
being practiced are also important considerations.

Basic data needed and required accuracy will vary with the intensity of
management. Expenditures for securing basic data should not be out of line

with the foreseeable benefits. Conditions change and timber grows. By and
large, pressures for use of National Forest resources should increase and a
trend toward intensification of management should be anticipated. This factor
alone will probably justify larger investments in basic data for long-time
production on the National Forests than might be required for immediate needs.
With varying intensities of management in response to variable objectives and
widely differing conditions over the country, this presentation can only point
out the major needs and open the subject for discussion.

In enumerating or discussing the kinds of basic data needed for timber manage¬
ment plans, it is interesting to observe that each member of the committee
independently and without prior knowledge of the other1 s thinking on this
topic, placed the procurement of sound economic data first on his list.

We believe no sound planning can be undertaken until the planner has a com¬
prehensive knowledge of the economic and social situation existing within the
zone of influence of the resources in the working circle. Unless these
resources contribute their utmost of benefit to people within that zone, plan¬
ning loses its purpose. The planner need not be satisfied with the existing
economic situation and he may see opportunities for practical benefit through
introduction of new industries, new processes, new transportation, cooperative
management, etc., and may take such needs into his evaluation of the problems
and opportunities, but it seems like putting the cart before the horse to
prescribe the detailed forest data needed or the degrees of accuracy under
which it should be secured until he is reasonably sure as to how the results
of timber fact finding should be used. For example, we should know con¬
siderable about the dependency of local people and the wood using industries.
What is needed to achieve stable employment and a satisfactory standard of
living? What are the species and products most in need and should be grown?
What are the practical cuts per acre under varying conditions of topography
and accessibility? What needs to be done to move less favored species or low
quality trees? There are other factors but it is felt that the first requisite
in planning is an appraisal of the economic and social picture, in other
words, a rather searching problem analysis. From this the objectives of
management can be charted indicating what and how much needs to be done to
maintain and improve human welfare. Also, with such preliminary information,
a more realistic guide is availa ble as to what necessary additional data and
practical limits of accuracy will be required to avoid over or under- refinement
in methods to secure it.

Decisions based on the problem analysis must necessarily take into considera¬
tion the amount of money or manpower available for the job. In this respect ,
we must exercise good business judgment. In the long run, it is probably
better to delay preparation of a plan until adequate reliable information and
data can be obtained as the foundation, rather than accept inadequate anc1
unreliable information and data, but it is recognized that pressing needs for
formalized management will often require that plans be built from w/hat is
available or obtainable at low cost. Obviously, the final decision must be
governed by local conditions and circumstances. From here on we turn to the
forest property itself and list the items of information' the forest manager
will need as a foundation for a program of action to achieve the economic and
social objectives, and at the same time maintain a highly productive property.
These present themselves in the following order:

i C

1. Facts pertaining to land area. Everything starts from the land and
we need a classification. Since we are planning for the production of timber
crops we should delineate the area of commercial forest land. The rest, by
reason of quality, inaccessibility or other dominant use can be set aside.

For the commercial forest area the most important element is its productivity,
usually expressed as site. Where and how much is there of good, medium and
poor? In the long run and irrespective of what is growing on the land at
present, the highly productive area will respond to management with greater
benefits per acre and per unit of effort, and therefore deserves greater
attention from the planner along with higher accuracy in the fact finding.

2. Facts pertaining to timber cover. Superimposed on the land pattern
of potential productivity and accessibility is the existing timber cover
usually expressed by type and condition class. For present day management,
we believe condition class is a more useful category than age, except where
stands are definitely even-aged and management aims to maintain a series of
age classes.

Type . Delineation of natural types is important since it determines
to a considerable extent the kinds of timber which will be produced and made
available in the economic picture. Major types need not be split down too
finely into sub-types for regulatory purposes, but recognition of such sub-
types are important in the application of silviculture. Type areas should be
determined Y/ithin accuracy of 10$.

Condition class. Within each type and for the Y\rorking circle as a
whole, we need to know the distribution of condition classes by area. The
breakdoYmt by classes Y/ill vary between regions and perhaps betvtfeen forests.
In the northeast we usually recognize six.

Sawtinber (Heavy ~ 5,000 b.f. per acre and up

(Light - 1,500 to 5,000 b.f. per acre

Pole timber (Heavy - 600 cu.ft. to 1,500 b.f. per acre

(Light - 10$ stocked with trees over 5" d.b.h. to
600 cu.ft. per acre

Seedlings and Saplings - at least 10$ stocked

Denuded - less than 10$

The areas of these categories and the volumes thereon form the major basis
for regulation calculations and determination of allowable cut. Accuracy as
to area determination should be within 10$ and volume within 15-20$. Herein
also we should have information as to health and growing condition. Are there
any immediate salvage jobs, impending losses, etc. that require prompt atten¬
tion? What intermediate operations are promptly necessary to prevent
suppression or stagnation, etc? These factors will color the size and nature
of the periodic cut and indicate which areas line up for early treatment.

Growth . For working circles predominately virgin timber, estimates
of current growth or decline are useful mainly in determining which areas
should be harvested first. A rough estimate of the volume growth that can be
anticipated following the first cut is needed, however, so that the allowable

- 3 -

cut can be placed at a level which can be continued without serious inter¬
ruption into the second and perhaps the third cutting cycles. Where large
areas of cutover land are involved, a reliable estimate of current annual
growth assumes importance. For areas deficient in growing stock, the cut
should be substantially less than growth except for special salvage operations.
Whether the cut is placed above or below current growth we need more reliable
methods than are now available for estimating or measuring volume growth. Most
data are based on fully stocked stands as the normal. Actual normality is
usually at considerable variance with this. The planner is much in need of
rapid and simple methods of measuring and predicting growth. In this field
as well as in quality growth, spacing requirements, and expected yields under
management, administration needs more help from research.

3. Facts pertaining to correlation with other uses. This information
will undoubtedly be discussed in considerable detail under Topic 5. Where
the uses are not conflicting, area segregation is often possible in the land
classification mentioned in Item 1 above, with special prescriptions as to
timber use for each. Elsewhere timber management may be materially influenced
by the existence of local needs for domestic or industrial water supplies,
outstanding aesthetic values or other influences. The facts of life pertain¬
ing to such demands need to be carefully determined for present and future
requirements since they will filter into silviculture, transportation planning
and operating methods.

4. Facts pertaining to protection. Under this category we should
assemble all we know or can find out concerning pests. Appropriate references
to published texts may suffice, but the current risks should be appraised,
protection against wind should be considered. The risks and hazards from fire
should be briefed, and pertinent references to the fire plan are necessary.

In summary it is felt that building a management plan becomes merely an
"intellectual exercise" unless the basic data available or to be secured can
be interpreted into a program of action which will result in greatest benefit
to local people. If so, a sound appraisal of the economic picture and the
role which sustained production of forest crops can play in stabilizing the
local economy becomes a first requisite.

A second is the conception that the land manager in his day-to-day job is
confronted with the task of dealing with specific areas. Consequently, the
action program which should be his current guide within the plan should
indicate "what, when and how" within the several subdivisions of the working
circle. Much of this can be more easily interpreted and applied if presented
in simple graphic and tabular form with brief prescriptions for each, in¬
cluding:

1. Land area classification, by productivity and accessibility

2. Cover classification, by type and condition class, with area
and volume for each.

3. Conflicting uses - Municipal water, aesthetics

4. Special hazards - Over-maturity, pests, etc.'

- 4 -

■v

A third is the over-all factor of mean annual growth of the working circle.
In the long run no program of sustained output can ignore the productive
power of the soil and its expression in the stems which are standing on it.
We need to know a lot more about this.

Topic Assignees?

D. W. Tabbutt - R-7
D. N. Matthews - R-l

March 15, 1949 G. S. Meagher - S. W. Station

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♦

(

PLANS— R 6
Timber Management

Portland, Oregon
March 17, 1949

MANAGEMENT PLM CONFERENCE - TOPIC 7

STOP-GAP TIMBER MANAGEMENT PLANS

Dahl J. Kirkpatrick

During 40 years of administration prior to 1946, 23 management plans had been
developed and approved at the Washington office level for the 92 working circles
in Region 6. Accomplishment in completing the job of management planning seemed
discouragingly slow; in fact, the project was about on a maintenance basis. Plans
were becoming obsolete about as fast as new ones were being prepared. . • ‘

That only 25% of our working circles had been covered with formalized management
plans during these 40 years can be attributed to two principal reasons. The
first isrthat in- many of the working circles, plans' were unnecessary. National
forest timber was riot being operated because it was not needed in the economy
of the Region, or it was not accessible and could not feasibly be managed in
competition with the liquidation of extensive private timber holdings of better
quality in the more accessible zones. The second important reason for a lack
of progress was that there appeared to be a feeling of -frustration on the part of
our resource managers charged with the responsibility of preparing management
plans. It looked as if in the minds of our timber administrators the management
planning job had been built up as a technical, complicated project which was
entirely beyond their capabilities. ■

Timber supply problems in Region -6 grew particularly acute during the war. War
demands for forest 1 products coincided with the exhaustion; of readily available
private timber resources within and adjacent to a good many of our working
circles. The consequence was that interest in the national: forest resource grew
by leaps and bounds and it became very evident that working circles for which
plans previously had been of little more than academic importance were becoming
economically and practically operable. The need for early and decisive action
seemed clearly evident.

To overcome, the attitude of incompetence which was widespread among our timber
management field force, the" idea., of . developing a simple, very rudimentary type
of management plan was conceived;.1 On July 15, 1946, Regional Forester Andrews
wrote to the supervisors and transmitted a copy of an outline for what we have
referred to in the Region as a "streamlined" management • plan. “He informed them
that in two years he would expect each forest to submit a streamlined plan for
each active working circle not covered by an accepted management plan. In the
two-year period that ensued, with a very nominal amount of assistance. or urging
from the Regional Office, the job was completed. .

It should be stated at this point that Region Six has gone as far as it seems
possible to go in delegating resource management authority to the District Ran¬
ger force. In consequence, the streamlined management plans are almost 100%
the product of ranger effort. It must be understood also, that in Region Six
we have the advantage of fairly adequate resource data from the Forest Survey.

Now. a word as- to the nature these stop-gap, management plans. Here is the outline:

♦

"TIMBER DISPOSAL PROGRAM FOR THE NATIONAL FOREST RESOURCES
OF THE , _ WORKING CIRCLE

"I. Introductory statement followed by a brief summary of the recent history
of cutting on National Forest lands within the wgrking circle and present
and prospective industrial dependency uporl trie public timber.

"II. A statement of any specific management objectives (exchange, .co-op unit

possibilities, etc.) which may be peculiar to the working circle in question.

t ,

"III. An analysis of National Forest resources within the unit giving the clearest
possible picture of the areas and timber volumes subject to management. As
a miniifium this analysis should include*.

"A. A Forest Survey type map of a scale of 1" to the mile showing, (l) the

Working Circle boundary, (2) block boundaries, if significant, (3) Forest
types on all National Forest lands within the circle, and (4) ownership
of alienated lands within the National Forest boundary by principal owner

"B. An overlay for the above map indicating in distinctive • legend, (l)

National Forest lands not -available for cutting because of currently
recognized limited areas.. or formally dedicated reservations such as nat¬
ural areas, wilderness areas, etc., if any, (not campgrounds, road or
streamside strips, and sundry informal reservations), and (2) any.
National Forest lands within the available zone of the working circle
considered to be inoperable during the first cutting cycle because of
inaccessibility, non-commercial timber, extreme topography, etc.

"C. Summary tables showring lump sum acreage figures for the dedicated reser¬
vations and areas by Forest Survey types of (l) the limited areas "within
the non-available zone of the vrorking circle, and of (2) the available
portion of the circle with a segregation of operable and non-operable
areas. The gross operable available area should be appropriately dis¬
counted for (a) unmapped reservation areas such as streamsides, road¬
sides, campgrounds, etc., (b) untyped areas of inoperability, or (c)
other specified reductions needed for reasons peculiar to the unit in
question. ‘

"D. Summary tables showing lump sum volumes for the dedicated reservations
and volumes by species within (l) the limited area of the non-available
zone and within (2) the available portion of the working circle, segre¬
gated by operable and non-operable classes; The available operable
volumes should be appropriately discounted for unmapped reservations . and
for untyped areas of non-operability or for other reasons as indicated
in C above.

"This section of the plan is vitally important since the value of the entire pro¬
ject hinges upon the sound and realistic treatment of the basic area and volume
statistics. In evaluating these data it must be remembered that the permissible
rate of cutting will be predicated upon future as well as current operating
potentialities of the circle. A clear showing of the source of data employed
in the development of the figures and the extent and nature of any discounts or
adjustments which may be made in arriving at the net available operable areas

-2-

and volumes is also essential. To assure that the latter will consistently be
done, and to provide a uniform method for the assembly of the information, forms
similar to the attached samples should be used.

” IV. Calculation of the allowable annual cut by the methods outlined in the
Management Plans Section of the Timber Management Handbook with a clear
showing of the premises upon which the calculations are based.

"V. A brief statement of the sale program that will be followed during the next
five years in the management of the working circle, indicating planned size
of sales, their general location, the period for which they will run, the
limitations of cut that will be imposed, etc. This statement should be
supported by a one-half inch administrative map showing (l) the approximate
boundaries of the proposed sale units, (2) the existing transportation sys¬
tem, and (3) the transportation developments that will be required to
instrument the five-year sale program.

"VI. A five-year cutting budget tabulating the sale units and volumes it is

anticipated will be cut from them by years. The sale areas listed in the
tabulation, for clarity, should be keyed to the map required in Item V
above. (See sample cutting budget form attached.) n

In addition to the outline, we provided the form of tables to be used for
summarizing volume and type area data so as to secure uniformity in the presen¬
tation of these statistics and so as to permit their summation on a regional,
state, and forest basis.

In looking back at the project from a regional standpoint, we feel that the
effort has been extremely worthwhile. In the first place, it has done something
to destroy the bugaboo that management planning is a job that is beyond the
capabilities of the District Ranger force. It has provided us with a better
on-the-ground current analysis of the state of the manageable resource than we
ever had before. It has yielded a cutting budget, working circle by working
circle, which will be good for five years or so.

Because these plans are sketchy and do not conform to the standards which are
currently in vogue for the development of working circle plans, we have not sub¬
mitted them to the Washington Office for approval, but have approved them rather
at the Regional Office level as interim programs until planning on an acceptable
standard, for submission to Washington can be achieved. We hope that we have
laid here the foundation of planning by field men which we will be able to
carry forward at the field level - that our streamlined plans, rough as they
may be now, will mature into management plans which will be real live working
tools for the folks on the ground. After all, it is they who will accomplish
whatever management the national forest resource receives.

SUPERVISION

Meetings

(Management Plan Conference)

Topic 7 - Stop-gap Timber Management Plans, Region 8

A® J a Streinz

In 1938 stop-gap timber management plans, then called "Policy Statements,"
were prepared for most of the working circles in Region 8 for which manage¬
ment plans were not’ in preparation or not covered by plans approved by the
Chief. At the time, it was thought that such plans were soon to be
superseded by plans or policy statements prepared on a more adequate basis
and intended for the Chief's approvals The plans were to be in effect for
a maximum period of three years 0 The plans were approved by the Regional
Forestcro The following outline was used as a guide in preparing the
plan0

1, Location

County or counties' in which unit is located. Statement as to yjhothcr
in Piedmont, Upper, Middle, Lower Coastal Plain, or other physiographic
region,

2. Area
Gross area

Net National Forest area
Private land

Condensation of acquisition Form 70S for unit when such data are
available •

3. Economic Factors

a. Population

(1) Inside circle, suitability for employment, employment needs
of inside population.

(2) Adjacent to circle within five milcs-data as above.

Note: Best estimates available - no census to be made,

b. Markets

(1) Tabulate as follows:

•Volume to be

No , Type of Plant Name of Plant Annual consumption supplied by U.F,

(2) Show on map #1 accompanied by legend using standard symbols,
location of all wood or forest product using and consuming
plants, indicating each plant by a number corresponding to
the tabulation in the report.

Note: No field census to be undertaken. Job to be done by
estimates of forest personnel.

'•

••

....

... ■

■-

. ; ■ . . .

. ; . ■

• -

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t if naq . >0;. r* ."VT . C- VT3 4
• . . • .... : .•

i f* t x I ri a l K

. .

..ar. i ;o *. i d , *

c • Transportation

(1) Brief paragraph explaining transportation conditions.

(2) Show on map #1 all roads, whether State, County, or Forest
Service, truck trails, motorways or travelable fire breaks,
surfaced or unsurfaced, using standard legend and putting
legend on map.

Note: No fancy drafting desired - use crayons.

4. Protection Problem

a. Fire

(1) A table showing fires by classes and causes for five years
if data are available.

(2) A table showing National Forest area burned by years and
months for as many of past five years for which data
available.

b. One paragraph on grazing, stating cattle, hog, sheep and goat
problems.

c. One paragraph on all insects and fungi.

d. One brief paragraph on timber trespass.

5. The Stand

a. Best available estimates on all purchase units purchased since
1S55; use acquisition data which are being supplied you. On
other units, use management data' if available. On the occasional
unit where' no data are available, you will have to do your best
estimating, using acquisition or any other available data as a
base •

b. Insofar as possible, list your estimate by species and products
and insofar as possible, make a division between operable and
inoperable stands. Separate green timber from dead timber
estimates, such as chestnut, tarwood, stumpwood, etc.

6. Growth and Yield

Use available data as followrs:

a, V/hcre management data for circle are available, employ those.

b, TJhore acquisition has made studies such as on the Burt Estate,
Talladega, employ those data.

c, FJhcre data are available from' the management plans of comparable
working circles on the forest, employ those, making adjustments
to fit your needs*

-2-

. '

■ . . . • •

? .

do Where no data are available, employ Van Mantel’s formula as a
means of regulating the cut:

i.e0, V

l/Z R

V - Total volume of grouping stock.

R = Rotation age.

For units 'There no data are available, use 100 years as rotation
age,

7. Timber Sale Policy

a® Statement of policy as to amount of timber to be sold,
justifying any departure from indicated or computed cut,

b0 Size and type of sales to be made.

c. Class of markets and operators to be aided or supported.

d. Utilization requirements,

e. Brush disposal.

8. Marking Principles

One short paragraph for each timber type in budget. Abstract of
marking rules for that type.

9* Cutting Budget

a. List units and approximate volumes to be cut in next three
years. At least 60$ of three— year cut is to be budgeted;

90$ of F0Y. 1939 cut to be budgeted.

10. Appendix

Must contain map #1 as instructed, and map ffil which will show cut tin
budget and information as to location of merchantable areas, non-
timbered areas, plantations, etc.

All applicable marking rules wall also be included in Appendix.

Any data available as to stands, volumes, growth, etc., should be
in Appendix - Summaries only to be in plan.

Plan should be held to three or four pages, exclusive of Appendix
and Summary page.

11. Summary

First page of this report will be summary.

Note: Summary must not extend over one page (See attached sheet).

• .

Throe months were allowed for the preparation for the plans* In most eases
the plans were prepared and written by the Supervisor’s Timber liana gemont
Assistant* The primary purpose cf the plans was to initiate a definite
action plan for timber management on the units involved© The plans produced
were satisfactory for this purpose© Many of these plans arc s till in use
with revisions in the cutting budget and allowable cut0

Our current conception of a stop-gap plan is one which is based on available
data and information without an up-to-date forest inventory© A brief
study is usually made of the area cutover 5 to 10 years age in Forest
Service sales to check the cutting cycle. The scope and form of presen¬
tation is the same as for a plan with an up-to-date forest inventory#

The period covered is at least 5 years and preferably 10 years# The plans
are pro eared and written for submission to the Chief for aoercval© The
purposes of the plans are? (l) tc organize and record the existing
information and (2) to develop a plan cf action for the next 5 to 10 years#

-4-

ii I If SBPi 1 SRI H HR M R Mi

. .

;

I i rt) (In .i-c t el '

(Case designation)

Summary Sheet

Name _

Area _

Volume: Green and dead separately by products but not by species.

Grovrth: Yield and/or regulation.

Cut: Annual - Three year period*

Percentage to Cut: _

Cutting Cycle _

Prepared by

Name and title

Dfite

Approved by _

Supervisor

Date

Approved by _

Regional Forester

Date

-5

(

■

* *•

MANAGEMENT PLAN CONFERENCE
Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas
March 28 to April 8, 1919

TOPIC 8 - TRANSPORTATION PUNNING FOR MANAGEMENT PUNS

Donald N* Matthews

To get this subject before us in its proper perspective, let's look at two
working circles. One is a working working circle and the other is an unde¬
veloped working ciircle.

The working working circle operates under the multiple use principle. Every
acre is productive. And the production of every acre is used. Productive
capacity is harnessed to produce wood products to satisfy human wants. The
working working circle produces a steady flow of logs, poles, posts, shakes,
shingles, piling, pulpwood, fuel wood, Christmas trees, and minor forest
products according to its capabilities. At one and the same time that it
produces wood it is also a good watershed, a good playground and a good home
for fish, game and domestic stock. It also gives steady employment and adds
stability to the community. In such a working circle every acre has its
role to play in producing the greatest good for the greatest number in the
long run. If the greatest good is in sheep, it produces sheep. Some acres
have more than one talent and they may produce wood, recreation, venison and
mutton, and at the same time do their share as a good -watershed. In short,
all of the capacities of the working working circle are harnessed and har¬
monized. to produce the greatest benefit to the greatest number of people for
a long time.

It will not take many words to describe an undeveloped working circle. Such
working circles are unmanaged and low in production. Their condition and
their production of wood, water, forage, and recreation are largely the
accident of natural forces. Draw a line around a forest area that has
intrinsic future possibilities as a working working circle and you have a
typical undeveloped working circle. The undeveloped working circle
the pioneer stage. Its management, if any, is extensive, consisting
pally of fire protection and its contributions to society are those
pioneer. The working working circle is a product of civilization an
tial to its continued growth and development.

Management is the feature, of course, that distinguishes the working
circle from the undeveloped working circle. Management is composed of many
parts harmonized into a productive combination. However, the one phase of
management that stands out as being absolutely essential in transforming an
undeveloped working circle into a working working circle is transportation.
In simplest terms, transportation is the connecting link or chain between
the products of the working circle and the consumer. In working working
circles this connection is strong and effective. In undeveloped working
circles it is the missing link. The management plan is the instrument we
use to build a transportation system that will put the working circle to
work efficiently.

In this country the consumers of forest products tend to be many hundreds or
even a thousand miles or more from the tree. Nevertheless, the long dis¬
tance transportation of forest products from mill to consumer is not within
the scope of this paper. The discussion that follows is concerned with
transportation from the tree to a mill, market, or use in or near the
working circle.

is m
princi-
of the

essen-,

working

-1-

We can pass lightly over the transportation of forest products by water
because it is of minor importance at the present time. This is a one-
purpose mode of transportation that does not contribute very much to the
complete development of all the resources of a working circle. Transporta¬
tion by air may be with us in time but it is of no immediate concern. Rail¬
roads are of diminishing importance as prime movers of forest products. The
forest manager has few regrets in the passing of the logging railroad. This
was also an inflexible, single purpose, pioneer mode of transportation. It
was effective in the mass movement of wood but it did not help very much in
developing all the resources of a working circle) The transportation dollar
that went into a logging railroad bought a connecting bond of steel to out¬
side markets, but it was a temporary link. Once the steel was removed the
forest tended to be just as remote and inaccessible as ever. Roads had to
be built to carry on the day to day utilization, protection and management
of the forest. The logging railroads drained away important transportation
dollars found only in high-quality virgin timber and left little permanent
good. They exerted strong pressure for overcutting, clear cutting and poor
utilization. Although there will probably be some rail transportation
within our working circles as long as there are railroads, from now on
railroads will function as part of a transportation system that is planned
to facilitate complete development of all the resources of a working circle
in ways that will promote the stability of local dependent communities.
However, even though we will talk exclusively in terms of roads, many of the
principles developed will apply to transportation by water or railroad.

Some of the principles might apply to transport by air, but some might not.

When a working working circle is fully productive, it requires a road within
skidding distance of every tree to be harvested. "To be harvested" was
added because in mountainous working circles, even under the most intensive
management imaginable, there may be large areas of trees that will not be
cut and utilized. Because of the steep topography and poor site quality in
some of our western working circles, production of wood for use off the
stump may be confined to less than 50 percent of the gross area of the cir¬
cle. The remainder of the area will be managed for water, grazing, wildlife
or recreation. Some of the area may be so barren and rough that it will not
be managed at all.

There is also a time element- It is not necessary to have a road within
skidding distance of every tree to be harvested except at the time the tree
is to be cut. In some cases this may mean that a road will be needed only
once each cutting cycle or rotation. However, in many cases, the primary
need for a road to harvest the tree at the end of the cutting cycle or
rotation may be supplemented and reinforced by needs for transportation to
care for the tree from the seed to the sawlog. Recreation, grazing and
watershed management also require roads. A permanent road system will be
required to meet these recurrent needs.

From what has been said so far, it should be apparent that transportation is
a primary consideration in laying out a working circle. In fact, it would
be easy to get into a which is first, the hen or the egg, sort of discus¬
sion. Efficiency of transportation from tree to market should be the ruling
factor that determines the boundaries of a working circle. So long as we
move wood on roads, it will be cheaper to go downhill than to go uphill.
(Let’s ignore the exceptions to this generalization.) That is the basic
reason why working circles so often coincide with drainages and why road
systems resemble drainage systems. Main roads correspond to rivers, branch
roads correspond to tributary creeks and spur roads correspond to the last
spring branches of the drainage system. We would do a lot of thinking

-2-

i v

before we would design a drainage system in such a way that the water would
have to be pumped uphill far, far into the future. We should do a lot of
thinking before we defy gravity and lay out a working circle that will
require the movement of wood uphill far into the distant future. To do it
in the name of community support may, in the long run, work to the detriment
of the community. We already know something about the cost of defying the
law of gravity. We do not want to learn the hard way what it can cost to
defy economic laws. The working circle and its transportation system should
be designed to obtain efficient - and that means low cost - movement of
■wood from the tree to market.

In addition to the transportation of wood there may be, and usually is, need
for roads to penetrate the nonproductive forest lands in the working circle
to facilitate the protection of the timber cover and to facilitate the
multiple use development of the circle.

Multiple purpose roads work to the advantage of the timber. The other uses
carry part of the cost and to that extent cause a reduction in the cost of
hauling the timber. Other uses not only share the cost but a combination of
two or more uses may Justify a higher road standard than timber alone and
result in a reduction in the cost of hauling timber. Therefore, important
advantages accrue to timber from the development of multiple purpose roads.

Some of the complexities of transportation planning for timber management
plans begin to be apparent.

A road system for an entire working circle is not constructed in a short
space of time or as one job. (How we would like to trjr that sometime!) In
most all cases we are harvesting our working circles for the first time.

When the cutting cycle or the rotation is completed, a road vri.ll have been
built to within skidding distance of every tree. In most cases we are in
the early stages of this development. We tend at this stage to plan roads
piece by piece to reach this or that stand of timber that is ripe for the
harvest. Getting a road to every tree seems to be something that we will
not need to worry about for a long time.

Nevertheless, here is a major challenge to our ability to operate in a plan-
wise fashion. If we leave the production of a road system to accident, the
results will be unsatisfactory. Building a succession of roads to individ¬
ual stands one after the other will not automatically produce an efficient
road system in a working circle. The efficient road system will be the
product of a plan. The road built in 1949 must mesh in with roads to be
built in 1959, 1969, and so on down through the years until the entire
working circle has been developed with a transportation system. This objec¬
tive of developing an efficient transportation system for the entire working
circle should be before us from the beginning and all the time. Further¬
more, the objective is not just to produce an efficient system to move wood.
Multiple use development of all the resources in the working circle is the
objective of the transportation system.

Now, let’s bring road building into focus in terms of miles and dollars.

The February Timberman reported that during 1946 Oregon and Washington log¬
gers spent $24,000,000 to build about 2,400 miles of new road, or an average
cost of $10,000 per mile. However, some roads cost them as much as $30,000
per mile. These roads were reported to have opened up SO 6 square miles of
timber with an average of 3 miles of main and feeder roads per square mile.
This is about $30,000 per section of 640 acres, or almost $50 per acre. On
a regional annual cut of 6 billion this indicates an average road

-3-

• J

construction cost of about $3 per thousand board feeti The same article
states that Oregon and Washington loggers have built some 36,000 miles of
roads at a cost of $350,000,000 since they made them their principal means
of transportation; One of the most significant features of this development
has been the trend t.o higher road standards.

In Region One we believe that our road building chances average as tough as
anywhere else in the United States and we have much lighter stands than our
neighbors on the West Coast, It cost us from $4 to $8 per thousand board
feet to construct roads to move our logs from the woods to mill or railroad.
Every time we sell a million board feet we need to put from $4,000 to $8,000
into the construction of roads. We do not mention these costs to boast
about them. They are mentioned to show the magnitude of the costs involved
in developing a transportation system for a working circle. Other regions
may be fortunate in having lower costs; nevertheless, the cost of the trans¬
portation system is an important consideration in all regions.

While we are on the subject of transportation cost it may be well to point
out some of the relations between these costs and the plans and policies for
the management of timber. For example, a policy of light cutting tends to
increase the amount of road that must be built per year to harvest each
thousand board feet. The total cost of the road system for the working
circle may be affected very little but rate of expenditure is increased
materially by a policy of light partial cut. Shortening the cutting cycle
has the same effect. Nevertheless, every forester dreams of the day when
all of his working circle will be opened up so he can sa3.vage mortality,
make thinnings, and really manage every acre for highest production. Inten¬
sive management of the entire working circle requires a complete transporta¬
tion system. Therefore, anything that tends to accelerate the completion of
the system works in favor of intensive management, increased production, and
multiple use.

Although a transportation plan is a vital part of a timber management plan
this does not mean that every last detailed road and bridge specification
should be included in such plans. The management plan sets up broad objec¬
tives, coordinates uses and directs action. The first concern in a manage¬
ment plan should be to see that the area concerned can be developed by a
transportation system into an efficient working working circle. Another
important function of the plan is to provide for the orderly year by year
development of a road system. This development must not be left to acci¬
dent. First, there must be a clear concept of the complete road system, and
then, each section of main, branch and feeder roads planned to fit into the
system. In order to accomplish these objectives it will be necessary to
have complete understanding of engineering phases of road building and the
help of logging engineers and road engineers. Indeed, it may be necessary
to make some detailed road plans with every standard and specification
worked out to the last yard of dirt. These may be essential to the fulfill¬
ment of the timber management plan, but they are a supplement rather than a
part of the plan. Such detailed engineering plans should be referred to in
the timber management plan or included in the appendix.

Nevertheless, every management plan will contain considerable discussion of
transportation. Emphasis will be on the development of a transportation
system rather than upon details of construction or operation. In most cases
it will be desirable to include a transportation map showing at least the
present and planned main roads. The plan may include a list of the

-4-

principal roads in the system and list the roads to be built in the first
5 or 10 years. For all of these roads it will specify the service standards
covering such items as:

1. Kind of use - single purpose or multiple purpose <

2. Duration of use - permanent, first cut, 5 years, etc.

3. Season of use - yearlong, summer only, etc.

4. Tonnage to be moved by kind (logs, ore, cars, trucks, etc.), size
(length of logs, etc.), rate (length of hauling season, loads per day,
etc.), etc.

From these service standards the logging engineers and the road engineers
will develop the road and bridge construction standards and the specifica¬
tions of the equipment best suited to haul the products of the working cir¬
cle over the roads. Detailed construction standards and equipment
specifications do not belong in the body of the management plan. (Special
construction standards or equipment specifications may belong in the plan
or its appendix if they need some explanation or justification.) These
details belong in transportation plans or in logging plans .

In case anyone sees in the above any hint of discrimination against engi¬
neering plans it can be pointed out that detailed logging plans, planting
plans, fire plans, protection plans, etc., do not belong in a management
plan. All such plans are concerned with the technical details of individual
jobs. They go to work after the timber management plan has set the course
and given the direction. In this concept the management plan is the plan of
plans. It plans the transportation system but it does not build it.

When the timber management planner passes his service standards over to the
logging and road engineers, he can point out that in most cases, where
mining is not a major factor, the big hauling job on the national forests in
terms of gross tonnage is timber. Timber is the dominant heavy 'hauling job
on most single purpose or multiple purpose roads. Therefore, if roads are
constructed to standards that will take care of the timber moving job, they
will adequately handle the loads imposed by other uses. Amount of traffic
may affect alignment and road width, but the road that is designed to carry
the timber loads should be adequate to carry the weight of all other hauling
Mining use may be an exception, of course.

Experience to date proves that over and over again we have set our standards
too low. The dust from one construction job has hardly settled before we
see the need for a better road. The way to avoid this is to get our sights
set high enough in the first place.

There is another subject that deserves mention in this paper. That is the
permanency of roads. It appears that there will be permanent roads, period¬
ically used roads, and temporary roads needed in the long-term development
of working circles. Permanent roads will be Mput on" the transportation
plan and presumably they will be adequately cared for. Roads that are built
for a short period of use and then "put to bed" or abandoned altogether
require careful consideration. Our experience is probably too short to be
a very reliable guide. Perhaps we tend to assume too readily that roads can
be put to bed or abandoned. We talk glibly about multiple use with one
breath and then use the next to say we will close roads to use. If we ever
get a complete picture of a real working working circle, we may see much to
our surprise and amazemeht that practically all the roads that were ever
built are being used day to day, or periodically by short periods or period¬
ically by long periods.

.S'.

It is time that we provided wisely in our management plans for the future
disposition of every last mile of the road system. The time to take the
first step is when the service standards are drawn up for the engineers.

This early decision is necessary in order that permanency of use can be
adequately provided for in locating and constructing the road. Principles,
policies, desirable practices and objectives belong in the management plan;
engineering details do not. We do not want to allow administrative proce¬
dures to become so rigid that they will prevent us from spending maintenance
money on roads after they are put to bed, if that is necessary to preserve
the road. Most of all we need to keep constantly before us a picture of the
varied activities dependent upon the transportation system in a working
working circle.

TOPIC S - TRANSPORTATION PLANNING FOR MANAGEMENT PLANS

Comments by A. P. Dean, Chief, Division of Engineering

February 7, 1949

All-purpose transportation plans are incomplete in many regions,
nartlv due to changing concents in timber management practices
and sometimes to insufficient participation in planning by Timber
Management divisions. V.hile reasonably dependable as a guide
for main- haul roads, some all-purpose plans appear to fall far
short of providing for the expanded system of secondary branch
or lateral roads considered necessary for proper management of
timber crops. Timber management planners should therefore be
sure that all-purpose transportation plans have been kept cur¬
rently revised before depending on them too much. Even then it
will pay to make sure that the plan fits the latest conception
of timber management. The network of main-haul roads and lat-
erals, at least, and spurs that will remain on the system per¬
manently, should be planned and coordinated concurrently with
the development of the operating plan for each working circle.

It would appear essential to develop comprehensive, though not
necessarily final, operating plans in conjunction with every
timber management plan. Only in this way will it be possible
to develop the road plan. To the extent that the operating
plan affects the road system, it should be crystallized and re¬
fined enough to tie down the routine and standard of main-haul
roads and laterals.

Operating and transportation plans should be carried to the
woint where the planner can indicate the permanence season
of use, grade, curvature, rrobable traffic intensity and maxi-
mum bridge loading on roads required by the logging operations.
The timber management planner should not attempt to stipulate
grade, curvature or bridge loadings but he should give the
engineer the type of trucks, GVW ratings, wheel loadings, length
of logs, maximum speed and maximum rate per month of cutting
or the maximum number of truck loads per average day that will
use the road. From this data, the engineer will determine
desirable grade, alignment and roadbed or bridge standards.

I believe every timber management mlan should contain a mao

V W A A-

showing the planned routing and service reouirements or
construction standards of all main-haul ana branch roads plus
any spurs which will be continued in existence after the initial
cut. In rough country, the general pattern of all spurs should
be indicated.

Many of the following planning functions might be performed by

either the timber management planner or an assisting engineer.

No attemnt is being made to indicate who should do what but
* ^

the transportation planning done in conjunction with timber
management planning should include:

39^2

1. Laying down the road system that will allow the most efficient
logging operation aside from the question of existing roads.

2. Laying down the existing system of roads serving the national
forest lands to be logged and connecting that road netwrork with
regularly maintained permanent roads leading to markets, primary
or interstate transportation facilities.

Particular care should be taken to ascertain the olanned rer-

A A

manent location or routing of interstate, state primary and
secondary and dependably maintained primary county roads.

Many of these will be rerouted within the next decade. As a
rule, the relocations are reasonably well fixed. The information
can usuallv be obtained with a little investigation.

3. Adjusting the most desirable road plan from a timber management
standpoint (see l) to roads on the existing system and planned
Federal aid, state or county relocations which are, or will be,
of reasonable adequate standard and denendablv maintained.

The planner should not, of course, be frozen to this adjustment
but thorough consideration, including a careful economic analysis,
will be worthwhile before planning a Forest Service or timber
road destined to reach the same ultimate market or distribution
point as an existing public road or one planned for early
construction, assuming standards of latter will be reasonably
adequate .

There should, of course, be no hesitancy about proposing a new
road if economic or other advantages are positive and obvious.
Realistic maintenance, as well as construction costs, should be
used however in appraising the advantages or comparative benefits
of building special roads.

4. Conceiving all roads at all likely to remain on the forest trans¬
portation system as part of the permanent operating plant] not

as project facilities for the initial sale.

5. Working out the construction standards and average cost of
construction and maintenance for each road on the transportation
plan for the timber management plan under preparation. This is,
of course, elementary since no logical comparison of logging
methods is oossible without transportation costs of which one

*■ A

component will be road cost. Road cost being the cost of the
road or that part chargeable to timber amortized over the amount
to be hauled ulus average annual maintenance oer M ner vear.

•»» * ■* A

At least 80% and preferably all of the construction cost charge¬
able to timber should be amortized over the first rotation cut.
Maintenance estimates should include the amount necessary to
keen the road in existence during periods of nonuse by timber
where other uses of. the road do not require or cannot support
interim maintenance of proper quality to maintain the standard
required for timber use.

-2-

It is desirable to make these estimates a matter of record no
matter how they will be financed so that there may ultimately be
some correlation between timber management plans and projected
estimates of maintenance requirements. There is no correlation
at all at the moment.

Both construction and maintenance costs can be determined with
reasonable accuracy from tables or charts prepared for the purpose
if the tables or charts are carefully compiled. These should
ordinarily be requested by Engineering. In the preparation of
these, the first step should be for the timber management planners
to set ud road classes that encomoass the combinations of service

a *

standards most often encountered in the region, subregion or for¬
est. Service standards are:

6.
7.
3.

/ •

10.

11.

Duration of use, permanent, first cut, 5 year, etc.
Season of use, yearlong, dry season only, etc.
Maximum gross vehicle weight.

Maximum axle loading.

Maximum wheel leading.

Vvidth of bunks.

Length of logs.

One-way or two-way log haul.

One-wav log haul and return for empties only,

a. Controlled or uncontrolled passing.

Cne-waw haul and two -wav general traffic.

*> V w

Average maximum soeed - a. Loaded

b. Empty

c. Other traffic

12. Loads per day, each way

13. Lavs rer

week of lop

tr haul.

Next the engineer should take over in converting the service

standards to construction standards for each class j and sub¬
classes as necessary.

Again the engineer should develop cost estimates for each class
under as many sets of conditions as soil, topography, clean-up,
etc., as mav be necessary to meet average representative conditions.

Then the timber management planner and the engineer should work
together to modify service and construction standards as required
to meet cost criteria. Never tamper v.ith costs or construction
standards without considering the effect on service standards.

The only safe way is to start bv revising service standards and
then follow through by revising construction standards accordingly
before attempting to re-estimate costs.

Tie all cost estimates down by dating prices and preferably
indicating average of net skilled and common labor rates on which
prices used in estimate are based. Equipment rental and materials
prices are reasonably easy to trace if date of estimate is known,
and therefore do not need to be recorded.

3982

Net labor rate is actual cost per productive man-hour $ annual
straight time rate divided by 1,760 hours where leave is allowed.
If custom at time of estimate requires transporting labor on
Government time, that should be accounted for in net rate. If
average cook house loss is 11 . 00 per man-day, that should be
recognized in net rate.

Estimates

serving- as basis for charts, tables and transoortaticn

planning should be based on estimators best judgment of cost at
current prices and rates. Estimate should be built up by expense
comoonents for which orice is known not obtained from adjusted
comoarisons with jobs consisting- of several dissimilar work items.

Adjustment of estimates for future trends or foreseeable changes
in prices or conditions should not be made in base tables. Estimators
should never be uraed or instructed to lower estimates. If the
estimate is higher than can be afforded then it is the administrator's
job to revise the standards and have the job re-estimated or to
arbitrarily reduce percentage wise on the basis of savings the
administrator believes oossible through better management. Estimators
cannot be held responsible for estimated costs arrived at by directed
distorting of pricing. The administrator is sometimes justified
in revising estimates but he, net the estimator, should be held
accountable for his guesses or reductions in quality due to in-
adecuate allotments.

Classifications for estimating purposes should not be too broad.
Cost estimates for grading should for example be related to side
slopes, kind of material and average yards per mile. The road
mile alone; is too broad a base for flat and hill country alike.
Bridge and roadbed costs may vary considerably with GVW, axle
spacing, wheel loads and roadbed materials. These and speeds will
likewise materially affect initial and replacement costs for sur¬
facing and road topping.

Where trends indicate currently excessive road costs may come
down, it may be good business to locate for ultimate construction
on the desirable standard and allow initial construction, properly
engineered, of course, to be done on a lower location standard if
that will reflect a material savin?. For example . initial
construction may be permitted to take the road further up canyons
out on points or up over points than the ultimate location in order
to avoid fills or heavy cuts. In such an event the grade would
be held down so as- to fit the ultimate alignment. Turn-outs may
be substituted for double tracking. O.K. to build a temporarily
substandard road within the limits of a permanent and standard
location but don't plan or build a permanent read on a temporary
location.

Bridges should always be estimated

The expense items included in road
Total cost is usually close to 50%
field or on-site expense.

and considered separately.

costs should be clearly identified,
more than contract prices and

3982

Road cost estimates used in developing timber management plans
should be total costs, whether estimate is for maintenance or
construction. The time to sharpen the pencil and when savings
can be made is in programming, arranging and managing construction,
never in owner estimates.

Road cost estimates used in timber management ' laris should include

w *

total cost of standard required by logging for roads which may-
serve ether purposes but won't bo built for those purposes before
being needed for timber.

Maximum advantage should be taken on the other hand of roads being
built for ether purposes and on which standards can be increased
without much expense to those required for logging.

Don’t overlook surfacing or topping in construction or maintenance
estimates. Some sort of surface treatment involving importation
of material will be required on 9 out of 10 roads to be used by
heaw trucking.

Light ( lk~ to 3- ton) trucks may be harder on roads than much heavier
trucks if loading- on axles or wheels is excessive or trucks travel
at high speed on curves on dry roads during days of low humidity.

Most operator cost reports should be doubled before being used
as estimating snides for Forest Service financed work. Operator

w —

cost is most likely to resemble contractor price less carrying
charges, insurance, etc,, and sometimes equipment depreciation
absorbed in logging costs. Operator often figures on finishing- a
job as part of second year maintenance operations.

Beware of usina. regional averages when it comes time to estimate
the cost of particular job. In most regions these can be off 50%
or 60$ or even 100$ for a particular job and accurate within 5%
or 10$ for the average job in the region.

The Engineering News construction cost index is the best guide in
revising carefully made cost estimates of known date if no regional
price index is available.

A few well-signed sample road sections are helpful in assisting
both engineers and timber management planners to visualize location
and construction standards. About 3 miles or more should be marked

at each beginning and end of curve and break in grade with signs
facing each direction and giving in easily readable figures grade,
radius of curve, length of curve, width of road. Available in¬
formation on side slope, yards per mile, cost of construction, rate
of loss of road metal or surfacing, cost of replacement and cost
of maintenance helps still mere.

The best feel of these sample road sections is obtained by riding
over the road in the type of truck for which designed (loaded with
lo<^s) or drivinr a long-body, well-loaded stake side ever the
road .

-5

■ " . .*• •• •

March 17, 1949

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING*

. dnd

TIMBER MANAGEMENT PLANNING
C. Otto Lindh - R-3

A. Recommended Terminology

1. Timber Harvesting Roads

The terms ’’access’’ and ’’utilization" roads are not
wholly appropriate. It is recommended that those roads within
or to serve commercial forest lands and being used or to be used
primarily for transporting timber products be called "timber
harvesting roads” when it is necessary tc use a "name”.

2. Timber Harvesting Road Classes

(a) Main timber harvesting roads are the permanent
medium or high standard trunk roads that connect the larger blocks
of timber in a working circle with the manufacturing plants, log
dumps and/or public highways or railroads.

(b) Branch timber harvesting roads are the permanent
low or medium standard secondary roads that connect the medium-
size blocks of timber in a working circle with the main roads
(or highways or railroads).

(c) Spur, timber harvesting roads are the temporary low
standard roads, used for a few days each harvest or intermediate
cut, that connect the smallest blocks, compartments or logging
units of timber with the permanent, main or branch timber harvest¬
ing roads.

B. Transportation Plans for Working Circles

An up-to-date and currently maintained transportation plan should
be available for each working circle. It should be the product
of the joint planning efforts of a timber management planner and
an engineer. Without going into details it should consist of:

1. A large scale map showing the location of existing and
the general location of all proposed highways, railroads, and
main or branch timber harvesting roads that serve or will be
needed to serve the harvesting of products from the working
circle. Each class of transportation artery to be shown on the
map by distinctive colors or symbols. In addition, the service
standard of permanent timber harvesting roads (such as one or
two-lane main) will be distinctively shown on the map. Temporary
spur roads will not be shown on the map. Any field work, such as
the location of control points or feasible routes for proposed
roads, will have to be done in advance of preparing the map and
plan.

^Supplement to Topic 8, Transportation Planning for Management Pla

3968

2. A tabulation which will show for each main or branch
timber harvesting road such appropriate information as - construc¬
tion cost (in whole or by sections), class, design, specifications,
year proposed roads needed, period and duration of use each year and
cutting cycle, volume and type of business and maintenance program
and cost#

Basic to the preparation of the map and tabulation such information
as location of manufacturing plants or log dumps, timber data,
timber management objectives, other uses than timber harvesting,
transportation costs by the different class and design of roads
and trucks, and costs for road construction and maintenance will be
needed in order to develop the best possible plan. Items such as
who will locate, prepare detailed designs, who will construct or
maintain, who will supervise construction, etc. are or should be
established on a Regional basis and need not be repeated in each
plan.

Each transportation plan for a working circle must be currently
maintained; as a minimum it should be thoroughly revised periodi¬
cally each time the timber management plan is revised,

C. Transportation Data to Include in Timber Management Plans

1. If an up-to-date transportation plan is available for the
working circle.

In this case a brief reference will be made in the timber manage¬
ment plan to the transportation plan. No other action is necessary
or desirable.

\ [

2. If there is no up-to-date transportation plan for the work¬
ing circle (none in Region 3).

In this case the timber management plan should provide for the
following pending the completion of a separate acceptable trans¬
portation plan:

(a) A map showing the existing and proposed transporta-
arteries including main and branch timber harvesting roads by
appropriate colors symbols,

(b) A concise tabulation for proposed main or branch
timber harvesting roads (construction or betterment) about as
follows :

Map No.j Class : Type • of Work in Miles : 'Estimated Cost for Work • ; Year

: Const • jBett , j Surfacing jCons'i; . :3ett . : Surfacing.:TotaI ; Needed

No additional data are needed in the timber management plan;
at least in Region 3 where we have established Regional standards
for permanent timber harvesting road classes, design, location,
construction and maintenance and for the location, construction
and "putting-to-bed" of spur roads.

Forest Service

4106

SUPERVISION -

Meetings .■ March 30, 1949

TOPIC 9 - APPLYING SILVICULTURE TO MANAGEMENT PLANNING

L„ I* Barrett, Chief,

Division of Forest Management Research

In discussing this topic, I think that considerable misunderstanding and
confusion can be eliminated if first we clarify the meanings of a few terms
which are important in the language of management planning. These terms
are silviculture 9 regulation, and management „ The interchangeable use of
silviculture and management or management and regulation creates about the
same mutual understanding as does use of the term "selective cutting." I
continually find myself engaged in lively arguments on one or the ether of
these only to find out eventually that the parties involved are heatedly
discussing two separate subjects together » So without too much reference
to existing terminologies, let me offer three definitionsc

Silviculture is the process of natural regeneration by harvest cutting
plus those cultural practices required to maintain the health, vigor, and
quality of growing stands and to anticipate or salvage the mortality which
accompanies growth or action of destructive agencies®

For our purposes silviculture can be described in terms of the two broad
basic systems; even- aged and all- age d3 In practical application each of
these is attained by one or more methods <■ For example, even-aged silvi¬
culture can be practiced by the seed tree, shelterwood, and clear cut block
or strip methods ; all— aged silviculture by the individual tree selection or
small group selection methods.

Regulation is the scheduling of the rate and volume of harvest and inter¬
mediate cuttings so that the highest sustained production possible is
attained from a working circle in the shortest practicable time.

Management, is the integration of silviculture and regulation plus those
economic considerations pertinent to a specific area that will assure
attainment and perpetuity of the maximum sustained yield* Where commodi¬
ties other than timber are to be produced, then additional specialties are
encompassed under management and must be integrated with timber growing,.
The editorial1, in the March issue of the JOURNAL makes a good case for a
concept of forest management analogous to the relatively new science of
farm management.

ill,

Obviously silviculture is based on natural biological laws. The basic
silvicultural system and method of practicing it must conform to the natural
requirements of a given species or type. Failure to make a wise choice here
will eventually result in failure to reach the objective of maximum possible
sustained yieldo

(Over)

4106

The eases of regulation on the other hand are mathematics and judgment.

Here miscalculation or lack of sound judgment may have equally serious
re suit s t With both of these fields having an important bearing on attain¬
ment of management objectives , it is perhaps unfortunate that our profes¬
sional training approaches silviculture and regulation as separate special-*
ties without too much attempt to bring them together,, Some of our most
difficult problems in management planning seem to arise from the need to
give proper weight to each phase and thus effect a workable series of
steps for management.

Effective practice of silviculture on the ground, as the procedure under
which allowable cuts are taken, requires certain key decisions prior to
field surveys and final calculations. These decisions are about as follows:

1« Determination of forest types and the age, site, or condition classes
within each type which are to be mapped or sampled for volume and growth.

The degree of refinement is dictated by the needs of regulation and differ¬
ing silvicultural treatment. Beyond this the presence or anticipation of
markets will have an influence on the stand classes to be recognized.

Insofar as possible, the classification should be broadened beyond age
class or stand size class to include concepts of silvicultural condition.
Adequate condition classes based on silvicultural condition or needs are
one of the best tools in getting good silviculture aoplied,, Later on in
the planning procedure, regulation calculations will tell how much can be
cut but the mapping of these condition classes will tell us where it should
be cut and the relative priorities of cutting. The more adequately condi¬
tion classes can be conceived and mapped the more nearly will the cutting
budget serve silvicultural as well as regulation needs0

2, Concurrently with this first step should go determination of the basic
silvicullnral system » ice*, even-aged or all-aged and the method of prac¬
ticing it that will best meet the silvical requirements of the types or
species to be managed^ Economic considerations, logging methods, topog-
raphy, ana transportation systems will have a strong influence on the
choice of method as well as the requirements of the specie s«

3* With these two steps completed as background, cutting or marking rules
should be developed for the important type and condition class units with
due regard for the shortest practicable cutting cycle 0 Such units should
include those where products would conceivably be removed before the next
plan revision, The rules should be based on the silvicultural needs of
the units. Gut and leave tallies based on these rules should be a part
of the field inventory. Sampling of this kind extended to both those stand
units and tree sizes where regulation is contemplated and where products
may be sold without regulation will determine the volumes that would be cut
and left under desirable silvicultural practice. It may be necessary to
modify the cutting rules later if the volume removed under them does not
conform to the allowable cuts0 Here is where the often necessary compro¬
mises between silviculture and regulation can best be made. The cut and
leave tallies provide a reasonable amount of knowledge as to just what the
compromise involves and how it can best be made.

-2-

4106

4. Separate the products which could be removed under the siivi culture
contemplated into two caoegories: (a) those which experience, existing
industries, and any reasonably well assured future developments show to
have a steady, reliable market, and (b) those for which there is minor
demand or which may enjoy a larger but sporadic demands Also included
in (b) should be those products for which a market may be anticipated
within the near future » Products included in (b) will usually be of
small size or low grade. For example, there are some areas with rela¬
tively assured markets for sawlogs, veneer logs, and stave bolts but
with sporadic demand for pulp wood, mine props, or ties. The idea here
is to plan on regulating the cut of those stands or tree sizes which
produce the products finding ready sale; in addition, to have available
the location of stands and the volume of these small products which
could be cut under good silviculture when opportunity for sale arrives.

This volume also indicates the markets which are needed and the promotion
program required to get such material into use. The Ouachita National
Forest is a good example of how fast markets for new products can develop
and aid in improved silviculture. We need to be prepared for these markets
and to hasten their development by being armed with the facts as to oppor¬
tunities.

The discussion of the steps that will help in getting an integration of
silviculture and regulation has been pointed at relatively intensive man¬
agement, Where present conditions require extensive management, the dif¬
ference in standards should be one of degree and not kind* That is, the
attempt should be to attain the same balance of both silvicultural and
regulation considerations rather than to sacrifice one.

Decisions and steps considered thus far for getting silviculture applied
have been limited to what can be done by means of commercial sale. But
there are other silvicultural needs which do not seem to fit quite as well
into management planning. Noncommercial silvicultural measures such as
weeding and pruning can be accomplished now mainly by K-V funds. This
necessarily limits these treatments to areas previously cut* Where a plan'
has been in operation for some time ana a backlog of K-V deposits built up,
revisions of the plan offer an opportunity to review the needs on past cut¬
ting areas and to organize cultural measures on a planwise basis « Probably
supplements to the management plan made at short intervals would be a more
practical means of planning these operations ,

Sizable areas exist which would benefit from these same cultural measures
but cannot be touched with K-V funds. Other funds are usually inadequate
to handle these situations and the apparent impossibility of doing any¬
thing about them may keep us from recognizing needs except when relief
programs provide labor® Management plans could be made a device for
estimating these needs but whether they or some other means offer the
best promise of estimating the size of this job as a basis for seeking
additional funds is a moot question.

-3'

* • .

NORTHEASTERN FOREST EXPERIMENT STATION
Upper Darby, Pa*

R-NE

SUPERVISION

Meetings March 23, 1949

Management Plan Conference
March 28-April 8, 1949

Topic 9,-- Applying Silviculture to Management Planning

Crop security; An essential element in timber

mariagement planning

It is fair to assume that the government will be growing timber on
our national forests a thousand years hence. Our thinking and planning,
therefore, should be not in terms of decades but centuries. Long range
interests and problems should set the pattern of our planning. Forest
management planning has dealt principally with problems of achieving
regular sustained supplies of raw materials for local and national use.
But the management policy should not ignore other beneficial influences
these forests exert. National forests are often highly prized for
recreation, for their protection value to sources of water, and their
beneficial effects on stream flow and erosion. These factors contribute
much to the health and well-being of the public and should receive due
consideration in the shaping of management objectives.

This brings us face to face with the question of how best to pro¬
mote and maintain conditions favorable to such uses individually or
in the aggregate with a minimum of detriment to the forest. These con-
ditions can be achieved only by cutting the forests in accordance with
sound silvicultural principles. Too often forestry is treated simply
as an engineering problem. Under such a regime, cutting operations
leave large areas exposed to wind and water erosion. Soil porosity is
decreased and recreational values seriously impaired; the very elements
that give forests their value are destroyed.

Topic 9

Under mismanagement stand composition and quality deteriorate and
forests become easy prey to a host of enemies. For example, clear
cutting in spruce-fir forests in the past undoubtedly has greatly in¬
creased their susceptibility to budworm attack* Such cutting has
fostered abundant regeneration of balsam fir, the favored host of the
spruce budworm. Witness also the rapid spread of birch "dieback" and
beech scale with its accompanying nectria in our northeastern hardwood
forests. The serious inroads of these two pests stem back to the
policy of consistently ’’creaming" the forests of their best trees leaving
extensive areas dominated by cull and weakened trees— conditions ideal
for the outbreak of native and introduced forest pests.

How can this tide of destructive agencies that threaten to curtail
and impair the usefulness of the forests be held in abeyance? The
answer lies in the application of sound silviculture. Through rational
silviculture not only can the composition and thrift of the forest be
improved but the very soil upon which the forest is so dependent can be
maintained at a high level of fertility. Healthful fast-growing forests

are the surest defense against external dangers.

Silviculturists believe that the attainment of productive resistant
forests can be greatly facilitated by striving for stand compositions
natural to the sites in question. They reason that the stable tree
associations characteristic of climax types culminating through the
play of natural forces are best adjusted to meet the impact of antagon¬
istic factors. Such forests are inherently healthy and under good
management are easily maintained in a high state of vigor, thus in¬
creasing their capacity to resist damage from insects and disease.

Topic 9

Flagrant disregard of this principle inevitably leads to serious trouble.

We need point only to the deleterious effects on both the soil and the

forest in growing repeated crops of pure spruce in parts of Germany.

In this country the damage pure white pine stands sustain from the
white pine weevil and the troublesome tympanis canker in pure red pine
stands are classic examples of the violation of natural forest laws.

In the climax associations, on the other hand, where these species
normally occur in mixture with hardwoods and other associates, damage
from forest pests is greatly reduced.

What does all this add up to? Does it mean that we should go all
out for reestablishment of climax associations? Silviculturally such
a goal may be desirable and under favorable circumstances readily attain¬
able. Intervening factors, however, have operated to make immediate
attainment of this goal over large areas impractical. Over extensive
forest areas in the Northeast the conditions which produced the climax
associations have changed radically. Fire, repeated clear cutting and
cultivation have altered soil conditions to the extent that early estab¬
lishment of species natural to the site may be difficult. Further, the
impact of introduced foreign pests may necessitate striving for com¬
positions differing from those that characterize the original site.

But despite the obstacles encountered, compositions characteristic of
climax associations should be used as guides for setting up silvicultural
objectives. Such a guide is a sound approach for it recognizes the
natural potentialities and tendencies of the site in question. Such
silviculture produces healthy vigorous stands, the surest defense

against forest pests.

Topic 9.

- 4 -

These goals do not rule out legitimate attempts based on sound
forestry to strive for subclimax species having higher market values
than the original mixtures. Maintenance of such subclimax types as
eastern white pine, some of the southern pines, Douglas fir, etc. are
fully justified. The fact that species of the climax associations
such as hardwoods in the case of pines succeed in establishing them¬
selves in mixture should not be regarded as a silvicultural defeato
Conscious effort toward attainment of such mixtures is patent evidence
of silvicultural skill and foresight. The skilled forester seeks every
legitimate opportunity to work with nature rather than against her. He
recognizes the limitations site conditions impose on his silviculture
and adjusts his management practices accordingly.

Questionable silvicultural practices are frequently the result of
economic pressure. Oftentimes choice of species and cutting methods
are based not on site type tendencies but almost wholly on present and
anticipated market demands. Such a policy in the long run is both
economically and silviculturally unsound. To force a stand into a
composition unsuited to the site is a costly undertaking, further,
such stands are likely to be highly vulnerable to insects, disease
and other damaging agencies. Rather than try to forcibly adapt the
forest to the industry the long range objective should be the develop¬
ment of industries whose raw material requirements call for the species
which make up the natural composition of the forest upon which they
depend.

True, accessibility, market demands and the needs of dependent
industries should receive due consideration in the formulation of
silvicultural policies. hurt when such policies threaten to undermine

Topic 9,

the goal of crop security they should be altered to assure attainment
of this important objective. Crop security, however, is only too often
complicated by inaccessibility of stands. To implement good silvicul¬
ture we need permanent road systems. These make possible the frequent
cuttings so essential to maintenance of stand thrift and the prompt
development of pest resistant mixtures. High order forestry through the
climax approach remains the key to crop security. But unless good sil¬
viculture is backed by proper forest planning attainment of this goal
will be fraught with many difficulties.

M. West veld

€

March 25, 1949

Topic 10 - Intensifying Management Practices

Ii. E. Ochsner

Division of Timber Management

r.'.o.

Let us first examine what we mean by the phrase "intensifying
management practices". To me it means measures that will increase
the quantity and quality of timber production; it means applying
silvicultural practices that will develop the productive capacity
of the land; it means protection from destructive agencies such
as insects, disease, rodents, ruminants, and fire; it means develop¬
ing the needed transportation systems and markets; it means carry¬
ing out cuttings so as to provide a sustained flow of timber for the
support of communities and industries. In general such cutting,
stand improvement and protection measures as will build the stands
up to their maximum productivity in the shortest time possible con¬
sistent with the value of the timber production and bring about a
proper distribution of age classes is what we are talking about.

Only measures that can be carried out under existing conditions
have a practical value to the forest manager. The cost should be
justified by the future return.

Reappraisal estimates show an area of 73g- million acres of commercial
forest land in the national forests, exclusive of Alaska. 40 million
acres, or 54%, is classed as sawtimber; 16 million acres, or 22%, as
pole timber; 13 million acres, or 17%, as seedling and sapling; and
5 million acres, or 7%, as poorly stocked seedling and sapling and
denuded. This is a rough classification of what we have to work
with. The estimated total stand of sawtimber is 518 billion board
feet or an average of approximately 7 M bd. ft, per acre. Since
1905 we have cut under commercial sales and exchanges about 81 billion
board ' feet. This means that we have probably cut over between
10 and 15 million acres. We have 1^- million acres of successful
plantations. Exclusive of the area planted, most of the commercial
forest land which this discussion is confined to, can be classed
as wild forest, forests that have been established and developed
naturally with little shaping by man. Some of the forests in the
Lest have a preponderance of old growth stands and consequently
carry a greater total volume than the optimum growing stock would
be. Others, primarily in the East, are deficient in growing stock.
Deficiencies in younger age classes, particularly in the medium age
classes, the larger immature timber prevail in the West, There is
a deficiency of older age classes, sawtimber size stands, in most
of the eastern forests. Over-stocked immature stands in need of
improvement cutting are increasing at a rapid rate in the east and
in places in the west. There are unstocked and poorly stocked areas.
Permanent transportation systems required for management are un¬
developed or only partially developed in many areas. Markets are
lacking for much of the material that should be removed to improve

€

■ ■ i

3969

productivity. Site, accessibility, ease of logging, and availa¬
bility of markets vary greatly and determine the intensity of
management that is feasible.

How then oan the productivity of our forests be increased?

Obviously, one of the first requirements to permit the marketing
of trees that should be cut is an adequate road system, A primary
objective of management, to be provided for in management plans,
should therefore be the development of a permanent transportation
system. The stumpage in the first cut in old growth stands has
provided a means for the initial development of permanent trans¬
portation systems for many of our undeveloped areas. This requires
careful planning in sales preparation. Where the stumpage in the
initial cut will not carry the cost of development of the basic
transportation system, road funds will be required.

Markets for the major portion of the timber available and in need
of cutting are essential. If they are not presently available
then the question arises, can they be developed. Before intensive
effort is launched to develop a market we need to know what we
have, and to obtain and analyze the best information available as
to economic feasibility.

Commercial cutting operations provide the most important means for
accomplishing the objectives of management. The silvicultural
system to be followed in each type, whether even-aged management,
or uneven-aged management must first be decided upon,

Yihere the selection or uneven-aged method of silviculture is to
be followed we recognize the desirability of harvesting the mature
and over-mature timber. This requires getting over those stands
that have mature and over-mature trees in them as rapidly as possible
in order to salvage these trees before they die. By making a light
cut we can get over the area more quickly than if a heavier cut were
made. An early return is then possible. As far as possible it is
desirable to direct these cutting operations into the stands con¬
taining the most over-mature timber first. In ponderosa pine,
insect susceptibility surveys have served to direct cutting into
areas wiiere greatest losses may be expected. In the northeast
surveys of budworm susceptible balsam - fir stands have been made
and a program of cutting is under way in these stands. The harvest
of mature and over-mature timber constitutes but one phase of the
operation. The reproduction of non-stocked openings and the
openings created by cutting is another phase we are concerned with
if we are to improve the productivity. We should also consider
the time element, the time we can expect it to take to get natural
regeneration. It may be desirable in some places to plan to plant
if natural regeneration is uncertain or the average period of
regeneration is so long that it would be profitable to plant. If
natural reproduction is to be relied on, it is frequently necessary
to insure that proper seed bed conditions are present. Such
measures as prescribed burning, or mechanical scarification have
been found necessary under certain conditions to insure good re¬
production within a reasonable time. Spacing of the reserve stand

5969

to provide adequate growing space should be considered in such
cuttings* Commercial thinnings in the below-sawlog-sized material
should be made wherever possible. Other measures that should be
weighed from an economic standpoint are the removal of cull trees,
the liberation of desirable young growth from over-topping weed
species, non-commercial thinning, weeding, brush-replacement and
pruning. Ihen timber is damaged or killed by fire, insects, disease,
wind or other cause, it should be salvaged wherever possible and
provision made for artificial regeneration if necessary.

One phase of management that we know very little about as yet is
the growing stock required to produce maximum growth. In order
that wre may properly plan our management we need to know what grow¬
ing stock we should strive for.

Where even-aged management is to be applied, the size and location
of the cutting areas becomes one of the most important considera¬
tions from the standpoint of silviculture as well as regulation.

Large cutting areas are usually undesirable. The complete cutting
series in a unit of area in which reproduction or harvest cutting
is to be conducted should be laid out in advance. In order to
maintain the productivity of an area it must be reproduced with a
stocking and species composition at least as good as that existing
at the time of harvest of the mature crop.

As previously mentioned, the area of young stands that would benefit
from thinnings and other commercial and noncommercial improvement
operations is increasing at a rapid rate. These young growing stands
provide probably the best opportunities for increasing the future
production in quality and quantity from the national forests. In
order to accomplish the job wherever practicable, .wTe must know where
these stands are and have a sufficient knowledge of the volume that
can be removed to proceed with marketing. These intermediate cut¬
tings should be planned for and scheduled in the same manner as
harvest cuts.

The foregoing brief discussion of some of the more important
measures that must be taken if we are to increase the productivity
of the national forests are undoubtedly rather elementary but none
the less basic. All of them are measures being applied now some
place on national forest lands. It is frequently not practicable
to carry out needed and justifiable practices, he do not have
many of the answers as to how to attain desired results. For
example, we don’t know how to get satisfactory sugar pine repro¬
duction in some places. In other cases we know what to do but
have not found or been able to obtain the means.

There are two phases to the job of intensifying management. The
first is to insure that proper silvicultural measures are taken
on the areas on which commercial cuttings are made. This requires
adequate sale preparation. Satisfactory regeneration within a
reasonable time must be assured. What if the expected natural
regeneration fails? Provision should be made to obtain regenera¬
tion by artificial means in that event. We must also provide for

3969

such care of the regeneration as is needed up to the time another
commercial cut can be made. On selectively managed areas needed
thinning, seeding and liberation cutting should be accomplished
through sales or as an after-sale treatment with K-V funds. Follow¬
up within some predetermined period after cutting has been completed
should be provided for. It was the purpose of cut-over surveys to
provide that follow-up. If satisfactory reproduction was found to
be lacking, facilities were usually not available to do anything
about it. Follow-up examinations must be designed to provide the
needed information without being unduly costly and burdensome.

The second phase of the job Is to secure coverage of all the areas
needing treatment during a period of time determined upon in
accordance with regulatory requirements. Management plans are
required to provide for such planned coverage. If our cutting
practice is based on a twenty-year cutting cycle or the period
between successive intermediate cuts is 20 years, getting over 1%
each, year of the total area in need of treatment obviously is not
accomplishing the job. We would then be doing only 1/5 of what
we should be doing. These of course are objectives to be striven
for.

In order to intensify management practices on the national forests
permanent transportation systems and markets need to be developed
where these are lacking. Salvage or mortality anticipation cuttings
in mature and overmature stands should be increased. Yvre must insure
regeneration within a reasonable time following harvest cuttings.
Improvements cuttings and reforestation of nonstocked and poorly
stocked areas should be increased. Losses from insects, diseases,
rodents and ruminants must be held within tolerable limits.

Intensive management requires working with the individual stand.

It requires that proper cutting and stand improvement measures
be applied to each stand at the right time. To accomplish this
we need management plans.

March 16, 1949

USE OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS IN MANAGEMENT PLANNING
By: Albert W, Sump, Region 9

The use of aerial photographs by foresters has increased rapidly during the
last ten years. All regions are using aerial photographs in varying degrees
of intensity and are searching for new methods and techniques to further ex¬
pand their use. The purpose of this paper is to point out the value of aerial
photographs as a management tool and to present facts on their use in manage¬
ment planning.

Specifications for Photography

Most of the existing photography available for use by foresters is panchroma¬
tic taken at a scale of 1:20000 with an 8-4-- inch focal length lens. This type
of photography is a compromise between the needs of the engineer and forester.
Besides, a great deal of existing photography on the national forests, especi¬
ally in the eastern regions, is over 10 years old and consequently of doubt¬
ful value for forestry purposes. Therefore, in order to secure the benefits
that aerial photography can provide, new photography to forestry specifications
is in order.

The kind of photography to specify depends on how it will be used. If it is
to be used primarily for planimetric and topographic mapping, panchromatic
photography at a scale ranging from 1:20000 up to 1:40000 may best serve the
purpose. However, if the photography is to be used primarily for forestry pur¬
poses, and especially for cover mapping, it must show tonal contrasts between
different cover types and be at a scale commonly used by foresters. In pre¬
paring specifications for new photography, the type of film and filter, season
of photography and time of day, scale and focal length of lens, overlap, and
kind of photographic paper are all very important and should be clearly speci¬
fied-in each contract.

In the Lake States Region, we have found that panchromatic film does not pro¬
duce photographs with sufficient tonal contrast between forest cover types to
allow us to do an accurate job of cover mapping with a minimum of field check¬
ing. This same situation exists elsewhere in the country where hardwoods and
conifers occur in mixture or as intermingling pure types. I suspect that even
in coniferous forests panchromatic film does not provide sufficient tonal con¬
trast to identify various cover types. Region 9 has, therefore, selected infra¬
red film modified by use of a minus blue filter on the camera. This combina¬
tion produces sufficient tonal contrast between forest cover types for accur¬
ate cover mapping and retains to a large extent the definition of detail se¬
cured with panchromatic film.

The foresters’ primary purpose in using photography is to prepare a good forest
cover map at low cost. Consequently, in order to obtain maximum tonal contrasts
between different cover types, especially when hardwoods are involved, photo¬
graphy must be secured while the trees are in full foliage. This requirement
regulates the season of photography. Time of day is also important, as early
morning and late afternoon photography produces excessive shadows on contact
prints and makes interpretation difficult. To avoid excessive shadow, flying
time each photographic day should be restricted to the hours between 9 A,M.
and 3 P.M.

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The scale of photography recommended for forestry use is 4 inches to th<£ mile
or 1:15840* This scale has been widely used by foresters in cover mapping and
is large enough to enable interpreters to delineate areas to a size of 2^ acres.
Some regions may desire larger scale photography for particular areas or for a
specific purpose, but generally 1:15840 photography is satisfactory. An S^-inch
focal length lens has been generally used up to the present time, but there is
some advantage in changing to a 6-inch focal length wide angle lens in relative¬
ly flat country* Photographs taken with a 6-inch focal length lens would pro¬
vide a stereoscopic image of the area with the vertical dimension of the image
more exaggerated than if taken with a lens of longer focal length* In flat
country this permits more accurate measurements of tree heights and emphasizes
elevation, which is considered in site determination as well as actual cover
mapping* In mountainous country the 8^-inch focal length lens or even a longer
focal length appears desirable as a means of reducing topographic displacement.

The selection of photographic paper and the kind of prints desired depends on
how the contact prints are to be used* Glossy prints are much sharper in de¬
tail than semi-matte prints but are difficult to write on with a colored pencil.
They are, however, preferred for office work. Semi-matte, double weight prints
are softer in detail and are better adapted for field mapping* They are easy
to write on and are much more durable than glossy prints*

Ground Control

Ground control is needed if accurate planimetric maps are to be prepared. The
amount and kind of ground control depends on the topography of the country, the
quality of the photographic job, and the standard to which the map is to be
constructed. In the Lake States where topography is relatively flat, the amount
of ground control can be reduced to a minimum. If G.L.O. resurveys are avail¬
able and the location of corners and land lines can be identified on the photo¬
graphs, the necessity of measuring control on the ground is eliminated, I will
not attempt to cover the subject of ground control for planimetric mapping to
recognized survey standards* This is a technical engineering job.

Cover Mapping

Developments in aerial photography and techniques for their interpretation now
make it possible to prepare an intensive cover map at a very reasonable cost
in a short time. Most forest managers agree that an accurate cover map is ex¬
tremely valuable in management planning, especially in laying out the order of
cutting and maintaining records of past cutting. I an sure that all regions
have prepared or are in the process of preparing cover maps for management
planning. In this respect, I will outline the procedure being used in Region 9.

In 1947, Region 9 initiated an intensive management plan survey program de¬
signed to cover the entire region within a 10-year period. New modified infra¬
red photography was selected for reasons previously outlined. Forest cover
maps showing timber types, size classes and stand density are being prepared
and then each timber type and condition class is sampled for volume and growth.

Prior to the start of a survey of this kind, a system of classifying the vari¬
ous-timber stands must be established. This classification system must be so
designed that each timber type and condition class to be recognized can be
identified on the aerial photographs* For example, it is difficult to dis¬
tinguish between aspen and paper birch, spruce and balsam fir and the various

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species of northern hardwoods. Consequently, the aspen- pa per birch type,
the spruce-fir type and the northern hardwood type were established to permit
the forest mapper to recognize these associations of species when viewed on
the photograph.

The classification system adopted by Region 9 for use in the Lake States is
similar to that used by the Lake States Forest Experiment Station in their
forest survey. The classification recognizes thirteen commercial forest types,
as well as thirteen cover types which are at present non-commercial from a
forestry standpoint. Each commercial timber type is further stratified into
four size classes (restocking, poles, small sawtimber and large sawtimber) and
into three density classes (good, medium and poor).

Before the actual use of aerial photographs in forest cover mapping, certain
preliminary office work is necessary to prepare the photographs for field map¬
ping, The first job upon receipt of the photographs is to trim them and locate
the principal and conjugate points on each contact print. The principal and
conjugate points must be located accurately with a stereoscope. These points
are used by the photo interpreter in orienting his pictures and in measuring
tree heights by the Parallax wedge method, and are also important in the con¬
struction of the final maps. In order to insure full coverage of the area to
be mapped, the mapping area is also outlined on every other print in each
flight strip. There is usually sufficient overlap to permit mapping on every
other photograph.

After the photographs have been prepared for field mapping, and photo interpre¬
ters have been trained, actual cover mapping may commence. Each photo inter¬
preter is required to delineate on the mapping photograph cover types, size
classes and stand densities to the standards set forth for the survey. Con¬
trasting conditions are usually mapped to a 2% acre minimum and non-contrast¬
ing conditions to a 5-acre minimum. This detail in mapping is partially offset
by a reduction in 'the number of sample plots needed to provide a pre-determined
standard of accuracy. The closer the stratification the less variance within
a condition class.

In the actual interpretation and mapping, each photo interpreter must use all
of the photo interpretation aids and techniques as well as have a good under¬
standing of cover type composition and how the various types occur on the
ground in relation to each other. An intimate knowledge of the area being
mapped is very helpful to the interpreter and enables him to distinguish cover
types more accurately. Such photo interpretation aids as stereograms of the
various cover types and condition classes, crown density scales and old maps
of the area are all very helpful. However, as the interpreter becomes experi¬
enced he can more readily distinguish the identifying characteristics of each
cover type and condition class and refers to the sample guides only occasional¬
ly, Interpretation devices such as the crown wedge for measuring crown widths,
the Rirallax wedge for measuring tree heights and various scales ore all used
in the actual interpretation job.

The classification of forest cover types from aerial photographs depends to a
large extent on tone and texture, shape of the crowns, topographic location
of the cover type and the interpreter’s knowledge of the area being examined,
VTiile an attempt is made to secure photography with a minimum of variance in
tone and texture between prints, photographic features do vary some for a given

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cover type because of the influence of such factors as season of year, time
of day, photographic development and stand density. Each interpreter must be
able to recognize the influence of these factors and take them into account
in his interpretation.

The determination of tree heights is important in the classification of stands
into size classes. The Parallax wedge and shadow methods for height determina¬
tion are most commonly used, although some interpreters are able to estimate
heights of trees or stands by stereoscopic comparison with trees or stands of
known heights. The comparison method requires field checks of heights prior
to photo interpretation and the ability of the interpreter to classify within
his mind certain depth perceptions viewed under the stereoscope. It is sur¬
prising how accurately stand size classes can be classified by the comparison
method, after the interpreter becomes fully trained and experienced. In Region
9, both the Parallax wedge and comparison method are used. Each interpreter
checks his depth perception with the Parallax wedge occasionally in somewhat
the same manner as a timber cruiser checks his estimated merchantable height
of trees with an Abney level or Biltmore stick.

Assuming that tree heights can be accurately measured on the photograph, the
relationship between height and diameter of trees is a good indication of size
class. When density of the stand and crown diameters are also taken into con¬
sideration, a more accurate estimate of stand size class can be made. Trees
growing in dense to fairly dense stands are usually taller for a given diameter
than trees in open grown stands. A table showing height range in feet by stand
density for each major cover type and size class is a good guide for the inter¬
preter. Of course, site must a.lso be considered by the interpreter in size
class determination. Trees found growing on poor sites will fall below an
average height range and trees growing on good sites will fall above the aver¬
age. The interpreter must, therefore, use considerable judgment in using
average height ranges and must weigh all of the stand size class factors such
as height, density, crown diameter and site in making stand size class deter¬
mination. Our experience to date has shown that stand size class can be deter¬
mined from the photographs in better than 95 per cent of the cases.

Stand density classification is perhaps the easiest part of the interpretation
job. Stand density can be determined on the photograph by counting the number
of visible trees by size class within a given area and then by use of a guide
table of size classes determine within which degree of density the number
counted falls. This method is not recommended, as it is difficult to secure
an accurate count of the number of trees. The method used by Region 9 and by
most photo interpreters to determine stand density is the degree of crown clo¬
sure. Crown closure charts at photographic scale are valuable aids for den¬
sity classification.

In addition to forest cover types and condition classes, the final map must
contain all cultural and drainage features such as roads, trails, buildings,
power lines, streams, marshes, lakes, etc. These are for the most part easily
identified on the photograph. However, any cultural or drainage feature that
cannot be easily identified with the naked eye should be emphasized by inking,
since they are not easily seen on the photograph through map plotting machines.

After forest cover, cultural and drainage features have been properly classi¬
fied in the office by the photo interpreter, the mapped photographs should be
taken to the field for field checking. Field checking, to be of most value to
the interpreter, should be done currently as the mapping job progresses and by

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each photo interpreter# This checking enables the interpreter to correct any
mistakes that occur in interpretation and in so doing trains the interpreter
in recognizing timber types and condition classes that are difficult to inter¬
pret# We have found by experience that about 30 per cent of each interpreter’s
time should be spent in the field checking his mapped photographs and locating
ground control such as section corners. This not only insures accurate work
but also enables each interpreter to produce more work while in the office#

The final map preparation in section, township, or any other unit, is an en¬
gineering job# The photograph cannot be considered a map as scale may vary
within the photograph because of topography and between photographs because of
height in flying. When accurate planimetric maps are not available on which to
superimpose the cover type data, the radial line projection method of map con¬
struction must be resorted to# Of course, if only a small area is being mapped,
such as a section, and land lines can be located on the photograph, the radial
line method need not be used. However, in most large areas even though recent
General Land Office resurveys are available, the land lines and corners are
not readily identifiable on the photographs and in order to tie the detail of
the map together, the radial line method must be employed. Both of the above
methods of map construction are being used in Region 9 in preparing township
maps for management purposes* The scale of the finished map is 2 inches to
the mile and it is printed in three colors - brown for cover type lines, blue
for drainage features, and black for cultural features#

The above discussion outlines the procedure followed in Region 9 in preparing
a forest cover map# The same procedure cannot be used with out-of-date photo¬
graphs or with photographs that do not show tonal contrast between forest cover
types. I wish to record here that time and money are saved in the long run by
acquiring the type of photography needed for cover napping rather than to try
and do the job with old existing photography not designed for this purpose#

Volume and Growth Determination

When an accurate type map is available, the timber estimating job is greatly
simplified. The area of each timber type and condition class can be determined
and the number of plots necessary to yield a predetermined standard of accuracy
for each timber type and condition class can be calculated. Area can best be
determined from the map by use of an area dot grid. However, in relatively
flat country where the photograph approaches a map, area may be calculated
direct from the photograph. When mapped photographs are used for this purpose
the possible errors in acreage should be recognized# In the western regions
where topography is such a factor in photo scale, area must be determined from
the planimetric map#

After the area of each timber type and condition class within a survey unit,
usually a working circle, has been determined, the plots needed to yield a
predetermined standard of accuracy can be laid out. The plots should be located
on the map or on the photographs to avoid the possibility of bias. The plots
needed for each timber type and condition class can be distributed on the basis
of the area each plot represents# This method of distribution insures that
the plots are distributed evenly over the area to be sampled. After the plots
are located, the estimating crews can gather volume and growth data on each plot.
In addition they can record the condition of the stand, its operability, site
characteristics, recommendations for cutting, and any other data considered ne¬
cessary for management purposes# With the completion of the plot survey, the
data from the plots can be summarized and stock and stand tables prepared.

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In this method of volume determination the photographs are used only to stra¬
tify the forest into fairly uniform condition classes and locate each. Thus,,
the placement of plots is simplified and the number needed for a stated degree
of accuracy is materially reduced.

In Region 9, no attempt has been made to determine volume direct from the photo¬
graph, The Central States Forest Experiment Station has done some experimental
work along this line but the results have not been in sufficient detail for our
use. At best, only gross volumes can be secured and we have felt that until
volume determination from photographs is further perfected, ground methods
should be used.

Maps

Most forest managers will agree that type maps and planimetric maps are essen¬
tial for good management planning. There is some question, however, in regard
to topographic maps. They are generally considered in the "desirable” class
and while useful they are the type of map the forest manager can dispense with
in the interest of economy. Some of the western regions may challenge this
statement because of the effect topography has on management. However, if topo¬
graphic features are needed in laying out logging roads, sale area boundaries,
etc,, this information can be secured direct from the photographs.

Costs

The management plan survey in Region 9 has progressed far enough to provide a
good index of costs* One national forest, the Chippewa, has been completed and
two others are almost complete. The costs on all jobs, and we have three in
progress at the present time, are very close to the cost figures for the Chip¬
pewa, In presenting the costs, I have purposely broken them down into the vari¬
ous phases of the job for analysis purposes.

Summary of Field Costs - Chippewa Timber Survey - Total Gross area 1,312,870

- Acres.

Items

Transpor¬

tation

Miles

Total

Hours

Total

Man

Days

Cost

Man

Days

Total

Cost

Per

Acre

New Photography*

$ 10.859.59

& .0082

Type Mapping (in¬
cluding field
checking )

14.815

5.,M9

665.5

$ 9. 109 .a

10.363.29

.0078

Area Computation
Computing and
Allocating Plots

383

862

110.1

1,3454.3

1.378.41

.0010

Plot Estimating
& Tally Sheet
Computation
(3.697 Plots)

10.182

4.674

592.8

7.17547

7.856.61

.0059

Mi sc, (including
checking of Map¬
ping & Estimat¬
ing ) .

327

11 #3

19747

217.09

.0001

TOTAL COST

25,707

10,976

1,379*7

$17, 827.38

$ 30,674.99

$ .0230

*The photography cost ;)4*13 per square mile, somewhat higher than more recent
photography costs. The high cost per acre is attributed to the large acreage
of water within the Chippewa Forest, which is not included in the gross area
figure.

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The map compilation is handled by our Engineering Division and is averaging
about 2,7 cents per acre making the total cost of the job exactly 50 per
acre. There is a good possibility that this total cost can be slightly re¬
duced. According to cost figures received from Regions 2 and 6 their costs
range between 5 and 7 cents per acre.

Use of Photographs in Application of Plan

Aerial photographs are extremely valuable in the day to day application of
management plans. They are used in locating roads, sale area boundaries, plant¬
ing areas, and areas in need of stand improvement work, especially plantation
release. They are also used in making volume estimates, intensive cover maps
and for timber sale progress maps. In fact, they are used to good advantage
in all phases of the job involving the orderly harvesting and management of
the forest resource. We have found that enlargement of certain photographs to
an approximate scale of 8 inches to the mile provide a very good working tool
for forest officers on project sales. The ranger or timber sale officer can
record the progress of marking, cutting, brush disposal, location of roads,
etc., direct on the enlargement. Besides he can more easily explain the loca¬
tion of various kinds of cutting requirements to operators with this picture
map than with a regular printed map. Region 2 has also found that enlargements
are very useful for this purpose and I suspect that other regions are using en¬
larged photographs for the same purpose.

Under the heading "Volume Determination”, I have briefly explained the method
used by Region 9 in determining volume for management plan purposes. The stand
and stock tables apply to the total area of a particular timber type and condi¬
tion class within a working circle or survey unit. The accuracy of applying
these average stock and stand tables to a specific area within the working cir¬
cle is unknown. However, by knowing the average volume by species for each
timber type and condition class one can adjust upward or downward for any par¬
ticular area on the basis of composition, density and other factors influenc¬
ing volume. The photographs are very useful in this respect as one can examine
a specific area more closely than was done when the cover map was prepared.
Besides, additional plots can be taken within the area to aid in adjusting
the average stand and stock table. Experience to date indicates that for most
timber types and condition classes the corresponding stock table for a working
circle will apply reasonably accurate to any specific area of the same type
and condition class within the working circle.

Summary and Recommendations

The above discussion regarding the use of aerial photographs for management
planning emphasizes the following points:

1. Forest cover maps showing timber types, size classes, and density are
essential in forest resource management.

2. Special photography for use in cover mapping is essential if an accurate
cover map is desired at reasonable cost. The use of out-of-date photography,
not adapted for use in cover mapping, is not recommended.

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3* Modified infra-red photography at a scale of 1:1584-0 is recommended for
forestry purposes, where hardwoods and conifers occur in mixture or an inter¬
mingling pure types*

4* The system for classifying forest cover must be so designed that each
classification is identifiable on the photographs to be used*

5* Topographic maps ere not essential in forest resource management*

6, Volume determination directly from aerial photographs is still in the ex¬
perimental stage. For the present, ground sampling of volume for each mapped
timber type and condition class within the survey unit is recommended*

7* The development of aerial photography for forestry purposes and its inter¬
pretation is relatively new. It is, therefore, recommended that there be a
complete exchange of methods and techniques in photo interpretation between
the regions and experiment stations. Perhaps the Washington Office should act
as a clearing house for distribution of the above.

Assignees :

Sump, R-9
Krueger, R— 2
Kirkpatrick, P-6

-8-

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PLANS - R-2

Timber Management March 7, 1949

MANAGEMENT PLAN CONFERENCE - TOPIC II

USE OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS IN MANAGEMENT PLANNING

by Theodore Krueger

The outline furnished by the Washington Office for this subject asks
certain specific questions. For the Central Rocky Mountain Region, the
following applies:

Type of Photography

Our flying- in the past few years has all been done by contract, using
an 8.25-inch focal length lens, a 1:20,000 scale, and panchromatic
film. Flying is done at an elevation of 22,000 feet above sea level.

We find the 1:20,000 scale (3-l/6 inches per mile) a good compromise
scale and useful for our purposes, although scales up to 1:12,000
would probably be of advantage in photo interpretation but would not be
as useful to Engineering in ground control and preparation of the maps.

In our Region, photo interpretation is necessarily based on general
appearance of a stand rather than on study of individual tree images
or measurement of tree heights which is not practical in mountainous
country; however, I can see where larger scales would be of advantage
for photo interpretation in more level country.

Panchromatic film does not permit satisfactory differentiation between
species. Panchromatic film sees green about the same as the human
eye which is not very sensitive to changes in shades of green. I be¬
lieve that for Timber Management plan purposes it would be worthwhile
to carry on some experiments with use of modified infra red (minus
blue filter) film. If results with conifers are comparable to hard¬
woods, as found on the Harvard Forest, we should be able to distinguish
various species of pine, pine from spruce or fir, and mature stands
from young stands which would be of great help in photo interpretation.
In modified infra red photography, the older the stand, the darker the
tone •

Ground Controls

With our mountainous terrain, ground control is absolutely necessary
before an accurate planimetric map can be made. This work in our
Region is a technical engineering job and is done on the ground by the
Division of Engineering and costs us about \<jt per acre.

Type Mapping

In Region 2 we have done 2 kinds of type mapping on photos :

■*

!• By doing all of the mapping in the field, going to high points
where large areas of country can be seen, drawing type lines on
the map as seen and using a code symbol for each type; for example.

Type 4 is ponderosa pine seedlings
4a is ponderosa pine saplings
4b is ponderosa pine poles
4c is ponderosa pine intermediates
4d is ponderosa pine mature.

After type mapping is done, the estimators take the photos with
them and make such corrections as might be needed; for example,
the mapper may have called a stand "4c intermediates," whereas
they find it to be a mature 4d stand.

This method has worked out very well in our mountainous terrain,
especially where we had only poor pictures taken years ago.

2. By doing office photo interpretation, putting type lines, etc., on
the pictures in the office and then taking the pictures to the
field and checking them. In using office photo interpretation, it
must be clearly understood that prior to office photo interpreta¬
tion, the only way to apply tonal value to any successful degree
is for the interpreter to actually visit the various stands in
the project with photographs at hand. He must obtain mental
impressions of various stand conditions as they show on the photos.
The accuracy of even broad photo interpretation requires some
checks of photos against field conditions. This has certain advan¬
tages and certain disadvantages.

a.- Advantages

(1) Where the pictures are good and definite tonal values
can be established for various types, a creditable job
of office interpretation can be done,

(2) It gives an opportunity to determine the number of
samples needed for the various condition classes in the
project for the percentage of accuracy desired.

(3) It gives a better picture of the total job ahead and
helps in organizing, financing, and planning the
project.

(4) It might be sufficiently accurate for general Timber
Management plan purposes where only a general type map
is needed.

b. Disadvantages

(l) Where the photos are poor, office photo interpretation

requires an undue amount of field checks and corrections,
and often only a part of the photo can be typed in the
office, and the remainder must be obtained in the field.

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3. We believe that proper type mapping, classifying stand conditions
in accordance with Timber Management needs in the area involved,
is of prime importance for planning purposes. This can be
accomplished at a reasonable cost by use of aerial photos. With
an accurate type map as a base, giving areas by condition classes,
we can :

a. Take a small sample for general plan purposes and intonsify
the cruise on areas in the current budget period or as
needed for sales.

b. Even without a cruise, an experienced man in the type of
timber involved, by having the acreage in each condition
class, can get a fair estimate of the total volume, which is
much better than many present guesses of volume on whioh some
of our present management plans are based.

c. If we have a good type map by condition classes but no cruise,
the Ranger or Assistant can, as time is available, take sample
plots and eventually build up a good estimate of timber
volume on his District.

d. A good type map giving areas of seedling and pole stands
furnishes the basis of calculation of possible future
yields .

Area Determinations

With mountainous terrain there is a great deal of distortion in the

pictures- The effect, of relief is to record areas at higher eleva-
iwith/a larger n scale than, areas .at lesser elevations „
tions/ The °rol lowing is taken from a discussion by Richard H.

Blythe at the Petersham techniques meeting in 1946s

"The seriousness of this bias depends upon the difference in
the average elevation. Assuming an S-^-inch lens, a 1:20,000
scale at base level, and a flying altitude of 13,750 feet
above base level, the following table shows the bias in
area estimates by simple dot grids for several differences
in elevation:

Average Difference
in Elevation from

Base Level Actual Scale

Bias in Estimate of
Area Compared to
Area at Base Level

Base level

+ 100 feet

+ 200 feet

+ 500 feet

+ 800 feet

+1000 feet

20,000

19,854

+1.5

19,709

+3.0

19,273

+7.7

18,836

+ 12.7

18,545

+16.3."

We often have differences of s|,ver
the same photo. With an 8. 25- men
1" on the map is equal to 975 ft.
1,575 ft. at 9,000 ft.

al thousand feet in elevation
/lens, flying at 22,000 feet,
at 14,000 ft., but is equal to

-3-

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It will, therefore, be apparent that area determination in mountainous
country cannot practically be made on the pictures themselves but
becomes an engineering job using one of the various plotting machines
available and then determine areas from planimetric maps to which the
type delineations have been transferred#

This is a serious disadvantage in our type of country, as it delays
the time volume computations can be completed for any one logging
unit or project. This could be overcome by having a competent
machine operator with the survey party who would map the types, etc.,
as mapping on photos is completed. This assumes that proper control
had previously been established.

Volume Determination

This cannot be done until the type map giving correct acreages is
completed and no volume determinations are made in our Region
directly from the photographs.

Due to the differences in elevation on the same photo, it is not
practical in our Region to use crown diameters, parallax wedge,
shadows, or other aids to determine volume. Our volume determination
depends on ground work, using the plot or strip sampling procedures.

Planimetric Maps, Type Maps, Topographic Maps

We must have type maps for our system of forest inventory and for
management plan and control purposes. We have been using a 4"
to-the-mile map. The difficulties of map preparation and control
in our terrain 'with so much distortion in the pictures are such that
map production is an expert’s job and is handled entirely by our
Division of Surveys & Maps.

We do the field mapping on the photos, and they prepare the type
maps by transferring our type delineations from the photos to the
planimetric base.

For our Timber Management planning we do not consider that topographic
maps are essential, and none have been prepared by us for that purpose
from aerial photos. They, however, are useful in detailed sales
planning, sucj^ as preliminary road location, but some of this can be
done by using the stereoscope.

We have not used mosaics for Timber Management planning purposes,
but it is believed they could be made a useful tool in showing the
proposed order of cutting for a period of years, as they would give
an overall perspective of the entire Working Circle*

We have found that by outlining the part of the picture used for the
planimetric map, it gives a quick reference to locating the picture
in case we want' to study it in connection with the map. (POINT OUT
ON SAMPLE MAP).

■ ■

Survey Crew Organization

As we use more photo interpretation and sampling techniques and
require the preparation of more intensive plans, we find that we re¬
quire a high type man for Chief of Party and for mappers. The
quality of any timber resource inventory depends almost entirely upon
the good judgment, training and administrative experience of the man
in charge of the cr ew. A man of P-3 or bettor qualifications should
be selected for this position.

The Chief of Party needs to be a man experienced in Forest Service
timber sale policies and cutting practices and needs to be a pretty
fair logging engineer type, who can tell what is operable and what is
inoperable, needed access road developments and their location, etc.

We can use students for volume estimates, but the mapper and Chief of
Party need to be experienced men when you use aerial photos as basis
for timber surveys.

Use of Photos in Application of the Plan

Region 2 started using aerial photos for inventory purposes in 1938,
and we are at the point where we do not even want to consider surveys
unless we have aerial photos for the area; however, we are handicapped
by not having the entire Region covered by aerial photos. For
example, we are badly in need of a management plan for the San Juan
Forest, where we must know how much pine for winter and how much
spruce for summer operation we can cut annually and properly plan
balanced operations as well as where to cut it, but may have to put
our limited survey funds into aerial photos before we can make surveys
and a usable plan.

Aerial photos where available are constantly used by us not only in
management plan work but also in the planning and control of larger
timber sale operations. For this purpose we have been experimenting
some with use of enlarged photos of the area included in the sale.
Enlargements have been on approximate scale of 8 inches to-the-mile.
While it is realized that especially in mountainous terrain a photo
is not a map, we find that enlarged photos on sales are valuable as
a working tool for such items as showing

Location of roads to be built
Location of cutting blocks
Location of areas marked or cut over
Progress of brush disposal and showing location
of various methods of disposal
Location of areas to be thinned, etc.

Generally, you can explain location of various kinds of work to an
operator better with a picture than with a map.

While aerial photos have limitations and must be supplemented by
ground work, they offer a better opportunity than we have ever had
before to accumulate management plan data at reasonable cost.

-5-

Costs in Region 2 are as follows:

Aerial photography and 1 set of photos
Field control and control map
Timber survey - depending on intensity
of volume estimate

1 <i per acre
2/ per acre

4-7^ per gross

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SUPERVISION

Meetings

(Management Plan Conference)

✓

Topic 12 - Inventories for Timber Management Plans, Region 8

A. Jo Streinz

Character and Scope

The ideal inventory obtains the location and area of non-forest land,
non-commercial forest land, and commercial forest land in the working
circle, and obtains for each separate stand on the commercial forest land
the following information :

1* Lo cation o
2* Area *

3, Species composition or forest type.

4c Forest, form: even-aged or uneven-aged.

50 Stand size class: large saw timber, small sawtimber, pole-timber,
saplings, and seedlings.

6. Density of stocking.,

70 Age by 10-year or 20-year age class divisions for even-aged stands 0
8* Sitco
S. Condition.

10. Treatment past and future.

11 o Net merchantable volume „

12. Increment.

In practice this ideal inventory must be fitted to the location situation
with respect to the following:

1. Availability of suitable aerial photographs.

20 Character of the timber stands 0

3. Planned forest practice.

4. Planned method of regulating the cut.

5. Available information.

60 Personnel and funds.

In many working circles in Region 8, the prevailing stands are young and
middle-aged, second-growth and/or culled to cut-ovcr old growth and second-
growth a Forest practice is primarily the task of conducting intermediate
cuttings, i.c., liberation cutting, thinning, improvement cutting, salvage
cutting, and sanitation cutting. The stands may be grouped into two broad
classes: operable and inoperable. Operable stands arc those in Vtrhich the
yield from intermediate cuttings will support an economic logging operation
for sawtimber or pulpwood or other products. The degree: cf cutting depends
upon the condition of the stands 9 Regulation of cut is reduced to the
determination of the period or cutting cycle, after which the compartments
or logging units will support another round of intermediate cuttings. The
planning of reproduction or regeneration cuttings is premature of this
stage of timber management. Stands in which intermediate cuttings were
made 5 or 10 years ago offer the best opportunity for the collection of

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net merchantable volume and increment data for use in connection with the
determination of the cutting cycle. Of equal interest and use is the net
merchantable volume and increment in sparsely stocked stands of sawtimber
and pole-timber size which , through growth, may become operable before
stands subjected to intermediate cuttings wall support another round of
cutting. The utility value of the net merchantable volume and increment
for other stands do net justify the determination of these data for sub¬
divisions of the working circle 0

The character and scope of the inventory for working circles just described
depends upon whether or not suitable aerial photographs are available.

1. Aerial photographs available:

The inventory should always obtain the location, area, forest type, forest
form, s tand size class, and density of stocking for each separate stand in
the working circle. These data are strongly correlated with stand opera¬
bility and, when presented in the form of a stand map and stand tables by
compartments, have a high utility value in timber management© These data
facilitate the preparation of timber sales as well as the preparation of a
cutting budget and plan. The cost and time required to obtain such type
and stand class maps and stand tables are low in comparison with the high
utility value. The costs for seven typical Region 8 working circles are:

Costs

Working Circle

Acres

Man-days

Total

Per Acre

Angelina

154,278

$ 2,183

$ 0o0141

Bienville

175,000

125

2, 392

0.0137

Bilcxi

117, 200

117

1,733

0.0148

Davy Crockett

161,483

160

2^ 825

0.0175

Homo chit to

189, 000

141

2,728

0o0144

Sabine

184,427

102

2,462

0o0133

Sam Hpuston

158.155

117

2,730

0<i 0172

1,139,543

851

$17,053

$0.0149

Age class and site class data, which are primarily of use in connection
with planning reproduction or regeneration cuttings for oven-aged stands,
are not needed at this stage in timber management.

The condition and treatment of the stands by compartments or other sub¬
divisions of the working circle arc usually known, but may be supplemented
by recording condition and treatment of specific stands checked for aerial
photo classification or sampled for the determination of net merchantable
volume and increment.

Net merchantable volume and increment should be obtained for each of those
types and stand classes which have sufficient acreage and importance in
timber management to justify a separate estimate 0 Other types and stand
classes may be combined with related types and stand classes or may bo
omitted as seems best. Estimates should be obtained by sampling a number
of stands in each type and stand class by the establishment of permanent
sample plots to serve the dual purpose of obtaining periodic estimates of
timber volume and increment in the future, as well as the current estimate
of timber volume and increment.

-2-

The currenc cost of such estimates for three typical working circles ir
Region 8 are:

(a) Angelina Working Circle — 154,278 acres

Number l/5 acre circular permanent plots established 365

Total

Per Plot

Per Acre

Cost: Field -

- - $lc. 539

$ 4C35

$ 0o0103

Office -

- - . 615

It, 68

0o0039

$2,204

$ 6c05

$ 0,0142

Biloxi Working

Circle - 117,

200 acres

Number l/4 acre

•circular permanent plots es

tablished 212

Total

Per Plot

Per Acre

Co3t: Field - •

- - $1,536

$ 7 024

$ 0,0131

Office- -

239

1*13

0C0020

$1,765

$ 8,37

$ 0o0151

Sabine Working

Circle - 184 u

427 acres

Number 1/5 acre

circular remanent plots established 809
Total Per Plot Per Acre

Cost: Field - •

- - $5,539

$ 6085

$ 0,0300

Office -

737

On 91

0,0040

$6, 266

$ 7,76

$ 0©0340

2, Aerial photographs not available.

Available information is adequate for the determination of the location and
area of most of the non-forest land, non-commercial forest land, and
commercial forest land. The preparation of a type and stand class map for
the commercial forest land is not feasible because of the character of the
stands are unfavorable for ground mapping techniques , The compartments or
other subdivisions of the working circle in which the prevailing stands are
of sawtimber and/or pole-timber size can usually be identified on the basis
of available information supplemented by some field reconnaissance, Compart¬
ments or other subdivisions which have been cutover 5 years or more in
Forest Service sawtimber sales should be sampled to determine the net
merchantable volume, increment, and cutting cycle# If the cutting cycle is
10 years or less, the balance of the commercial forest land carrying saw¬
timber and pole-timber stands should be sampled to determine the net
merchantable volume and increment. If the cutting cycle is over 10 years •
then the subdivisions selected to make up the 5 or 10 year cutting budget
and plan should be sampled to determine the net merchantable volume and
increment o

The character and scope of the inventory for working circles, where re¬
production or regeneration cuttings are planned, depend upon whether the
separate stands are to be managed and reproduced as even-aged stands or
uneven-aged stands. If the individual even-aged stands are small or are
ill-defined, it may be better to manage the stands as uneven-aged under a
group selection silvicultural system. In this case the even-aged stands
may be grouped to form arbitrary uneven-aged stands bounded by roads,
topographic features, and land lines.

-3-

31 ~ •

i jW

’

■

; •:

•

■

(

If the stands .are to bo managed and reproduced as even-aged stands , the
inventory should provide the location, area, forest type, forest form,
stand size class, density of stocking, age, site, condition and treatment
for each separate stand in the f om of a stand map and stand tables© The
data are essential to the proper selection of even-aged stands for regener¬
ation cuttings » Suitable aerial photographs should be obtained for this
purpose in this Region before undertaking the planning of regeneration of
uneven-aged stands 0 Sampling of the stands to determine net merchantable
volume and increment must take into account the requirement of the planned
method of regulating the cut© For example -

(a) The allotment methods by area, by volume, or by area and volume with
20-year age class divisions require: the area, volume, and increment for
stands over R years ; the area, volume, and increment for stands between R
years and R-20 years; the area, volume, and increment for stands between
R-20 years and R--40 years©

(b) Hufnagls * method by area and volume requires the area, volume and .
increment for stands over R/2 years 0

(c) Chapman’s horizontal cut method requires: the area, volume, and
increment of stands over R years, the area, volume and increment of stands
between R years and R-cc years (cc - years in cutting cycle); the area,
volume and increment of stands between R-cc years and R— 2cc years©

If the stands arc to be managed and reproduced as uneven-aged stands, the
inventory should provide the location, area, forest type, forest form,
stand size class density of stocking, condition, and treatment fer each
separate stand in the form of a stand map and stand tables where aerial
photographs are available© The net merchantable volume and increment
should bo obtained by sampling a number of stands in each type and stand
class,, bherc aerial photographs arc not available, arbitrary land sub¬
divisions bounded by roads, topographic features, and land linos are
formed© In this event, the inventory provides the location, area, and
the prevailing forest type, forest form, stand size class, density of
stocking, condition, and treatment for each subdivision© The not merchant¬
able volume and increment for all subdivisions are determined by sampling
a number of subdivisions©

If some stands arc to bo managed and reproduced as even-aged stands, and
some stands to be managed and reproduced as uneven-aged stands, then the
inventory must provide the necessary information for both types of
management .

Sampling of Not Merchantable Volume and Increment

Estimates of net merchantable volume and increment arc obtained by sample
plots© Each sample plot consists of two concentric circular plots: 1/10
acre and l/5 acre© The tree tally on the l/5 acre plot is limited to those
trees that are of a size and quality to make merchantable sawlogs. The
trees are tallied by species, 2— inch d.b.h. classes, and number of merchant¬
able logs. The tree tally on the l/lO acre plot is limited to those trees
that are of a size and quality to make cordwood or pulpwood exclusive of
those tallied as merchantable for sawlogs© The trees are tallied by species,,
2-inch d.b.h© classes, and merchantable length or number cf pulpwood sticks.

■

When suitable growth data arc not available, the following data arc recorded
for each merchantable tree on the respective concentric plots: species ,deb*h.
to nearest tenth inch, merchantable length, radial wood growth for 10 years,
and single bark thickness on a pre— determined proportion of sample plots *
These plots and data are used to determine by the "Least Squares Method" the
relationship between periodic increment per acre and timber volume per aero*

Each sample plot is classified on the basis of the timber stand in which
it falls as to forest type, forest form, stand size class, density of
stocking, condition and treatment, and where the regeneration of even-aged
stands is planned as to age and site®

When types and stand classes arc mapped, permanent sample plots are es- . '
tablished to serve the dual purpose of obtaining periodic estimates of
timber volume and increment in the future as well as the current estimate 0
These plots are established in the type and stand classes which have
sufficient acreage and importance in timber management to justify a separate
estimate o The sample plots may bo established as single sample plots or in
groups of two or three* When the group pattern is used, the first plot of
the group is established at a predetermined sample plot location and the
auxiliary plots are located at a distance of 5 chains from the sample plot
location on any bearing which permits the auxiliary plots to fall within
the same type and stand class as the sample plot location*

The number of sample plots to be established depends upon the local vari¬
ation in sawtimber volume on l/5 acre plots, the desired sampling error, the
desired probability that the sampling error will fall within the limits
set, and funds available for the work*

Local variation in sawtimber volume on l/5 acre plots is expressed in terms
cf standard deviation or coefficient of variation* Unless this information
is available for the type and stand classes to be sampled, it is necessary
to obtain estimates of standard deviation or coefficient of variation for
the respective type and stand classes* Such estimates may be obtained from
available data for plots taken in timber sale cruises of recent date or
recent remeasurement data for permanent growth plots when individual plots
and tallies can be correlated with mapped type and stand classes cr by
pre Sampling*

Table 1 shows the method used to obtain estimates of the standard deviation,
coefficient of variation, and number of plots required for three levels of
sampling error for the Sabine National Forest from available plot data*

Table 2 shows the type and stand class acreage and the total number of plots
required for three levels of sampling error. On the basis cf estimated cost
of establishing the plots and the funds available for this work at the time
the analysis was made, it was apparent that sampling errors of 5$ or 10$
for each type and stand class were not attainable* By setting the allowable
sampling error at 10$ for the sawtimber stands and 20$ for the other stands,
the number of plots needed is 881* Some further adjustments were made which
reduced the total number to 809. .These plots were established at the cost
previously given* It is planned to determine the standard deviations and
sampling errors for the plots and compare them with the estimates shown in
Table 1© The primary objective of the sampling was to obtain the best
attainable estimate of sawtimber volume for the average or mean l/5 acre
plot in each type and stand class* This estimate is the basis for calcu¬
lating the timber volume:

a. for each type and stand class.

—5—

■

b0 for each compartment or other subdivision,

Co for the Sabine National Forest.

Presampling to obtain an estimate of the standard deviation for a type
and stand class requires a minimum of two plots taken at random from the
total number of possible plots in the type and stand class but, for a
fairly reliable estimate, probably 10 to 12 plots are needed.- On this
basis with many type and stand classes, presampling may easily become as
large a task as the planned system of dual purpose permanent plots « This
may be avoided by directing the presampling to those type and stand classes
of sufficient importance to justify a separate estimate, and to the largest
separate stand in the respective type and stand class. Instead of selecting
the largest separate stand for presampling an alternative procedure would
be to draw at random 5 separate stands from the total number of stands in
a type and stand class and take 2 sample plots at random in each of the
stands drawn* The sample plot locations are laid out on the 2 inches to
1 mile base map atlas sheets showing the type and stand classes, A sample
plot location may be the location of a single sample plot or the location
of the first of a group of two or three sample plots „ After the number of
plots required for a type and stand class is determined, the square spacing
between sample plot locations to cover the typo and stand class area is
calcuiatedo Usually many type and stand classes have about the some square
spacing & For these a suitable single square spacing is selected* Dot grids
on overlays of transparent acetate sheeting are prepared on the base map
scale for the square spacing layouts of the respective type and stand
classes© The dot grids are tossed on the base map atlas sheets showing
the type and stand class. Dots falling on the type and stand classes to
which the spacing applies are picked through the overlay onto the map.

Each point represents a sample plot location. Each location is circled
and numbered e Field notes are prepared for establishing the sample plot
location by bearing and distance from starting points recognizable on the
base map, aerial photographs, and ground,,

"When the type and stand classes are not mapped, the compartments or other
subdivisions which have been cutover for 5 years or more in Forest Service
sawtimber sales are sampled by the mechanical line— plot method,, One
hundred or more sample plots are taken on which data are collected for the
determination of timber volume, increment, and cutting cycle. If funds
are available and an up-to-date inventory for timber volume and increment
is desirable, the balance of the commercial forest land carrying sawtimber and
pole-timber stands is sampled by the mechanical line-plot method wnen the
cutting cycle is 10 years or loss, or when the cutting cycle is over 10
years, the subdivisions selected to make up the 5 or 10 year cutting budget
and plan are sampled. The number of plots are determined from the best
available data on the local variation in sawtimber volume, and funds
available for the work*

The costs for the compilation of inventory data have been given for three
representative projects in Region 8. These costs include the layout of the
sample plot locations on the type and s tand class map, preparation of
field notes for locating the plots, compilation of plot data to obtain
estimates of timber volume and incremento IBM machine compilation was not
used because the number of plots involved in each case was small & It is
planned to standardize the compilation methods and form of tables for
presentation of the forest resource data.

- • ' — - r"

(

on mean 1/5 acre plot -with probability of 2 times out of 3 that
percent error will not exceed those shown.

Number plots = coefficient of variation squared divided by percent error squared

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TABLE 1 - >\NALYSIS OF 2145 1/5 ACRE CIRCULAR PLOTS 1947 TIMBER CRUISE (X)i!PARTl 35NTS 53 « 54« 5S» SABIIIE NATIONAL FOREST

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TABLE 2 - COMMERCIAL FOREST LAND AREA BY TYPE AND STAND CLASSES AND NUMBER OF SAIiPLE PLOTS BY SAMPLING ERROR, SABINE N

(Dm

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SUPERVISION

Meetings

(Management Plan Conference)

San Francisco, California
March 8, 19^9

Austin A. Has el
Region 5

TOPIC 12

An inventory is required to provide the "basic resource data needed for plans.
This involves volume, growth, and area statistics.

Prior to the inventory the working circle and "block "boundaries should "be
fixed. Topographic maps are usually available, and these, together with
consideration of transportation and location of manufacturing plants, govern
the location of major "boundaries. Compartment "boundaries depend upon topo¬
graphy as it affects logging layout, "but may "be influenced partly "by timber
type, site, and condition. Inventory data may be needed before subdivision
into compartments can be made or is necessary. In many cases examination of
aerial photos will be helpful in deciding upon boundaries and in eliminating
a.reas of inoperable timber and non-forest lands.

In planning the inventory, full consideration should be given to the use of
existing cruise data. If the area has not been burned or cut over since the
cruise, there is a good chance that the cruise can be adjusted to usable
standard by a small amount of field checking.

Also, in narrowing down the job, full use should be made of Forest survey"
maps and plot data. In Region 5 these data include maps of age structure-
crown density classes based on stereoscopic study of aerial photos, to¬
gether with plot data that are additive to Forest Management data. The age-
density class boundaries often coincide with type and site changes so that
type and site can be entered on the map as various parts of the area are
examined in the ground survey. It may be desirable to group site classes in
this generalized mapping. With six site classes, three groups may be desir¬
able.

Accuracy Standards

Usually a standard is set for total volume, recognizing that the accuracy
of the breakdown by individual species may be considerably less. The limit
of sampling error should be set at the maximum that can be tolerated without
changing the main provisions in the plan. Sometimes it is desirable to vary
the intensity of sampling so that better estimates are obtained in the more
important types and sites, or in accessible blocks where more intensive
management is planned.

If the sampling error is set at 10 percent (two Standard errors) for the work¬
ing circle, the estimate by blocks will be rather rough. For example, for a

;* v

block making up one-fourth of the total, the sampling error will be around 20
percent. For plan purposes, however, it would be costly to aim at good esti¬
mates by blocks or conmartrnent s. The time to get more detailed information on
these areas is just prior to the sale of timber or the undertaking of cul¬
tural work or planting. A detailed inventory plan should be prepared at that
time.

Size, Shape and Arrangement of Blots.

The objective should be to use a sampling unit that is easy to establish on
the ground and efficient from a sampling standpoint, Efficiency from a sam¬
pling standpoint means inclusion of the maximum of variability within plots
and thereby reduction of variability between plots. A long, narrow plot ex¬
tending uphill and downhill will generally be most efficient theoretically.
Such plots will tend to have a narrower range of plot volumes than square or
circular plots would have and, consequently, the standard deviation will be
less.

On the Forest Survey in California, plots are 1 by 2 chains with length ex¬
tending generally across the contours. The samyjling unit consists of three
such plots spaced 2 chains apart end to end. This shape of plot was adopted
because of ease of establishment by two-man crews using a 2-chain trailer tape
laid along the centerline.' The size of sampling unit may be changed by tak¬
ing more or fewer plots, keeping the same size of plot and spacing* On Forest
Survey, in steep country, it was found that the three-plot sampling unit was
the most efficient size. In other words, a given accuracy of estimate could
be obtained in the least time. Besides, establishment of such a unit took at
least a full crew-day in rough, inaccessible country. In areas near roads,
two such units could be established in a day.

In easier country, such as in pine of the northeastern California plateau, it
is contemplated on Forest Survey that one-man crews will be used and in this
case circular plots will be preferable. The best number of plots to take in
a sampling unit in this part of the State is yet to be determined.

To test for the best size of sampling unit, it is necessary to determine vari¬
ance between and within sampling units, and from time records find the ratio
of time required to establish a plot at a now location compared with time re¬
quired to establish an additional plot at a location already occupied. The
analysis of variance may be represented as follows:

Source Degrees of Freedom Variance

Between units n-1 kA + 3

Within units n(k-l) B

Total nk-1

where

n = number of sampling units,
k — number of plots per sampling unit.

-2-

Hy ordinary analysis of variance it is then easy to determine the value of
A and of S. Then if r is taken as the above-mentioned ratio of time, the op'
timum number of plots, n, in a sampling unit vi 11 he

rounded off to the nearest whole number. A few days time in the office mailing
such a calculation may result in considerable savings on an inventory project.

Strictly speaking, a valid estimate of sampling error is obtainable only from
a random sample. This implies mere than an unbiased sample* A rectangular
grid pattern gives an unbiased sample, but the component plots arc not random
sampling units. However, we have found that plots spaced onc-auartcr mile a-
part in the same mapped class have negligible correlation and thoreforc we
treat them as random. Anyway, exact evaluation of sampling error hardly seems
necessary in this work if it is difficult for the user of the estimates to
specify the accuracy required within one or two percent.

If the most accurate estimate of volume is desired from a given number of
sampling units, they should be allocated to napped classes according to the
product of standard deviation and proportion of total area in the class. This
is termed "optimum allocation." If desired, this can be readily done in Hegion
5 by using Forest Survey maps and standard deviation estimates by mapped clas¬
ses. For illustration, let

Ai «=* acres in the i^^1 class

pi = proportion of total area in Ai

si s= standard deviation

n =: total number of sampling units to be
apportioned

ni = number of sampling units that should be
taken in the i^h class

then

ni = nlPk

2L Pi «i

whcre^pi si is the sum of pi Si for all classes.

This procedure would be advisable under the assumption stated. However, vol¬
ume is not usually the sole variable of major importance. Sampling that is
optimum for volume will not be optimum for growth. A good compromise for the
present appears to be proportional sampling, taking equal spacing regardless
of mapped class.

Another possibility is to convert individual plot volumes and growth expec¬
tation into dollar value and calculate standard deviation and averages. Then
the optimum allocation method can be applied on the basis of values instead of
volumes, thereby concentrating more effort on the more valuable parts of the
area.

-3~

.Xs

Location and Orientation of Plots*

There arc obvious advantages in t icing plots to section corners if the plots
are to he remeasured periodically. Present procedure in Region 5 inventories
for management plans is to put a plot in each 40 adjacent to the section corner
on a hearing of 45° from cardinal directions and 5 chains from the corner. If
at 5 chains the plot is not wholly within a single mapped cl^ss, the location
is moved heyond by 2-chain intervals until it is. The plot is oriented at a
right angle to the contour at the beginning point and is taken in a direction

away from the corner, whether uphill or downhill*

ITo plots arc taken in 40ls that do not enter into management calculations.

Plots around a section may differ as to mapped class, such as type, site, or
condition. Por these reasons we will have sampling units that vary in size
from 1 to 4 plots, inclusively. With plots spaced about 10 chains apart in
these clusters, correlation may bo expected and the variable size of sampling
unit will have to be taken into account in calculating sampling error.

Plot Data

The measurements and observations taken on plots should bo confined strictly
to what is definitely needed, and the method of anlyzing the data should be
set up at the tine of planning the inventory.

Por immediate purposes the estimate of volume in virgin stands or in other
stands ready for cutting is important. In the long run, however, the inven¬
tories of growth, mortality, and changes in stand structure over periods of
time arc more important. It seems desirable, therefore, to use plots that are
designed to give the essential data on both volume and growth.

Por periodic determination of net growth, we use l/5~acro plots that arc es¬
sentially the same as those used by the Pores t Survey. These arc permanently
staked and witnessed, and the trees arc tagged. Porest Survey plots will pro¬
vide a representative sample of all commercial forest land in the State with
major timbered counties as the smallest breakdown. Survey estimates for a
county will bo of about the same accuracy as our estimate for a working circle.
Within a working circle, use of Survey plots will increase our data by 5 to
10 percent. In addition, Survey gets increment core growth data and sample
tree data for localizing form-class volume tables that will be useful in our
inventory. Region 5 data, properly weighted by area, will strengthen Forest
Survey estimates.

Including the l/5-acre growth plot, we take a 2-by 5-chain volume and mortality
plot in which the tally is confined to trees 11.0 inchos d.b.h. and over. In
virgin timber those larger plots provide the basis for budgeting the cut in
the first cutting cycle. In cut-over timber they provide the estimate of mor¬
tality. Although the l/5-acre plots will give a direct estimate of net growth
by periodic remeasurement, the estimate of the components of net growth, i.e.,
gross growth and mortality, would be very rough. The larger area is needed to
keep currently informed on mortality and development of poor-risk trees so that
appropriate measures can be taken to salvage losses and potential losses.

-4-

...

* . - * - . v •

■ . ' . *.ff- i; ' . ; ' V If , to

. .... ;♦ , . ; ' S . r .

.. ^ 1 * ^ 4

* •* i ’ ^ . •

•1 " . . V , ,

* * ; >

< a t

Tally of pOle-sizc trees arid reproduction enn be confined to snail, out pre¬
ferably lohg, nariroW plots. Poles can be conveniently tallied on 0.2- chain
strip along the centerline of the l-^-by 2- chain plot! Reproduction nay be noted,
on each nilacrc of the pole tally strip indicating stocked quadrats by domi¬
nant species, and whether under the crown of a larger tree. If the quadrat is
unstocked it nay bo classified according to conditions affecting suitability
for planting or direct seeding.

Site quality should be rated for each plot so that the most appropriate volume
tables and growth tables nay be applied. Individual plots or plot clusters
nay differ from the napped site in which they are included, depending upon the
minimum si sc of area that is napped.

Any sample tree data, such as increment cores, height, and form class, should
be taken on an area sampling basis rather than an individual tree basis. On
an area selection basis the trees will be representative of the total stand.
Taking a tree or a fixed number of sample trees per plot will give proportion¬
ately more open-grown trees than occur in the total stand.

Accuracy of Measurements

Sampling error, of course, usually represents just part of the accuracy actu¬
ally realized. Biased measurements or use of volume tables that arc not adap¬
ted to the timber often seriously affect accuracy. In past surveys, the
tendency has been to cruise more intensively than necessary. Bias will tend
to affect results by the same amount regardless of intensity of cruise. Some
of the time saved by taking smaller samples can well be spent in reducing bias.

The question of when to measure and when to estimate depends upon the experi¬
ence and ability of field crows. Sometimes it is better to measure sample
trees accurately and use curves of height and form class over diameter rather
than rely on estimates of larger numbers of trees.

Advantage should be taken of windthrows and felled timber to get sealed volumes
for checking volume tables. Care should bo taken to got a sample that is re¬
presentative of all parts of the area being cruised.

Compilation of Data

First attention should bo given to volume tables. All data taken for adjusting
or localizing existing volume tables should be worked over. This involves a
comparison of scaled volume with volume table figures within species by diame¬
ter and height classes. The adjustments may bo represented graphically and
applied to the tables.

It is desirable to provide space on the tally form for summarizing plot volume
and number of trees by species, tree thrift class, and ’’cut” or "leave” trees.
From these plot summaries a spccics-trce class stand and stock tabic may be
compiled by type, site, and condition. Such tables suffice for immediate pur¬
pose of plan preparation. They provide the estimates needed in using the
Dunning alignment charts for growth prediction, which involve reserve volume,

-5-

<- <

} . .

site index, proportion of sugar pine and white fir, proportion of volume in
different tree classes, volume of the average tree, and size of the average
pole. Separate estimates are made for gross growth of sawtinber-sizc trees,
ingrowth, and mortality. The estimates apply to the main conifer species only,
without segregation hy species.

At some later date, however, stand structure hy diameter class will he needed
in addition to species and tree class. By establishing plots prior to cutting,
or hy tallying stumps if the initial survey is made after cutting, stand and
stock tables can he prepared for the stand prior to cutting, immediately fol¬
lowing cutting, and periodically after cutting. Assuming that the stand struc¬
ture of the regulated stand being aimed at is known, it v/ill he possible to
measure progress toward attaining the regulated stand structure.

As records of periodic net growth arc obtained, the results v/ill he used in
place of the preliminary alignment chart prediction and plans can he revised
accordingly if differences arc significant.

Forest Survey expects to provide volume growth tables comparable in format to
volume tables by species, site, and tree class groups. These will give growth
by Scribner, the International l/4”rulc, sawlog cubic volume, and total cubic
volume. All tree species arc included, hardwoods as well as conifers. These
Forest Survey growth estimates v/ill .also be checked by our periodic inventories
of the permanent plots and considered for use in predictions for management
purposes* These estimates will be valuable in stands outside the range repre¬
sented by the alignment chart method and within the range for comparison with
alignment chart predictions. Also cstim itos will be provided by individual
species.

It may become dcsir.ablc in the future to express volume by Internationa,! 1/4”
rule or by cubic-foot units. This can bo done very quickly by use of diameter
class stand and stock tables and application of converting factors that arc
curved over diameter.

The summary of volume by plots and then by sampling units provides the basis
for calculating sampling error. Knowledge of the sampling error is important
in deciding upon the reliability of estimates by individual species, the pro¬
bable range of ”cut” volume, the minimum size of subdivision for v/hich the
estimates may safely bo used, and for improving the efficiency of future in¬
ventory work.

Areas v/ill usually bo obtained from maps th it sho w age structure-timber density,
type, site, and condition. Some of the Survey age-density classes nag be com¬
bined for our purposes, and in making ground surveys we will have to enter type
and site on the Survey nap. Areas as mapped will be determined by planimctcr-
ing, line sampling, or dot count. Without a nap, the proportion of field plots
in different classes provides an estimate of the proportion of total area in
each class, if the spacing of plots is uniform. On most of our surveys, the
number of plots in a working circle will be too few to provide anything more
than a very crude estimate by this method.

-6-

V> '

Possible Shortcuts

At present the n ini nun number of plots is set at 200 in the snallcr working
circles,* Highest priority is given to cut-over areas and restocking burns to
get net growth and mortality data for plan revision. The next highest priority
is given to virgin timber scheduled for early cutting. The average number of
plots taken in a cluster is three and represents a day’s work for a two-nan
crow. It is planned to check on the adequacy of 200 plots and decide upon the
ultimate number needed in each working circle. This can be done on a volume
basis at present, nut it will be preferable to decide this finally according
to variability in mortality and not growth.

Maximum use will be made of existing cruises, most of which were 5-or 10 per¬
cent strip surveys. In ad justing these to present .standards, the old strip
lines will be duplicated as closely as possible. The smallest recording unit
was the 40 , so it will be necessary to re-run on a 40 basis, selecting a re-
p r e s ont at i ve sampl e of 40’s.

Another good possibility of getting preliminary estimates for plan preparation
is to use Forest Survey’s average volumes by napped classes and apply these
with some adjustments to local areas. This has been done with good success
in a few instances, but further tests arc needed.

Use of Forest Survey volume tables localized to species, site, and perhaps
tree class groups and applied on the basis of diameter only may speed up plot
establishment by eliminating estimation of height. Those tables may be parti¬
cularly useful in interpolating for growth.

The tedious and time-consuming job of planimctcring maps may be eliminated by
line sampling or counting dots. It is possible to show by straight line graphs
on logarithmic paper the spacing of parallel lines needed to any given accuracy
that is required.

Planning the most efficient inventory presents a different problem for each
working circle. Existing cruise and map data, including Forest Survey, should
be carefully examined so that full use is made of it. Forest Survey statistics
on volume and variance, together with similar information from management plan
cruises in comparable areas, should lead to progressively better and more ef¬
ficient inventory work.

Austin A. Hasel

-7~

3 a • .

SUPERVISION " 11..: ; .

Me e tings y . ■

(Management Plan Conference)

March 22

TOPIC 12 .

INVENTORIES FCR MANAGEMENT PLANS - R-4

By Paul A. Grossenbach

Purpose .

, l

To obtain and assemble information pertaining to the timber resource in
order to be able .to regulate the cut and to safeguard future yields.

Needs

(1) The total timber volume by (a) species, (b) age classes,

( c) d.b.h. classes, and ( d) types.

(2) The total area of forest land within the unit by timber
types for (a) age classes, (b) merchantability classes, and
(c) site classes.

(3) Tree class di stribution whe re possible (such as Keen's class
for ponderosa pine).

(4) ' The stand oer acre of trees below merchantable size by d.b.h.

classes for (a) merchantable types and (b) types now unmerchant¬
able but which may become merchantable within the rotation.

(5) The predicted annual or periodic growth for the unit.
Classification of Working Circles

We have tentatively classified our working circles into three broad
groups in ogder to tie the needed inventories in with the relative
values involved. (Thesb- classes were developed as a part of the
regional 10-year program for management plan completion and it is
necessary to explain them somewhat before discussing surveys as the
type of- survey required for each class varies somewhat from the others).

Class I. - Flans or revisions urgently needed; maximum allowable

cut in sight, reached, or exceeded; available data either
unsatisfactory or incomplete; relative importance high;
project work required in most cases.

Claes II, Plans or revisions neodod; maximum allowable cut possible;

additional or improved inventory data necessary; relative
importance medium; surveys can bo- handled by contributed
time with minor exponso.

( Over)

Class III.

No immediate need for better plans than are now in
existence or can be prepared from data available;
present cut generally far below maximum permissible;
relative importance low; little or no field work
require d.

Rolativo values and relativo importance are Dractically synonomous
although importance ties the working circle in with community aspects
and in some cases relatively- low- value timber may be involved whoro
community dependence is high.

An indication of the nature of the inventory needed for oach working
circle is derived directly from this classification. Generally speaking
wo havo our sights sot on a relatively high standard survey for the
Class I working circles. Such a survey will not bo attempted without
complete or nearly complete aerial photo coverage of the areas to bo
cruisod although in some cases it will not bo possible to await the con¬
struction of a planimotriq baso map by the Division of Engineering beforo
proceeding with the survoy. In such cases the ground crows will locate
and identify on the photos the control noodod, and the bost available
base map will be used to proparo the typo map from the’ photos, using
tho KEK plottor.

Random sampling will be usod throughout such a survoy bocauso of tho
largo acroago involved. Tho system to bo used will dopond on tho typo
of area to be covered.

As wo havo not yot usod aori-al photographs and random sampling on
oxtonsivo survoy work wo cannot say definitely what refinements wo will
use. Wo do know, however, that wo can stratify our timbered areas on
tho photos and without much field work, by density and. ago classos and
in some cases by typos. This will allow tho use of stratified random
sampling and we certainly intend to try it for wo fool that thoro is
at loast one very distinct advantage in stratifiod sampling and that
is that whoro an ontiro working circle is convorod in this manner wo

can still obtain reasonably good compartment os-timatos duo -to the— . •

delineation of densities and ago classes on tho photos.

Tho procedure wo oxpoct to follow will bo somewhat of tho following
ordor:

(1) If an aerial photo planimotric baso map is available, no
additional control will bo necessary and advance fieldwork
will consist of typing ago and merchantability classos, on

the photos, using storooscopos and binoculars and typing from
vantage points. If no aerial photo base map is available,
tho nocossary control points will bp located and pin pricked
on the photos. As far as possible tho typing will be done in
conjunction with tho control work, and whatever blank spaces
are left will bo filled in from vantage points. No units
loss than 10 acres will bo typod out.

(2) Donsity classos will bo filled in next, working in tho office
and using a storooscopo.

(3) A rough determination of aroa by typos, ago classes and
density classes for the merchantable timber areas will
then bo made.

(4) A random allocation of plots will follow* The numbor of
plots to bo taken will be determined by the uniformity of
the plots within oach ago and density class for oach typo.
1/Vhoro no information on uniformity is available it will bo
nocossary to do a small amount of sampling in oach class ,

„.in or-dor to sot the numbers roquirod. In general thoro
..will bo somo cruise data available for the working circlo
from which tho total number of plots roquirod can bo com-
putod. Plots will be allocated according to donsity classes
in ordor to attain tho lowest sampling error in tho heavy
donsity classes and tho estimate for tho light donsity
classos will suffer accordingly.

(5) Fiold sampling will follow as tho last stop in gathering
tho inventory data.

On parts of a very fow Class I working circles present data can bo con¬
sidered sufficiently accurato that offico rovision of tho old plans
will suffico for tho next fow years. For those working circlos now
or rovisod plans will bo mado which will bo cxpoctod to d,o' until
fiold chocking of tho assomblod inventory' data shows tho nood for moro
accurato figures. Procoduro thon will bo tho same as shown abovo
for Class I aroas unloss onough of the prosont available data is
found to bo sufficiently accurato that tho romaindor can bo gathered
saftily within tho ton-yoar period by Class II procoduro, shown below.

Class II working circlos may bo thoso whoro plans can bo mado or
rovisod from oxi sting data or whoro, bocauso thoy aro somowhat loss
important than thoso in Class I, tho noodod data can bo gathered by
loss cos.tly methods than Class I as tho rolativo accuracy roquirod is
somowhat lowor. • ... ..

As thoro is not tho pressing nood for an inventory as accurato as
that noodod for Class I working * circlos , tho survoy standards can bo
somowhat loss exacting. '* Aerial photos will bo roquirod as baforo but
tho amount of identification of ground control points on the photos
will bo roduco dt thus putting a hoavior burden on tho plottor oporator
who will mako tho host typo map ho can using tho host. available baso
map and using drainago for control as nocossary.

Fiold work in typing and sampling will bo done to as high a standard
as with Class I, the difforonco. being in tho amount of- sampling
roquirod. In other words, tho quality of tho work will bo tho same
but tho quantity will bo roduco d and tho allowable error of tho total
estimate will thoroforo bo incroasod accordingly. In both casos tho
porcontago of error will bo agrood upon boforohand and may vary
botwoon spocios within a working circlo and also botwoon working
circlos. Most of tho work will bo dono by contributod time of rangor
and timber salo personnel,

( ovo r )

- 4 -

Class III plans will bo mado from ostimatos ranging in aocuraoy from
tho lowost Class II down to ocular ostimatos. "Whore aorial photos aro
availablo and can bo financod on tho forosts, thoy will bo usod to tho
fullest oxtont possible, Littlo or no fiold work will bo roquirod.

Flans will bo basod on tho bost available data ranging from workod-
ovgr oxtonsivo and intonsivo survoys down through tho old roconnaissanco
ostimatos to ‘‘"bost judgmont" ostimatos for somo working circles. In
most eases something bottor than a guoss will bo availablo though it
might only consist of a.fow scattered timbor sale ostimatos and maps
that can bo usod for comparison purposos.

Relative Accuracy Roquirod

For Class I and Class II survoys and plans tho porcont accuracy dosirod
can bo sot beforehand. Baso£ on two standard deviations tho allowable
orror will probably rango from about 5% to 10% for Class I and 5% to
20% for Class II. All survoy data will bo gathered, compilod and kopt
soparato by compartments for convonionco pf revision and for planning
tho logging oporations although tho accuracy of tho individual compart-
mont ostimatos will bo unknown.

It will, of courso, bo impossible to sot any standards of accuracy for
tho Class III plans.

In Region 4 wo havo not had sufficient oxporionco with tho application
of random sampling procoduro to inventory methods to say what tho
allowable orror should bo for tho .various typoc and ago classes that
will bo oncouptorod boyond setting tho broad limits of 5% to 20%.

Boforo work is started on any working circle, tho survoy procoduro will
bo pi anno d in detail and tho judgment of thoso mon preparing tho plan
will dotormino tho accuracy roquirod for typos and ago classos. Si to
cannot bo considorod bocauso no mapping of sitos will bo dono*

CLASS I WORKING CIRCLES
Aero ago Data

Forost

Working Circlo

M. Ac.
Approximate
Total Aroa

P ri o ri ty

Rating

Boiso

Cascade

144

To bo

Squaw Crook

sot up

N. Fk. Payot to

lator

S. Fork Payot to

705

.. , ■ .

Boiso Basin

340

N. Fk, Boiso Rivor

247

• '

CLASS I WORKING CIRCLES (Continued)

\\ X *

Acreage

Data

/ • f

Forest

-i

Working Circle

M. Ac.
Approximate

Total Area

Priority

Rating

Boise

Mid. Fk, Boise River

276

S. Re. Boise River

391

Dixie

Mammoth .

371

t»

E. Fork Sevier

196

Fayette

S. Fk. Salmon

267

Fayette Lakes

109

Cascade

Meadows Valley

144

Salmon River

100 •

Wasatch

Provo River

140

Uinta

it \t

101

Total

3,665 M. acres

CLASS II WORKING CIRCLES

.... -•

Forest

Working Circles

M, ac.
Approximate

Total Area

P r i o ri ty r
Rating

Ashley

1,116

Boise

:• S. Fk, Salmon River

115

To be

Bridge r

•5

1,710

de te rmine d

Cache

1,217

later.

Carib ou

Snake River

620

(Over)

- 6 -

CLASS. II WORKING CIRCLES' (Continued)

F o re s t

Working Circles

M. Ac .
Approximate

Total Area

Priority

Rating

Caribou^

Bear Lake

Star Valley

115

Caribou

P o rtneuf-Poc . -Mala d

276

Dixie

Escalante- Teas dale

667

Mono-Toiyabe

Mono

613

Nevada

Charleston Mountain

Payette

Council

219

Mann Creek

Indian Valley

Middle Valley

Salmon

Nor thfork

300

. . . . • -

Sawtooth . .

South "Fork Boise

414

. . . .

Targhee

Spencer

184

Island Park

460- •

Wasatch

Green River

183

Uinta

Strawberry- •

391 .

Duche sne

• /*’ •

138

• *

Total

8,987

CLASS III .WORKING

CIRCLES

Total area 20,

112 M. acres consisting of

the remainder of

R-4 total

gross area.

Present iigures for volume and accessibility do not mean much at this
time as all existing management plans are due to be revised and new
plans are to be prepared where none are now in existence.

Costs

No extensive inventory work in the Region using aerial photos has been
completed to the point where usable cost data is available. For
estimating purposes we are falling back on figures given by other
Regions. Our best estimate at the 'time is therefore 3% per acre for
the Class I surveys and a total of approximately $110,000. At least
90%, and possibly more of the Class I area, is covered by usable
aerial photography and the cost does not include the purchase of
original photography, only the cost of prints of existing coverage, nor
does it include the cost of Engineering control as it will not be
possible to hold up the preparation of plans pending the completion
of high order control work.

Class II surveys will necessarily bo done with contributed timo through¬
out with little additional expense except for photos and travel. This
should amount to an average of loss than l/8% per acre with a total
for Class II surveys of approximately $11,000*

Class III plans will require no formal surveys and no outlay of funds.

The use of aerial photos is of course the biggest dollar savor in
extensive inventory work. Stratified random sampling, with the
density delineation done as office work, should sorvo to roduco costs
somewhat by cutting down the total number of plots to bo takon* If
practical, some system of plot clusters can also bo usod to cut costs.

This will be tried out, o specially who re the types are not too small.

We can save considerable time by having compass courses and distances
from easily identifiable points to plot centers laid out beforehand
on the photos. These can be taken roughly from the photos by the use
of the protractor and scale. This will of course be necessary only
where plot centers will bo difficult to locate diroctly from the
photos •

We cannot at the present time see where the use of a card system and
tabulating machines will help us much on compilation as wo do not
contemplate the use of continuous inventory nor the sotting up of
enough permanent samplo plots to justify such methods.

Area control also appears to have a place in tho preparation of at
least some R-4 plans. It may bo ontirely feasible and all that we
need at present for some of our lodgepolo and spruco stands. A com¬
bination of volume and area control can probably bo usod for other areas.
Straight aroa control has yet to bo tried in R-4, although wo have plans
in preparation and some up for revision that will uso somo modifications
of it.

Portland, Oregon
March 23, I9h9

THE USE OF YIELD TABLES IN PREDICTING GROWTH,

MORTALITY, AND YIELD

Philip A, Briegleb

Pacific Northwest Forest & Range Experiment Station

A normal yield table is a tabulation of the volume, basal area,

number of trees, etc, per acre found in full stands on specified sites

at specified ages, Most normal yield tables have been prepared to apply
strictly to even-aged, pure stands, Frequently, they have been con¬
sidered as a guide to the life history of the ideal stand for the species
studied. Actually, the theoretical normal stand seldom possesses this
signif icance, It is merely a standard to which an actual forest may be
compared. An example for site quality class II Douglas-fir is given in
table 1,

Application

The process for estimating annual growth, using yield tables, is
simple in principle. Assume, for example, that an estimate of growth of
a 50-year-old stand on site II over the next 10 years is desired, A

common method is to obtain the following data from the yield table and

by actual stand inventory respectively t

Normal volume 60 years = 142,800 bd, ft, per acre

" " 50 years = 27,^00 w n " n

n 10-year growth, age 50-60 years = 15,14.00 n w * ”

Table !<> --Normal yield table for Douglas-fir on fully stocked acre

site quality class II lands
(From Up S„ Dept, Agric„ Tech. Bui. 201)

Age

(yr.)

Av o ht , of
dominant &
codominant
trees

Total

number

trees

D.boh,

average

tree

Total

basal

area

Volume

Mean
annual
increment,
trees 12n+

Trees 6V

Trees 12 V

Ft,

In,

Sq. ft.

Cuoftpi/

Bd.ft.2/

Bd. ft .27

880

h.5

960

—

555

7 c0

150

3,270

2,600

102

385

9oh

189

5,990

11,900

298

119

290

11 „8

217

8,300

27.400

540

132

228

li+.O

21+1

10,360

42,800

71U

144

186

16o0

260

12,140

57,200

820

154

159

17 »9

276

13,700

70,000

878

163

138

19-6

290

15,040

81,000

900

100

170

123

21„2

302

16,130

90,400

902

110

176

111

22.6

313

17,030

98,300

894

120

181

101

24.0

322

17,770

105,100

876

130

185

25 0 3

331

18,420

111,000

851

140

188

26.5

338

18,990

116,300

830

130

190

27.7

346

19,500

121,200

808

160

192

28 „9

353

19,990

125,700

786

1 / Inside bark to 4W top,

2j By Scribner rule to 8W topc

-2-

Present volume, as measured by cruise, is 23,300 board feet per
acre, or 85 percent of normal „ Estimate of current annual
growth is then assumed to be?

(Normal 10-year growth) present volume as % of normal =

(15,1+00) o 85 = 1,309 board feet per acre per year
10

Measurements, on both permanent and temporary plots, of growth in
actual stands show that young forests, typically less dense than normal,
grow more rapidly than their percentage of normal volume indicates. This
is shown in table 2 for Douglas-fir on well-stocked areas, averaging 85
percent of normal number of trees for actual stand diameter, and on
medium-stocked areas averaging 53 percent of normal. Table 2 indicates
that Douglas-fir well stocked at 50 years is expected to produce 97 per¬
cent of normal yield table growth during the next decade, or:

(15,1+00 bd, ft,) , 97 = 1,1+91+ board feet per acre per year
10

This is an increase of ll+ percent over the 1,309 board feet as estimated
by the conventional method above. For medium-stocked areas supporting
younger stands, failure to allow for an increase in normality percentage
when estimating growth may lead to underestimates in error by as much as
100 percent.

In older second-growth stands, however, on well-stocked areas, actual
increment tends to fall below that estimated from the yield table if
appropriate correction factors are not applied. This is due largely to
tree mortality, caused by insects, root and butt rots and storms, which
tends to accelerate beyond the normal rate as stands grow older.

"3”

Table 20 — The relation of measured, to normal saw-timber growth

Age period
(years)

Measured growth in

terms of normal

Well-stocked areas

Medium- stocked areas

Percent

30-1+0

115

103

U0-50

105

50-60

60-70

70-80

80-90

90-100

100-110

110-120

120-130

130-11+0

11+0-150

150-160

The normal yield table provides a convenient method for estimating
the yield at harvest time for young stands, and also the future pro¬
ductivity of areas to be seeded or planted , For the latter, site
quality must be estimated from the remnants of a former stand or from
a nearby stand on similar site* A systematic yield table application
study must be made, however, before estimates of yield at harvest far
in the future can be made with any satisfactory degree of confidence.
Results of such a survey on extensive second-growth logging operations
in western Washington are given in figure 1. This shows that areas
well stocked with Douglas-fir (i,e,, having 'JO percent or more of the
normal number of trees for the average tree diameter) yielded in volume
of harvest 75 to 80 percent of normal yield table volumes at ages of 60
to 110 years o If the total board-foot volume in the stands studied had
been utilized the harvest at 60 to 110 years would have ranged from 80
to 88 percent of normal for the sites and ages sampled. Such prac¬
tical checks as these are needed if the forest manager is to take some
of the guesswork out of yield table application.

The lower chart in figure 1 shows volumes, in terms of normal,
that were recovered from areas that were medium stocked (1|0 to 69 per¬
cent of normal number of trees for the average d,b„h,) at time of har¬
vest o If harvest had been postponed on the areas that supported young
stands it is likely that some of these would have in time moved into
the n good-stocking” class. Thus, when estimating final yield of medium'
stocked areas which are to be logged in the distant future, present
volume should be measured by timber cruise and then the growth antici¬
pated in the decades ahead should be estimated by applying successively
the appropriate growth factors given in table 2,

-5”

Percent of A/ormo/ fo/ume — /nfemofiono/ y^-znc/? Pc//e

FIGURE I. PERCENT OF NORMAL VOLUME FOUND ON SITE I,E AND It D0UGLAS-F1R LANDS

Estimating Gross Growth and Mortality „ The conventional yield

table shows only the volume in surviving trees at different ages. It
does not show the total volume of wood produced and the volume lost by
tree mortality. As intensiveness of management increases it is good
business for the forester to know the total growth and the loss occur¬
ring in his various stands. A measure of these can be obtained in a
yield table application study made by using either temporary or perma¬
nent plot techniques. Result of such a study on well-stocked Douglas-
fir areas is summarized in table 3« Rate of loss in merchantable-sized
trees was found to mount rapidly after "JO years of age. By 100 to 110
years, mortality averaged more than one-third of the normal rate of
growth.

By such a yield table application study the trend of growth and
mortality in typical stands can be computed by applying the values such
as those in table 2 and in table 3 to the normal yield table growth
rates. Result of this procedure for site II Douglas-fir lands is given
in table 1+.

The rate of annual growth, both gross and net, was found to be at
the maximum about 1,620 board feet per acre, at age of 1±5 years. At
this age the difference between gross and net growth is very small, ow¬
ing to the low level of mortality. But as age advances and mortality
increases, the spread between gross and net growth becomes much broader.
For example, at 125 years, when gross growth is about 760 board feet
per acre, net growth has fallen to 1*25 board feet. In other words, I4J4.
percent of gross growth is being nullified by mortality.

Table 3« — -Mortality as percent of normal saw-timber

growth

is strongly related to age

(well-stocked areas)

Age period

Mortality as percent
of normal saw-timber

(years )

growth rate

30-1+0

Percent

i+o-5 0

=65

50-60

l06

60-70

3*5

70-80

5o9

80-90

13d

90-100

22*9

100-110

3U.8

110-120

46o3

120-130

56.8

130-12+0

67.0

li+O-150

76.3

150-160

85.6

-8-

Table l*. --Trend of annual saw-timber growth and mortality on
well-stocked Douglas-fir lands, site II, and

comparison with normal growth

Age period
(years)

Measured periodic annual
and mortality

growth

Normal
periodic
annual growth

Measured net
growth as %
of normal

Gross growth (Mortality Net growth

Bd0 ft.

Bd. ft.

Bd* ft*

Bd. ft.

Pet.

30-1*0

1,070

—

1,070

930

115

U0-50

1.630

1,620

1.540

105

50-60

1,525

1,500

1,550

60-70

1,375

1,325

1.440

70-80

1,190

1,115

1,280

80-90

1.065

145

920

1,105

90-100

960

215

745

940

100-110

875

275

600

790

110-120

820

315

505

680

120-130

760

335

425

590

130-lUO

725

355

370

530

11*0-150

700

370

330

485

150-160

685

385

300

450

-9-

Another use for normal yield tables is as an indicator of the most
efficient rotation over which to grow even-aged stands. As shown in the
last column of table 1 this is at about 100 years for site II* Yield
table application studies on both permanent and temporary plots, how¬
ever, have shown that actual untended stands reach their age of maximum
mean annual increment about 10 to 20 years earlier than indicated by
the normal yield tables*

Problems in the Use of Yield Tables

As all foresters know, many stands, in fact most stands, depart
rather widely from theoretical yield table standards. The wider the de¬
parture of a given stand from the normal, the less satisfactory does
the normal yield table serve as a medium for making growth estimates®

Change in Stand Normality. Numerous studies have shown that actual
stands do change in normality as they grow older. Failure to allow for
this leads to errors of conservatism for young stands, but may lead to
overestimates of increment in second growth of advanced age. Proper al¬
lowance for change in normality can only be made by special supplementary
study on permanent or temporary plots for each type and yield table.
Adequate information of this kind is available for few of the forest
types of the country.

Effect of Cutting on Growth. American yield tables do not make
allowance for effect of intermediate cutting on growth. Partial allow¬
ance can be made by making indicated adjustments for change in nor¬
mality and for the utilization of timber normally lost by mortality,
but indications are that such adjustment is inadequate. Cutting may
either increase or decrease growth, depending on the quality of for¬
estry that is practiced in the operation.

Uneven-aged Stands. Several special yield tables have been pre¬
pared for estimating growth in uneven-aged stands, apparently with
fairly good results — for example, in the northern hardwood type in the
Lake States and in ponderosa pine in the Pacific Northwest* These are
quite different in form, however, from the usual normal yield table*

As a general principle, stand increment has been found to be estimated
with less accuracy by techniques that predict future volumes than by
those which predict annual growth directly*

Mixed Species* This is usually a source of headaches for the for¬
ester trying to apply a normal yield table* It is difficult to obtain
from yield tables an accurate estimate of total growth in mixed stands —
still more difficult to obtain estimates of growth by species*

Mature and Overmature* Most yield tables ignore this problem en¬
tirely* Yet the assumption that growth and mortality are in balance in
such stands is too arbitrary to express accurately the trends that are
actually taking place*

Change in Site Index* The site curves upon which yield tables are
based represent the average height-age relationship for all soil and
climatic subdivisions sampled within the forest type universe* On aver¬
age soil types, tree height growth is rapid in youth, leveling off
gradually toward maturity* On some soils supporting the same type of
forest, height growth may be normal at early ages but level off more
rapidly later* Such a stand referenced against standard site curves
would show an apparent change in site index* Resulting errors in growth
estimate may not always be small or compensating*

-11-

Special Types of Yield Tables

An alternative solution to some of the above problems is to use
empirical yield tables 0 These are similar to normal tables, but are
based on average degree of stocking instead of full stocking, Even so,
if applied to any specific stand, adjustments must be made although the
adjustment is likely to be smaller than in the case of normal tables,

A common source of difficulty with empirical tables is correlation be¬
tween stocking and age, If such a relationship exists in the stands
sampled, empirical tables derived for them might be almost useless, A
new method for construction of non -normal yield tables which has been
applied to loblolly pine has a number of advantages, and it is recom¬
mended that this method be considered in the construction of any new
tables. Plots may be taken by mechanical sampling over the entire for¬
est type universe, specific provision being made for density and compo¬
sition correction factors. Computations are laborious, however, and the
tables themselves do not provide means for making adjustments for
changes in normality, composition, or site,

A new type of yield table has recently been prepared for Douglas-
fir based on average tree diameter and number of trees per acre instead
of on site and age. The result is summarized in tables 5* 6, and 7*

To apply to any given stand simply determine the number of trees per
acre, their average diameter, and their average height. Assume, for
example, a stand having 150 trees per acre averaging 16 inches in d,b,h,
and 130 feet high. Table 5 indicates that the average tree in such a
stand 123 feet high contains 296 board feet. Estimated volume of the
average tree in the present stand is then 5

Table 5 ^“Revised Douglas-fir yield table
Based on average diameter instead
of site and age

' Avo ~

dobohol/

stand

(in,)

Normal

number^/

of trees
per acre

Normal ht,
of trees
of average
d.boho

Volume

in cubic

feet per

tree

Yol, in t>d, ft.

per tree, of
trees 12rt +

Entire

trees &
total
stand

Yol, to

4” top
in trees

5" +

Yol, to

4W top
in trees

7«» +

Yol, to

4" top
in trees
12w +

InteriL.

l/8"3/

Scrib,-

nerh/

Ft0

1+.1+66

2,387

1,530

1,8

0,9

0,2

1,084

3,2

1,1

818

5,1

3,8

2,6

0.3

644

7.6

6.2

4,9

1,1

521+

10,9

9.1+

8,0

2,5

1+37

11+.9

13.1+

12,1

5,3

371

19.6

18,0

16.7

9,5

320

25,2

23.6

22,7

15.1

102

280

31,5

29.8

29,3

21.7

148

248

104

38,5

36,6

36.5

29,5

22U

li+9

221

110

46,6

1+1+.3

38,3

271+

184

198

117

55,5

52,8

52.8

1+8.0

31+7

236

180

123

1+32

296

164

130

521

359

150

135

618

1+29

138

141

721+

510

127

147

112

108

106

836

593

118

152

126

121

119

956

683

110

157

142

136

131+

1,075

779

102

162

158

152

150

1,205

886

167

175

169

168

1,339

999

171

193

186

185

1.1+85

1,125

176

213

205

204

1,653

1,262

180

231+

227

1,826

i.i+05

185

256

21+9

2,031

1,562

189

279

271

2,21+9

1,730

191+

302

293

2,1+76

1,905

1/Wei ghted by basal areac

2 / Total stand, i0e.} trees over 1,5 inches in d,b,h.
3/ To 5~inch top,

U/ To 8-inch top.

“13"

Table 6, — Estimated diameter growth per decade in

normal stands of second-growth Douglas-firl/

Av0

d.b.h,
of stand

Diameter growth when

age

of stand

in years is

—

(ln° )

2+0

80 1

90 |

100

110

120

130

12+0

150

Inches

1.6

l.l

2,0

1.1*

0.9

2.1+

1.6

1.1

0o9

208

1.9

1.1+

l.l

3.2

202

1,6

1.3

1,0

3o7

2o5

1.8

i.i+

1.1

0,8

2.7

2,1

1,6

1.3

loO

0.7

0,6

3.0

2o3

1.8

i.i+

1.1

0,8

0,7

0,6

3.3

206

1.9

1.5

1.2

0.9

0,8

0,7

0,6

0.5

3.6

2,8

2,1

1.7

1.3

1.0

0,9

0.8

0,7

0.6

0.5

0.1+

3o0

2o3

1.8

i.i+

1,1

0o9

0,8

0,7

0.6

0.5

0.1+

3<>3

2„5

2,0

1.5

102

loO

0.9

0,8

0.7

o,6

0.5

il+

3o5

2.6

2,1

1,6

1.3

1,1

1.0

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

3.7

2,8

2,2

1.0

1.1+

1,2

1,0

0,9

0.8

0.7

0.6

l+.o

3o0

2.1+

1.9

1.5

1,1

1.0

0.8

0.7

0.6

2.5

2,0

1.6

1.3

1,2

1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

3o3

2o7

2,1

1.7

1.1+

1.2

1.1

0.9

0.8

0.7

2,8

2,2

1.8

1.5

1.3

1.1

1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

3o0

2.3

1.9

1,6

1.1+

1.2

1.0

0.9

0.8

3.1

2.1+

2,0

1.7

1.5

1.3

1.1

1.0

0.9

0.8

2o5

2,1

1.7

1.5

1.3

1.1

1.0

0.9

0.8

2o7

2,2

1,8

1.6

1.1+

1.2

1.1

1.0

0.9

21+

2,8

2.3

1.9

1.7

i.i+

1.2

1.1

1,0

0.9

2o9

2.1+

2,0

1.7

1.5

1.3

1.1

1.0

2o5

2,1

1.8

1.5

1.3

1.2

1.1

1.0

2.6

2,1

1.9

1.6

1.1+

1.2

1.1

2,7

2,2

1.9

1.7

1.5

1.3

1.2

1.1

2,3

2,0

1.7

1.5

1.3

1.2

1.1

2.1+

2,1

1.8

1.6

1.1+

1.3

1.2

1/ The above figures are derived from McArdle's "Yield Tables" U. S. Dept.

Agric. Tech, Bui, 201, Above figures include "false growth" resulting from
death of smaller trees and hence will not agree with actual diameter growth
of surviving trees as determined by borings.

Table 7.

— Estimated increase

in normality

in a 10-year

period

Normality

10 years’ increase
in normality

Normality
after 10 years

o30

.08

o38

«35

.07

.1 (2

.1+0

o07

.1+7

oU5

.06

*51

.50

.06

.56

.55

.06

.61

.60

.05

.65

.05

*70

.70

.01+

,7 b

.75

.01+

*79

„80

.03

o83

.85

.03

.88

.90

.02

o92

.95

.02

o97

1.00

.02

1.02

1.05

.01

1.06

1.10

.01

1.11

1.15

.00

1.15

1.20

.00

1.20

1.25

.00

i025

1.30

-.01

1o29

1.35

-.01

1.51+

1.1+0

-.02

1.38

1.U5

- o 02

1.1+3

1.50

-.03

1.1+7

-15-

296 x - 313 board feet, Scribner rule

Present volume of the stand is then estimated as volume of aver¬
age tree times number of trees per acre, ors

313 x 150 = U6,950 board feet per acre
Present normality of the stand = = 83 percent

To estimate volume 10 years hence s

Assume, for example, present stand age is 50 years*
Table 6 indicates a stand averaging 16 inches in
d0b0h0 and 50 years in age will increase in average
debch* by 3 inches over the next 10 years, or to 19
inches c

Table 7 indicates that a stand presently 83 percent
of normal will increase to 86 percent within 10 years*
Refer again to table 5 and read average volume per
tree for a stand averaging 19 inches in d.b.h. =

510 board feet*

Corrected for present excess of measured over normal
height this becomes s

510 x = 539 board feet per tree

Estimated number of trees per acre 10 years hence is
normal number of trees for a stand averaging 19 inches
in doboho times estimated normality 10 years hence, ors

138 x *86 = 119

And estimated total volume 10 years hence amounts to
volume of average tree 10 years hence times number of
trees per acre 10 years hence, ors

— 16—

539 "board feet x 119 = 6I4. ^ li+l board feet per acre
Estimated annual growth per acre for the next decade equals
future volume less present volume divided by years in the
period, org

= 1,719 board feet

What is the Future of Yield Tables

Within a third of a century of technical effort American foresters
have constructed yield tables of one sort or another for most of the
important pure, even-aged types in the United States. A few have been
constructed for mixed and uneven-aged stands. There is a wide range in
the technical adequacy of these tables. Some are useful, some are
clearly inadequate, some are insufficiently tested to judge their worth.
Adequate application studies have been completed on few, if any. Is
the task of making the necessary application studies, modifications, or
new tables justified? The answer will vary region by region and type
by type.

For second-growth forests which are mostly even-aged and compara¬
tively in pure stands or in simple species combinations, a standard
yield table can be prepared or adapted for estimating growth, mortality,
and final yield with appropriate efficiency and accuracy. For estimat¬
ing the periodic growth of such stands, either past or far into the
future, or for appraising for stands managed under a one -harvest -cut-
per-rotation system the potential growth and the volume of growing
stock required to attain it, yield tables are a valuable working tool
for the forest manager, particularly in the pioneering stages of
management.

-17-

Over much of the west, topography or other factors prevent the mak¬
ing of thinnings or intermediate cuts* Thus, for the foreseeable future
the manager of such forest areas is likely to be limited to one harvest
cut per rotation and his forest is likely to be generally evenaged and
perhaps simple in composition* Estimates of yields far into the future
will be needed in regulating the cut and yield table techniques are
likely to be of continuing utility in providing such estimates.

For stands that are prevailingly unevenaged, composed of compli¬
cated species mixtures, and likely to be cut many times during a rota¬
tion, adequate growth estimates usually can be obtained far more readily
by stand table projection or by permanent plots than by yield table
methods* Permanent plots serve effectively to determine by direct mea¬
surement the trends of growth and mortality. In addition, permanent or
semi-permanent plots can provide the basic data for the development of
detailed growth and mortality probability tables for various tree sizes,
species, age, and vigor classes. Such probability tables should be in¬
creasingly useful as management becomes more intensive.

There is a specialized type of yield table, however, that is likely
to find a place in connection with some of the most intensive manage¬
ment we can imagine* Such a yield schedule for a Douglas-fir plantation
in Denmark is given in table 8. The detailed record begins at 26 years,
but previous thinnings had removed 2,200*9 cubic feet per acre. Thin¬
nings continued at intervals of several years and at age 57 years mean
annual yield amounted to 331.5 cubic feet per acre. This is 2-l/? times
the increment indicated by the normal yield tables for full natural
stands of this age and site* Also impressive is the average diameter of
18*5 inches for site III, 57 years , in contrast to 11 inches for normal
Douglas-fir of similar age and site.

Table 8. — Life history of Douglas-f ir olantation in

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l/ From unpublished yield tables for Douglas-fir plantations in Denmark. Basic data supplied by 0 »
Marstrand j/rgensen, Langesoe, Denmark, translated to British units by Pacific Northwest Forest and
Range Experiment Station.

As possibilities for intensive management develop in this country
it is likely that some such form of yield table will find a place in
guiding the foresters who direct the harvest*

March 25* 1949

THE PREDICTION OF GROWTH BY STAND PROJECTION METHODS

P. R. Wheeler

Southern Forest Experiment Station
Forest Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture

The stand projection method is a device for projecting a parti cu-
lar stand forward to obtain an estimate of volume growth for an immediate
limited period in the life of that stand. Auxiliary studies or estimates
are necessary to forecast mortality. Estimation of yield often involves
a long period of time and other considerations that are beyond the scope
of the stand projection method.

Stand projection involves moving a present stand table ahead for
some given period by use of radial growth measurements. Volumes of the
present and future stands are then obtained and compared to determine
volume growth for the period. For stand projection, three things are
required: the present stand table, radial growth measurements and
volume tables. Each of these items is subject to sampling error. Also
the methods available for the several calculations needed are subject
to the necessity of making assumptions and using concepts that are far
from hole- proof.

Present Methods

The detailed use of stand projection as a growth prediction
mechanism has been thoroughly described by W, G, Wahlenberg in USDA
Technical Bulletin No, 796, "Methods of Forecasting Timber Growth in
Irregular Stands." This publication, which probably has received far
less use than it deserves, summarizes the procedure so well that I will
base my discussion upon it.

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A stand table is obtained from a timber cruise. Radial growths
are obtained from increment cores from some portion of the standing
trees. Before radial growths can be used, one of two basic assumptions
must be made. Growth of the trees in the stand during a future period
may be assumed to be the same as it was in an immediately past period,
or the assumption may be made ’’that trees of a given size class will
increase in diameter. during the coming decade as rapidly as trees that
were in this same size class a decade ago increased during the past
decade,” Neither assumption can be wholly true, but one or the other,
or some modification must be made.

Both stand growth assumptions can only be approximations. To
assume that all trees in a stand will necessarily grow in the next 10
years at the same rate as they have in the past 10 years is obviously
faulty. Stand density and the weather, if nothing else, would see to
that. To determine the rate at which trees of a given size class were
growing 10 years ago involves considerable work. Unless proportionate
sampling is carried back through several diameter classes, one finds him¬
self with a dangling fraction of trees that moved one or more diameter
classes and an unknown fraction of trees that remained behind. Density,
weather, site, and stand condition are factors which make it almost
impossible for the end result to depict what occurs in nature.

Three concepts of growth movement are available: (l) that all
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trees of a given^ class will grow at the average rate for that class,

(2) that an approximation of the dispersion of growth rates within a

size class can be made from the average rate for the class, or (3) that
from an adequate sample the variation of growth rates within a diameter

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class can be determined which will portray growth movement. No one of
these concepts is recommended as universally suitable.

The decision to use one of the three growth-movement concepts
will depend to some extent on the amount of radial growth data available
and on the character of the stand. If one has but few measurements, the
use of averages is necessary. Harmonized curves or regressions showing
the dispersion of growth rates within diameter classes require more
radial growth data than are usually obtained in a timber cruise.

If a stand is composed entirely of merchantable, sawlog-size
trees, the major error one is apt to encounter in the use of average
radial growths is that caused by considering the curve of a tree
diameter- volume table to be a straight line for the segment of average
diameter growth. This error results in a consistent overestima.tion of
volume growth, but may be inconsequential, particularly in the upper
diameters where the usual "volume over tree diameter" curve closely
approaches a straight line.

Where a stand includes many undersawlog-size trees, as do most
of our second-growth southern pine stands, ingrowth from b>elow across
the minimum sawlog-size limit becomes of considerable magnitude. It is
here that use of either of the first two growth movement concepts can
cause serious trouble. An average growth applied to one of the under¬
sawlog-size diameter classes may indicate that no trees of the class
will become sawlog size in the period of prediction. Growth dispersions
more nearly show what is going on in a stand where some trees of 2,
or even 4 diameter classes below the sawlog-size limit may cross the
line within a decade and increase in volume from zero board feet to a

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finite quantity. One difficulty with the dispersion method is that
increment cores from eccentric trees exaggerate these movements and
failures to move into sawlog size. Where ingrowth is heavy, the com¬
posite effect of these exaggerations is considered to be a less serious
error than the possibility of greatly underestimating ingrowth,

Wahlenberg continues by describing the “17 numerical steps” in
the projection of a stand table. The job is tedious and drawn out but
not difficult. For an illustration, he chose to set the trees back 5
years to find what they grew on the average during the period, taking
bark growth into account. An estimate of mortality was injected and an
estimate of periodic volume growth in board feet obtained. By this
method, periodic annual volume growth estimates were calculated for
several natural and old field pine stand conditions found on the Crossett
Experimental Forest, The results serve to illustrate the variations to
be expected in annual volume growths and growth rates of similar pine
stands, particularly the proportion ingrowth may bear to total periodic
growth. In these stands, the latter proportion varied from 13 or 14
percent in light pine and mixed pine-hardwood stands to 34 percent in
two-storied pine stands. For southern Arkansas as a whole, the Forest
Survey in 1935 found that one-third of total pine board foot volume
growth came from ingrowth,

Wahlenberg also points out the advisability of avoiding unnecessary
detail; growth deceleration and acceleration as sources of error, together
with other possible sources of error; puts in a plug for the recurring
or continuous inventory method; and winds up with a discussion of the
application of growth forecasts in forest management. If one has any

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idea of using the stand projection method, the bulletin will repay care¬
ful study, as will the very complete bibliography which includes all
pertinent literature to 1941,

Only a few significant publications have appeared since 1941*

In 1942, H. A, Meyer wrote "Methods of Forest Growth Determination,"
Bulletin 435 of the School of Agriculture Experiment Station of
Pennsylvania State College, It is quite technical in nature and in¬
cludes many statistical derivations of common formulae. Much of it
parallels Wahlenberg’s methodologies and discussions, Meyer’s work is
chiefly valuable to the non- specialist for his exposition of climatic
fluctuations in making comparisons of periodic increment. He lists
some experimental results from the South which indicate that weather
may cause timber growth to fluctuate from 17 to over 40 percent,

S, R. Gevorkiantz and L, P, Olsen have described "An Improved
Increment -core Method for Predicting Growth of Forest Stands," in
Lake States Forest Experiment Station Paper No, 12, 194S« The technics
outlined will have the most application when age classes and the
relation of local form class to that of Lake States timber are known.

The authors presoita rule-of-thumb for estimating the number of borings
needed. To obtain a standard error of volume growth of approximately
10 percent for a stand, about 225 borings are required, distributed
through the diameter classes in the proportion their volumes bear to
the total volume.

It is helpful to consider briefly the part stand characteristics
play in the prediction of stand growth, W, A, Duerr and S, R, Gevorkiantz

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developed regressions for "Growth Prediction and Site Determination in
Uneven-Aged Timber Stands," 1938, Journal of Agricultural Research
56: 2, 81-98, Their work is also described in Lake States Forest Experi¬
ment Station Economic Notes No, 9> "Methods of Predicting Growth of
Forest Stands," Main stand age, density, site, and the proportion of
merchantable to unmerchantable size trees in the stand were expressed
as a series of relationships to growth. In order to use the simplified
growth tables for average sites which the authors present in the latter
publication, only the total board foot volume of the sawlog-size trees,
the basal area of all trees (l" d,b,h, and larger), and the stand age
need be known. Board foot volume varies rather directly with age in
each forest type, so that a reasonable modification might be to express
growth only in relation to board foot volume and total basal area.

Basal area is not often obtained in a general timber cruise, but it is
usually necessary to make some estimate of cordwood volume of the trees
under sawlog size down to a lower pulpwood limit. If the board foot
volume of a stand is converted to cordwood volume and the volume of
under sawlog-size trees added, the total cordwood volume of trees 5*0"
and larger can be used as a basic factor comparable to total basal area.
From an ordinary timber cruise, then, we might readily obtain two import¬
ant items necessary to describe the characteristics of the stand required
for the purpose of estimating growth: board foot volume and total cord¬
wood volume. The possible use of these stand characteristics and their
relationship to growth percent is discussed later.

One possibility sometimes considered is that of reconstructing a
stand at a given time in the immediate past for comparison with the
present stand. The difference obtained should be net volume growth, but

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the inability to reconstruct the past stand with respect to number of
trees becomes insurmountable. There can be no way of precisely deter¬
mining the missing trees. True, a few may be still standing and others
on the ground, but an unknown number have rotted away or have been
removed for use. The dead trees present may have died either before or
after the point in time set as a reference. Little less difficult are
determinations of past height, past form and past defect. Eccentricities
of cross section, faulty ring counts, and bark determinations make
accurate determination of past diameter difficult, though not completely
impossible of attainment. The whole idea of stand reconstruction is best
termed involved and ineffective.

Proposed Method

If one is faced with using stand projection, it has appealed to
me that the best approximation of growth might be obtained by estimat¬
ing future radial growths in the field. While one is at the tree with
the increment core record for the past 5 and 10 year periods in hand,
then would be the time to size up the tree in relation to its associates
and planned removals. If the past growth indicated deceleration and no
surrounding trees were marked for cutting, it would be relatively ea^r
to estimate a continuing deceleration. Conversely, if the tree was boom¬
ing along and to be given release, the acceleration might well continue.
The tough ones to estimate would be slow-growing trees about to be
released. How much release should be estimated? We still need further
research to answer that with any degree of assurance, but an estimate
based on experience should be far better than making some of the assump¬
tions of stand movement we have discussed.

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Having recorded estimated future radial or diameter growths, the
only correction required would be for bark growth. Work at the Southern
Station and elsewhere indicates that for pine and upland hardwoods,
bark growth is about 10 percent of wood growth; for Delta hardwoods it
is about 5 percent of -wood growth. The respective wood and bark growth
factors in terms of wood growth are 1,10 and 1.05*

The assumption that a local diameter-volume table obtained 5 or
10 years later will be the same as that at present may be faulty because
of possible form and height changes. But except in extreme cases the
differences between the present and future local volume over d,b.h,
curves are apt to be more in the nature of differences in level rather
than of slope. Volume changes with increase in diameter, then, are
likely to be nearly the same whichever curve they are read from.

Volume determination for ingrowth is an exception, though probably not
serious in most cases.

Instead of preparing dispersion curves to determine class move¬
ment, volume growth for each sample tree might be determined. Fewer
sample trees would be required, for not as many samples should be
needed to measure average volume growth adequately as to prepare strong
dispersion curves. From a local diameter- volume table, the volume growth
associated with one inch of wood and bark growth at the mid-point of
each diameter class can be determined. From these, the volume growths
of each sample tree can be calculated and the results totaled. The total
can be expanded to gross growth for the entire stand, or it may be
related to the present volume of the samples to determine a gross growth
percent for application to stand volume. To approximate net growth,
some estimate of mortality, as in any method, is required.

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Though not field-tested, the assumptions proposed that future

radial growths can be estimated in the field better than in the office,

and that local diameter- volume tables will not materially change dur-

ing a 10-year period, cannot be open to serious question* With very
little additional field work, we can improve growth prediction and
eliminate unnecessary computations. The required intensity of presenta-
tive sampling should not exceed that suggested by Gevorkiantz, and
probably fewer than 225 increment c ores would be required in one stand.

Forest Survey Growth Percents, A Substitute for

Stand Projection

All systems of stand projection that have been discussed are subject to
errors of greater or lesser magnitudes. After making many field measure¬
ments and going through a multitude of calculations, we still come out
with results in which we seldom can have full confidence. This is
particularly so when an improvement cut is to be made. How can we pre¬
dict with any certainty how the stand is going to react after it has
been opened up and poor risk trees removed?

Since the first step in forest management is generally an improve¬
ment cut, it would appear that the most sensible and efficient way to
determine how the stand is going to react would be to establish permanent
growth and mortality plots. If enough plots are established and reason¬
able records are kept, the only possible accurate measure of what is
occurring to the stand will be obtained. The uncertainties are measur¬
able sampling errors, and the full effect of release and removal of poor
risk trees is learned.

But what to do for the intervening period? How can an estimate
be readily made to serve the purposes of the management plan? What do

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we know about the stands of a working circle or a region that will give
us a usable estimate of growth and mortality? To find out, I’ve gone
to the Forest Survey, Here in the South, during the period 1933 to
1936, over 100 million acres of timber land were cruised, and growth
and mortality were measured and calculated. Without going into the
detailed records, there are certain end figures available that describe
the stands and show a relation to the growth percent.

The use of growth percent may be questioned, but certainly the
thing that is most strongly correlated with volume growth is stand per
acre. Unless there is a stand there is no growth, and most heavy stands
will produce a large gross volume growth. Many of you, no doubt, have
estimated that a stand of 1,000 board feet per acre is growing 50 board
feet per acre per year, or a stand of 8,000 growing 400, 5 percent in
each case. And one wouldn’t be far wrong at any time in guessing at a
reasonable growth percent and applying it to the stand volume.

However, we know that the character of the stand is going to
cause the growth rate to vary. In an old-growth stand the growth per¬
cent is usually low, in a young stand it is apt to be high. As has been

said, two components make up board foot volume growth, the growth of

trees already of sawlog size and the ingrowth of trees from below sawlog
size. In an old growth stand, the large trees approaching maturity have
slowed in growth, and the proportion of small trees available for
ingrowth is small. The converse is true of young stands. At the same
time, given two stands of the same board foot volume per acre, one old,
the other young, the younger stand with its higher proportion of small
trees available for ingrowth is almost certain to have the higher volume

- 10 -

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growth and consequently the higher board foot growth percent, unless by
chance it is even-aged with all trees already of merchantable size*

The single factor that tells the most about the character of a
stand and its ability to produce ingrowth is the relation of small-tree
volume to large-tree volume. Small- tree and large-tree volumes are not
always available as separate figures, but Forest Survey data are pub¬
lished presenting board foot volumes of .large trees and cordwood
volumes of small and large trees combined. These combined data are
just as useful as separate figures. If all trees in a stand were of
sawlog size and the volumes of the logs expressed both in cords and
board feet, a ratio of about 2 cords per MBM would be expected. The
inclusion of the cordwood volume of trees below sawlog size increases
the cords per MBM ratio in relation to the proportion of the stand com¬
posed of under sawlog- size tree volume. Upper stem cordwood volume in
pines, usable for pulp, slightly increases the ratio.

Board-foot and cordwood volumes per acre for the pine-hardwood
region west of the Mississippi River have been issued as Forest Survey
Release 26, copies of which are available for reference. These data,
board-foot and cordwood volumes for the pine and hardwood species com¬
ponents, are presented for forest conditions, defined in the appendix
to the Release, The cordwood volumes include trees of all sizes 5«0
inches d,b,h, and larger; the pine board- foot volumes include trees 9»0
inches d,b,h, and larger; and hardwood board-foot volumes, trees 13.0
inches d,b,h, and larger.

In the several average-acre tables attached, the cordwood and
board-foot volumes per acre for each of the survey units in Southern

* , . -i yjj

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• •

Station territory are shown. From these the MCords/MBM ratios" have
been calculated for the pine and hardwood species components. For
pine, as well as for hardwoods, you will note throughout the several
survey units the striking similarity of these ratios for the old-growth
uncut condition, for the partly cut, and for the second-growth sawlog-
size, uncut and partly cut conditions. More variability is found in
the second-growth under sawlog- size reproduction and clear-cut conditions
where the board foot base volumes are low and variable. The important
thing is that the character of these stands is quite well described to
the end that each condition becomes a separate entity. The ratios are
low in the old-growth conditions; there are but few small trees avail¬
able for ingrowth. The ratio increases in the second-growth conditions;
more trees are available for ingrowth. Generally, as one would expect,
the partly cut conditions have greater proportions of small trees than
the uncut conditions.

How do these ratios help to predict growth? The general relation
is evident in the table. In any Survey unit, as the cords/MBM ratios
increase, the gross annual board-foot growth percents increase, not
smoothly in all cases, but it looks as if we had something. To visualize
the relationship more easily, the pine gross annual board-foot growth
percents over the cds/MBM data have been plotted in figure 1, It’s
rather a jumble of points, but the trend is strong. There are inconsis¬
tencies which are not easily explained, but the relatively fast timber
growing areas such as Texas 1, Louisiana and Mississippi 3 are found
on the upper side of the band* The slower growing, mountainous units
are on the lower side, Arkansas 4, the unit the Ouachita National Forest

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is in, is one of them, Alabama 5 and 6, the northern units of Arkansas,
are others on the low side. Most of the rest are pretty well distri¬
buted in between. It is gratifying to note that for a given cords/MBM
ratio the extreme range of the growth percents on either side of the
central band is hardly more than 1 percent.

In figure 2, similar data have been plotted for the hardwoods of
the Delta units. Though these data are fewer, the trend is apparent.

The probable explanation for the slow growing position of Louisiana 2
is the presence of a considerable area of the slow growing cypres s-tupelo
type.

The trend lines indicated have not been calculated, but they are
included to assist in showing the relationship between board foot growth
percent and the cords/MBM ratio. One could use these trend lines to
interpolate values for fast, medium, and slow-growing stands, but I feel
that it would be safer to work only with the figures for the particular
Survey Unit within which a working circle fell. Inconsistent though the
figures may be for a particular unit, they portray the character of
those stands and the sites on which they grow. There is little question
in my mind that the cords/MBM ratio obtained from the cruise of a working
circle, interpolated between those of the Survey Unit in question, will
enable the approximation of a more valid growth percent than will any
reasonable amount of increment core measurements and stand projection
calculations.

The above statement is rather broad, but I make it because I have
sweated out several thousands of sample tree radial growth measurements
and many of the calculations upon which the Forest Survey growth percents

- 13 -

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are based. They are the result of one method of stand projection, the
best method that could be devised to fit field and office procedures
at the time. The sample trees were observed in proportion to the total
stand, so each sample tree was moved ahead 10 years by doubling the
radial growth. Volume tables were applied and the volumes of the sample
trees at present and 10 years hence were each totaled. The ratio of
increase for the 10 year period was found, and from that the compound
rate of gross annual growth was determined. To do this, three assump¬
tions had to be made: (l) That the trees would grow as much in diameter
in the next 10 years as they had in the past 10, (2) That the diameter-

volume table would not change in 10 years, (3) That the sample tree
growth rates determined represented the regional effect on growth of
site, stand ages, density of stocking, species composition, crown form,
and proportion of small trees. Bark growth was left out of the compu¬
tations to balance elliptical measurement of radial growth and unknown
factors of the three assumptions, in addition to what was hoped might
insure a slightly conservative estimate of volume growth. When you stop
to think of it, each of these assumptions is subject to many ”ifs” and
"ands" , Only when one considers that current cutting practices have
tended to keep the region’s forests in the generally understocked con¬
dition of 12 to 16 years ago does it appear reasonable to assume that
any great number of the trees in a stand will grow as fast, or as slow,
the next 10 years as in the past. The volume table may not change
radically, but certainly it is hardly a static thing as long as high-
grading the taller, better formed individuals continues.

In using most any standard method of stand projection, one is
faced with making very nearly the same assumptions. If one is willing

- 14 -

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to make these, about the same results as those of the Forest Survey
will be obtained. But, having based the work on such assumptions,
how confident can one feel of the results? They are just another
hat full of figures, a stage better than a good guess. It still
seems reasonable to recommend the use of Forest Survey growth per¬
cents as not too far-fetched approximations* saving the field time
and effort for the installation and remeasurement of permanent growth
and mortality plots*

Mortality Estimates

In any method of growth prediction, some estimate of mortality
is required to enable the reduction of gross growth to net growth.
Unfortunately, there is no tombstone that appears beside a tree at the
time it dies with the date of death engraved upon it. There are some
external indications of how long a tree has been dead, but season of
year, species, age or size, and other factors all cause considerable
variation. The Southern Forest Survey used the following criteria:
"Recent Dead Trees, Standing or Down: Dead Pine trees
which still retain their bark on more than 50 percent
of the stem surface will be tallied ...» by diameter
regardless of whether the trees are standing or down.

"Dead hardwood trees which still retain branches under
5 inches in diameter will be tallied. .. .by diameter
regardless of whether they are standing or down. Small
dead standing trees that originally had no 5 inch limbs
will be tallied unless their top is gone below the point
where the stem is 5 inches in diameter. All dead trees

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under 7 inches d.b.h. will be tallied whether standing
or down regardless of the presence or absence of limbs.
The only exception to this rule is in the case of down
trees so badly decomposed that a kick breaks the stem
into a loose pulpy mass of decomposed material. Dead
trees of the scrub oak group will not be recorded,”

Pines of all sizes with 50 percent of the bark remaining were
considered to have died over a three-year period. Dead hardwoods were
handled in three groups: trees 6 to 12 inches d.b.h. were considered
to have died within 3 years; trees 14 to 20 inches, within 4-1/2 years;
trees 22 inches and larger, within 6 years. The trees tallied as dead
were given appropriate volumes and the sub-totals of each of the
several diameter groups indicated were divided by the period of years
over which the trees died to find the average annual mortality. The
result expressed as a proportion of the live stand volume is annual
mortality percent. These data have been tabulated in attached tables.

The figures have some meaning, but it will be difficult to use them
directly in management plans. The Survey data came from areas of
several million acres which included every conceivable type of manage¬
ment and mismanagement. And certainly but few private owners go look-
ing for poor risk trees to anticipate mortality. At the same time,

these data can serve as a guide until accurate information, can be obtained
from permanent plots. And even if a figure such as 1 percent mortality
per year should be pulled out of the air, the table shows that it might
not be too badly off. It might be justified by some back-of-envelope

- 16 -

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calculation thus — if a mature stand replaced itself in 100 years, about
1 pe rcent of the total volume would fall out every year.

In general, second growth stands in a thrifty condition would be
expected to have a smaller annual mortality percent. If 1 percent appears
to be too high in consideration of the thrift of the stand or the antici¬
pation of mortality by the removal of poor risk trees, some reasDnable
fraction, perhaps one-half or one-third of the Forest Survey estimate
for the surrounding area, should satisfactorily approximate the need.

Only auxiliary studies can determine mortality rates in understocked
stands, or in stands following an improvement cut, and such studies
can only produce results from permanent plots.

Summary

It appears that the inherent weaknesses of the several stand pro¬
jection methods available make them of little or only occasional use in
the preparation of basic groi^h information upon which to build a manage¬
ment plan. This is particularly so in the first stage of forest manage¬
ment when an improvement cut is apt to make radical changes in the com¬
position and density of the stands and in consequent growth and mortality
rates. As an immediately available and reasonable substitue, the use of
Forest Survey growth percents in relation to the stand-characterizing
ratio — cords/MBM— is proposed. Mortality percents may be approximated,
using available Forest Survey data as a guide. The suggestion is made
that permanent growth and mortality plots be installed or some method
of continuous inventory be used to determine more accurately the growth,
mortality, and eventually the yield of individual working circles.

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GROSS ANNUAL BD. FT. GROWTH - PERCENT

Figure 1. — Pine component — pine-hardwood and naval stores survey units,
sawlog size conditions.

GROSS ANNUAL BD. FT. GROWTH - PERCENT

Figure 2. — Hardwood (including cypress and pine) — Delta survey units,
sawlog size conditions.

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3,973

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1,926

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195

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LOCATION OF FOREST SURVEY UNITS IN LOWER SOUTH

SUPERVISION

Meetings March 25, 1949

Management Plan Conference

A CONTINUOUS INVENTORY BASIS FOR DETERMINING GROWTH,

MORTALITY AND YIELD*

James G. Osborne
In Charge, Biometrics
Division of Forest Economics

Definition

The term Continuous inventory” as used in this paper is applied generally
to the methods of growth prediction which depend upon remeasurement of
permanent sample plots * It is not to be confused with the term as used
historically by Kirkland in describing Biolley’s ”Methode du Controle.” The
term is used here to provide a contrast with methods of growth estimation
and prediction that are based on a single measurement as is the case with
yield table and stand table projection methods. Also, it is in contrast
with estimates based on independent periodic surveys in which new sample
plots are measured at each re survey* The term is selected because at least
in certain variations of the method it may be used to estimate the inventory
at any time period^ The continuous inventory system is subject to a wide
variation in methodology and hence should not be considered as a specific
system, but rather a concept*

Advantages and Disadvantages

Since the method is based upon the remeasurement of permanent sample plots
it has certain advantages not available to the yield table method or the
stand table projection method. First, it enables the direct measurement of
both gross growth and mortality as well as cutting, and second, it does not
rely upon assumptions as to the continuation of established growth rates of
individual trees, assumptions as to bark growth, or on estimates of the
period of time since the death of an individual tree. It also does not
necessarily - make references to stand normality or approaches of over-stocked
or under-stocked stands to normality as does the normal yield table method.
The papers on these two methods Yd 11 doubtless elaborate on the risks,
strength, and Yreaknesses of those methods and for that reason they Yd 11 not
be discussed further in this paper. The principle disadvantage of the
continuous inventory method is that for direct application it is necessary
that a growth period elapse before groY/th can be estimated. Forecasts of
future growth involve an assumption; that in any future period a stand

*- To be presented at the Management Plan Conference, Hot Springs, Arkansas,
March 28 - April 8, 1949.

)

of specific character will grow in the same way as a stand of the same
character at the beginning of the growth period grew in the period studied.
The consequences of this assumption which specifies that climatic and soil
fertility conditions remain constant do not seem serious and this assumption
is unavoidable in any growth prediction method 0

It should be pointed out that for best use of this method, the growth period
should be long enough that growth measurement errors are relatively small in
comparison with total growth* In this regard, it would seem that short
growth periods which result in greater accuracy by yield-table and stand-
table-projection methods result in less accuracy by the continuous inventory
methods; 16r)ger growth periods reverse this relationship „

Field Difficulties

Difficulties in the application of the continuous inventory or permanent
sample plot method arise from two sources'! (l) difficulty of exact relocation
of the plot, and (Z) bias due to a plot's being treated differently than the
remainder of the stand of which it is a sample a Unfortunately, some methods
of eliminating the first of these difficulties accentuate the second0

Opponents of the permanent sample plot method point to the possibility that
even a small change in the plot boundary at time of remeasurement may result
in the inclusion of one or tvo large trees not included Then the plot was
established, and hence the addition of the entire end-period volume of these
trees to the growth of the plot trees resulting in a large over measurement*.
The reverse is equally likely, of course, resulting in a serious under
measurement. Even recognizing that such errors do not necessarily bias the
results, they would play havoc with any correlations and greatly increase
the error of the growth estimate «

This error can be greatly reduced, if not eliminated entirely, by precise
surveying and complete reference notes, or fey marking plot centers or corners
conspicuously and indes true tab ly„ Both of these expedients are costly and
the latter increases the likelihood of the plot's being handled unrepresen—
tatively, whether wilfully or unconsciously,. Apparently the experience of
foresters differs greatly as to the seriousness of this difficulty*

If the plots are not too large, and if a stand tally by species and diameters
is taken into the field at the time of remeasurement, it should be possible
to eliminate the error of including outside-boundary, or excluding inside-
boundary trees o If the technique of stem map is used, the dangers of this
error seem inconsequential,,

Since the plots in which the group here would be interested would all be
located on national forest land, it should be possible to eliminate the
possibility of the sample plot being treated in an unrepresentative fashion

5842

- 3 -

through education of forest personnel as to the purpose of the growth plots*

If not, the plots should be located and mapped carefully and marked as in¬
conspicuously as possible c Spotting of plots on aerial photographs should
aid in this®

As a final comment, it would seem to me that if it is important to actually
measure gross growth and mortality which, at the present time seems possible
only by permanent sample plots, ingenuity of Forest Service personnel should
be equal to the task of eliminating these two difficulties in a practicable
manner 0

As was indicated, the method may be applied in a wide variety of ways. These
depend upon the amount of detail needed and upon the additional information
which it is hoped to obtain as well as Upon the estimate of the degree of
certain correlations involved., For comparison the methods will be elaborated
upon in wrhat follows® The presentation of the methods nil be in order of
the extent to which additional variables enter the picture Q

Pirect Sampling of Growth

The simplest method of growth estimation is that of direct sampling of
measured growth and mortality® By this method the number of sample plots
calculated to be required to obtain the specified accuracy is established
and measured, then all plots are remeasured at the end of the growth period.
This method treats growth in exactly the same manner as volume in a sample
cruise in that it is measured directly on a sample basis and expanded to
the entire area on a direct sampling rate basis „ Just as in volume sampling,
it should be generally possible to improve the estimate by stratified sampling
in Yrtiich the area in each stratum is determined from aerial photograph
examinations or from type and condition maps® If growth is to be estimated
by this method then the predicted grovt-h would be simply the measured growth
for the past period for each stratum expanded by the nevr area in each stratum©

Double Sampling with legress'-iiiabased on Volume Alone

The second simplest method of sampling for growth involves what is known as
double sampling. By this method the procedure is as follows? Again with the
area subdivided into strata of types and age or stand-size classes, a
relatively large number of plots is established and the volume of each of
these plots is measured® At the end of the growth period a sample of the
plots in each of the strata is remeasured to determine the growth and
mortality that has taken place. Separately the growth and mortality of the
plots in the subsample of each stratum are correlated by standard least-
squares regression method, 7;ith the initial volumes to obtain an estimating
equation® If the equation is linear the average initial volume of the
original large sample is used in this regression equation to provide a better
estimate than is available from the subsample of plots alone of the average

5842

4 -

f growth per plot for each stratum*, These average values are expanded by the

stratum areas to obtain estimates of the growth and mortality for the entire
unit. If the regression is curved , volumes plot by plot would be used in
the regression to estimate average growth*, This method provides in the
process somewhat more information than the first method in that the regression
equation relating volume growth to volume at the beginning of the period gives
a measurement of the effect of the variation in the original stand volume on
growth and hence provides a rough guide as to the desirable reserve volume
in each type and stand size class „ This information also is available if
the direct sampling method is used but requires additional analysis 0

■An advantage of this and other regression methods used with double sampling
is that predictions or estimates can be made for small areas with greater
confidence a The regression equation being based on all remeasured plots in
the stratum is evaluated better than if based on the small area alone and
hence brings data from the entire study to bear on the small area estimate 0

By both the first and the second method the initial sample should be
designed according to the statistical theory of optimum allocation,, By
this theory /the number of plots to be measured in each type and stand-size
class should in this case be proportional to the product of the standard
deviation of volume within the stand-size class and the area in the stand-
size class 9 In the second method the number of plots to be remeasured for
growth in each size class depends directly upon the extent of the correlation
to be expected in the regression of volume growth on volume. Further the
plots to be remeasured should represent, as far as possible, the range of
initial volumes and should be distributed throughout the range in a
reasonably uniform pattern*,

This method may be modified profitably by including certain additional
measurements which are designed to increase the accuracy of the prediction
or the extent of the correlation*. For example, it may be profitable to
include in the growth equation the percentage of the total volume in selected
species or groups of species and the percentage in selected tree or crown-
canopy classes. Inclusion of the later variables should not only improve
the estimate^ but also should give additional information as a partial guide
to the more desirable types of residual trees as "well as the most desirable
residual volume for each type and stand-size class.. This modification
requires the fitting of multiple regression equations in contrast rath the
single variable equation v.rhen these variables are not included,, Beyond
the additional -work it is felt that little can be lost since if any of the
variables prove to be non-significant, it can be omitted and the analysis
based on volume alone, and there is likelihood of substantial gain in
accuracy,. This form of growth prediction equation has been used by Dunning
and Clements of the California Forest Experiment Station in predictions of
growth in the mixed confiier stands in the Sierras, (i do not believe that
their results have been published but should be available at the Statione
Perhaps Basel wall comment on this and on the merits of the method.)

3042

Double Sampling Regression on Total Stand Measurement Components

The next modification is somewhat more complex in that it uses the
characteristics of stand structure and its composition in terms of species
and tree class 0 As rath the previous methods the first step would be that
of a sample of each type and stand-size class to obtain a relatively precise
estimate of the stand characteristics of number of trees, and diameters by
species o By this method the techniaues followed by Buell in his study of
growth of Southern Appalachian Hardwood Stands or some modification of them
would be used to calculate the growth prediction equation. (Duke University
School of Forestry, Bulletin 11) Buell used as his variables (l) the
number of trees per unit of area, ( ZJ the sum of the diameters measured at
breast height, and (3) the sum of the squares of these diameters0 Buell
found that when the number of plots available for growth estimates was
substantial, the errors of growth estimates were quite acceptable, being
in most cases from fto 12 percent 0 He found that the addition of a fourth
variable, density, was of value in very few instances and generally
recommended limiting the variables used to those mentioned. Because of
the form of his growth equation, he was also able to estimate the effect
of individual tree size on all growth variables (iee0 ^^S^°gra!'rth, net
growth, aji^mortalityj*fn growth) and consequently to provide a guide to the
method of cutting*

With these data, Buell found that separate growth eouations were needed for
each of his second-growth types but that a single equation was adequate for
all old-growth type s 9

This method would be used in a manner similar to those already described in
that the number of plots remeasured as a basis for calculating the growth
equation -would be substantially less than the number originally established
both for inventory purposes and to provide an adequate sample of the average
for each of the stand characteristics used in the growth equation. Again
the same statistical principles should be followed in the selection both of
the number of plots in the initial sample of the stand size classes and in
the selection of the plots to be remeasured to cover the range of each of
the regression variables in a rather uniform manner Q

Double Sampling with Degression on Single Tree Measurements

The last and most complex variation of this method is that of basing growth
on the relationship of the growth of an individual tree to its position
in the stand and on the characteristics of the stand „ As in the preceding
cases the initial step is a relatively large sample in each of the type and
stand-size classes to provide a good estimate of the typical plot in each
of these classes 3 For the plots which are to be used to prepare the growth
equation by this method, it is necessary to make provision for individual
tree re identification. This can be done either by tagging the trees or
preferably by spotting the trees on a plot map, A procedure for making
plot maps is described in a paper by Stott and Regan, Journal of Forestry,

5842

- 6 -

April 1939, "Permanent Sample Plot Technique Adapted to Commercial Timber
Stands/' which has been used extensively and successfully both by Region;-
9 and by the Lake States Forest Experiment Station*

By this method the growth of each tree -would be measured and recorded. An
equation would then be prepared in which the dependent variable would be
growth and the independent variables as a minimum would be the size of the
tree on -which the growth is measured relative to the size of the average
tree on the plot, the site, and a measure of stand density* Experience is
not available as to the best form of this equation nor as to vhich additional
variables are likely to be found useful in a specific situation* In all
probability separate equations would need to be prepared for each stand-size
class and probably for each tree class. It is questionable whether species
would differ markedly enough in their growth habits under conditions con¬
trolled to this extent to warrant the preparation of separate equations or
adjustments for each species. Possibly it would be necessary to prepare
equations for groups of species, but this, as is true of the other variables
mentioned, is subject to test by a statistical evaluation of the significance
of the regression coefficients0

By this system mortality volume by tree class, species, and diameter may be
so weakly determined that average values should be used. Probably it -would
be desirable to relate mortality to total volume, basal area, or some other
total plot characteristic-

Growth equations calculated in this method would then be applied to the
specific tree records plot by plot for all plots in the large sample. The
average growth so obtained would then be expanded to the area in each type
and stand-size class to obtain the estimate of growth for the entire stand.

The prediction of future growth by both of the last two methods would result
from the application of the groY-th equations found to stands as estimated
folloY;ing the first remeasurement period. In both cases it is necessary to
estimate not only the pa.st growth but also the stand composition of the plots
which were measured in the initial large sample but which -were not remeasured
for growth determination#

BrieglebTs Study

An outstanding example of the use of individual tree characteristics is
Briegleb* s method as described in his paper "Calculating the Growth of
Ponderosa Pine Forests” published by the Pacific Northwest Station,

December 28, 1945 0 The variables used by Briegleb were Keen tree class and
diameter Y/ith adjustments for stand, volume, reserve volume following cutting,
and site. By -his method Briegleb estimates gross growrbh of saw-timber size
trees, ingrowth from pole-size trees, and mortality, separately* Net growth
is obtained by adding and subtracting the components#

- •:

3842

- 7 -

For application of this method using the tables and alinement charts pro¬
vided in the stud^ , the following statistics are needed:

1* Area

2. Stock table, showing average saw-timber volume per acre in trees
llol inches in d.b.h0 and larger, by species, diameter class,
and for the ponderosa pine, by Keen tree class 0

3c Average number of poles per acre, i.e., trees 3»0 to 11.0 inches
in d„beh„, by species, diameter class, and for ponderosa pine,
by Keen tree class.

bo Site quality class or site index,,

As a measure of competition, and its effect on growth Briegleb used initial
volume and the percent reserved for his variables*

Techni cal Advantages of Individual Tree Systems

The method of growth estimation based on the growth equation of individual
trees according to their description and the stand in which they grow seems
to have a technical advantage over methods based on stand totals. Unlike
methods based on stand totals, this method is flexible and enables includ¬
ing changes in the shape of the growth curves as these might be brought
about by changes in stand density and average-tree size*

Changes brought about by partial cutting can be evaluated since not only
is the volume removed known but also the species, size, and tree-class of
the individual trees removed can be determined on a sampling basis,

A third advantage is that specific description is known also of the trees
that die during the remeasurement cycle*

Error Equations by the Various Modifications

Some indication of the relative desirability of each of the methods of
applying the continuous inventory — or permanent sample plot — technique
is available from examination of the estimating and error equations. It
is assumed that in all cases, the working circle is subdivided into mapped
type and stand-size-class strata,

1, Simple stratified growth sampling:

T = A1'g1fA2g2i - I AkTk

where T - total growth

Aj_ - area in stratum i in plots; i - 1, 2, .... k

gi - average growth per plot in stratum i .

The sampling variance of T is:

< ,

3842

(In this and the formulae that follow it is assumed that no error is
made in determining the area in each stratum. Actually this will
sensibly be true if sample plots are classified according to the mapped
type and stand size class and not adjusted according to the plot
composition, )

According to this formula, the error of the total depends upon the number
of plots in each stratum. This error is minimized by making the number
of plots in a stratum proportional to the product of the area by the
standard deviation within the stratum.

2. Double sampling with reserve volume as a measure variable.

In this case, an equation relating growth to volume is prepared
for each type, site, and possibly stand-size class.

G * G + bQV (v - V)

where G = plot growth

G = average growth of plots on which growth is measured

V = initial plot volume

V = average initial volume of plots measured for growth
The growth estimate for the entire working circle would be:

where T = total growth

G^ = average growth of the plots in the ^th stratum on

which growth was measured

= average initial volume of the plots in the ^th stratum
on which growth was measured

•a. i

= average initial volume of all plots in the ^th
stratum (i.e, including those not
remeasured for growth).

The sampling variance of growth of the entire working circle
would be:

3842

v cr

2 (VtJ -

CT2 (V|')

4* — — -f

where n j = number

2 2
and a - i = cr i
Vi V,

for,TKM similar terms ?

of plots remeasures for grovzth in stratum 1 etc„

where nj 1 is the total number of volume plots in

stratum 1;

From the form of this equation it is evident that the error is reduced by
increasing the spread of volumes of the plots on which growth is measured,
as well as by increasing the number of observations on which both the
regression equation average and the general sample plot volume average
are based0

Estimating and error equations are not included here for the more complex
methods since they become unwieldly but the same principles are involved.
These are the sampling errors of the regression equations relating growth
to tree, stand, and site characteristics, and the sampling errors of
determining average values for these variables from which growth is esti¬
mated c

In general it should be found that the more variables used in the growth
equations and the higher the correlation, the smaller would be the
number of field plots required to be remeasured for growth.

Continuity of the System and Forecasting

In the interests of brevity, much of what has been covered has related
to the estimation of past growth and to prediction for a single period.

To cover modifications in application for the extensive future, and
general forecasting, in full, would require considerable duplication.
Perhaps it will suffice to indicate a little more fully my thoughts
on continuous application without spelling out specific procedures in
detail.

First, subsequent remeasurement of the growth-plot sample will provide
direct samples, for each stratum, of the inventory on the stratum as a
whole. The accuracy of this estimate can be improved by adjusting to
the original large-sample base. A comparison, and regression for esti¬
mating purposes, of the growth actually measured at the end of the second
and subsequent growth periods with that predicted will enable adjusting the
original equation for biases arising from the response of reserve trees

3342

- 10 -

to release following cutting. Thus, through a series of remeasurements
not only is a sample of the inventory maintained both as to total volume
and its components, but also the growth prediction equation becomes
more and more sensitive and is adjusted to changes in growth rates
due to improvement or change in the description of the average tree*

With continuing purification of the mapped types, sites, and stand-size
classes, the ultimate answer to be sought is a dependable table of aver¬
age composition and growth rates for each stratum that can be delineated.
Armed with such tools growth might be estimated in exactly the same way,
and with the same relative precision as we now hope to estimate total
gross volume from photographic type and stand-size-class stratification
in inventory surveys. All that would be required is keeping continuously
up-to-date an accurate delineation of these strata.

Modification for Immediate Growth Prediction

If it is required to make a growth prediction at the time of the initial
sampling the general methodology described in the last two sections can
be employed by taking increment core measurements. This procedure is
not recommended since it is subject to all of the weaknesses inherent
in single measurement methods which require the estimation of the stand
at the beginning of the past growth period 0 By this modification one
would estimate the growth on each plot by subtracting growth as
measured by increment cores of the living trees and by estimating the
size of the trees now dead which were presumed to be living at the
beginning of the period „ With these modifications, growth estimating
equations would be calculated by exactly the same procedures as those
described in the last two sections. Growth during the future period
would be predicted by applying the growth equation so calculated to the
stand as measured at the time of the initial inventory,*

Summary

In this paper has been described a concept which has several variations
in method of implementation to estimate growth by means of permanent
sample plots. The method has the advantage over single measurement
temporary plot methods in that it does not require assumptions in the
estimates of mortality and it provides a direct measurement of both net
and gross growth. It also involves no assumptions as to the relationship
of past growth of individual trees to their future growth. It includes
also the bark growth. Since this method is based on actual growth
measurement its errors are confined to sampling errors and the statis¬
tical errors in regression equations.

The methods described proceed from the simplest which is a direct
stratified sampling of' growth through the use of double sampling to the
inclusion of progressively more variables in the growth estimation equa¬
tion. It contrasts methods which are based upon total stand measure¬
ments and individual tree measurements,.

3842

- 11 -

The method has the weakness that a growth period must expire before the
complete benefits of the method can be realized and requires overcoming
several practical field measurement problems.

Quotations

In concluding, I should like to read two quotations bearing on this
subject. The first is a memorandum for the record by R. D. Garver,
Director, Forest Survey, dated March 17, 1949 o

"Discussion with Mr, Barrett regarding the problems inherent in remeasure¬
ment of sample plots*

"If the Survey in its maintenance work expects to remeasure plots under
some form of continuous inventory system, then the following points, in
Barrett *s opinion should be given special attention:

"1, When the plots are initially established, mark the center
with a stake which can be expected to last throughout the
10-year period , Bearing trees are desirable but need not
be marked if they are carefully referenced by bearing
distance from the center stake *

"2* Special effort should be made to be sure every tree is

measured and recorded. This is especially necessary where
trees occur on the perimeter of the sample plot circle *

For growth plots, it is especially necessary that great
care be exercised by the men measuring the trees so as not
to unduly damage the bark flakes on the trees,. The point
at which d,b0ho is measured can be determined satisfactorily
by measurement from the ground. Location of this point by
paint or other material is not considered necessary* It
is imperative that trees dead at establishment of the plot
be blazed to sound wood or otherwise marked unmistakably
to enable accurate measurement of the mortality occurring
between measurements 0

"3* If plots are to be used for determining growth, through

remeasurement at intervals, then it is absolutely essential
to locate the plots on the remeasurements with precision.

To locate a plot approximately — say within two chains — and
then remeasure the trees, and attempt to correlate them
with the initial plot is not considered feasible „

"4o At certain stages in the life of shortleaf pine, for example
according to Barrett, the bark seems to slough off naturally
as the tree gets older. This is apparently something like
the change in western yellow pine from the bullpine to the
yellow pine stage. Barrett recalled cases where the natural

V •

3842

- 12 -

sloughing of the bark was sufficiently great to reduce the
d.b.h0 remeasurements so that no growth was indicated,

"5* In spite of the difficulties of remeasuring plots, Barrett

is of the opinion that this is the best way to obtain infor¬
mation on growth for growth-prediction purposes or for
determining periodic increment 0

"These points are noted because of their bearing on the technique which
the Survey expects to adopt in carrying out some form of continuous
inventory system*, "

The second is from U.S.D.A. Technical Bulletin No. 796, "Methods of
Forecasting Timber Growth in Irregular Stands," by W. Gf ^ahlenberg.

"On the other hand, the recurring-inventory system provides a means of
determining current increment in volume, basal area, or diameter by
diameter classes, and can be applied by sample plots, strips, whole
stands, or forests. Because of its speed and relative cheapness, it
appears best suited to large areas. Recurring inventories of timber on
each working circle would place the regulation of American forests on a
firmer basis,"

SUPERVISION
Meetings

(Management Plan Conference)

TOPIC 18 - MANAGEMENT PUN CONFERENCE
METHODS NOV USED IN CALCULATING GROWIR. MORTALITY. AND YIELD

Dahl J. Kirkpatrick

My part of this assignment is to review for you the methods (not the technology)
being employed in Regions 1, 2, 3 , 5, 6 and 9 for the calculation of growth,

mortality, and yield. Mr. Streinz has kindly consented to presept comparable
data for Regions 7 and 8* Except for Region 6 the information which follows
is digested from replies to my request to the several regions, and if I have
misinterpreted their statements, I trust that the regional representatives will
feel free to say so in order that the record will be straight. There are a
few generalizations that may be drawn from the information which was supplied
in response to my inquiry, but these can better be stated after I have briefly
described the programs being followed.

Region 1. Region 1 generally is faced with the problem of developing plans of
management for forests which contain surplus acreages of old, overmature timber,
and young growth which has come in following the 1910 fires* There is a short¬
age of age classes in between and the chief concern is to so regulate the cutting
of the old stands that the;/ will bridge the gap. • Methods of cutting vary with
forest' types . Some types of stand arc clear cut$ others, selectively cut. For
this reason it is Region 1 practice to analyze each type within a working circle
separately. This Region employs normal yield tables, adjusted for stocking, in
forecasting growth in their management planning work. Adequate yield tables are
not available for all of their forest types, and they plan to make up the defi¬
ciency by establishing permanent sample plots. Growth information from permanent
study plots is particularly needed, the Region feels, for use in their selective¬
ly-cut ponderosa pine and larch-Douglas-f ir types. Fairly reliable information
is available for uncut stands of these types, but the impression I gained from
their statement on the subject was that they believe that in the future, reliance
should be put upon the permanent plot system of determining growth and mortality
for the calculation of permissible allowable annual cut.

Region 2. Region 2, with the exception of the Black Hills area, has in common
with other western regions the problem of converting virgin stands of overmature
decadent timber to managed stands. Their policy as to how this shall be done is
not fully settled. They seem to feel that in many of their management units
ingrowth and the growth in younger stands is completely offset by losses in the
overmature stand elements. If it is determined that sustained yield is to be
practiced in these ^working circles, considerations of growth and yield are not
too pertinent at the present time. The problem is strictly one of salvaging
surpluses of overmature and decadent timber during the first cutting cycle. In
managed stands where cutting has taken place, growth and mortality are measured
by use of alignment charts which in turn are based upon permanent sample plot
information.

Region 3. In Region 3 it is estimated that 6 0% of the original virgin areas has
still to be cut over in order to bring the stands into growing condition. It is
the desire of the Region to do this as rapidly as possible and their management
is aimed at this objective without too much preoccupation with problems of growth

Portland, Oregon
March 21, 1949

and yield* Virgin stands are not considered to have net increment. For pre¬
dicting growth in stands which have been put into productive condition through
cutting, the Region uses the results of growth studies conducted on the large
management plots at the Fort Valley Experiment Station. • These are not
applicable on a Region-wide basis, but from them stem a large part of the
Region’s available growth and yield information. In some instances empirical
growth tables are used based upon temporary sample plot information.

Region 4. Region 4 for purposes of predicting growth, yield, and mortality
relies almost entirely upon the use of stand projection determinations. Their
data is based upon stand projection measurements in both virgin and cutover
stands. It is the Region’s feeling now that the former, are of questionable
value and that more studies in cutover areas are needed.. In but one section
of the Region has growth and yield data from sample plots been employed, Mor¬
tality information is based upon permanent sample plot findings insofar as
possible, and plans to extend the use of sample plots for mortality determina¬
tions are being developed.

Region 5. Region 5 has over most of its area a surplus of growing stock in
mature and decadent timber. Their management is aimed at reducing these sur¬
pluses and placing their stands in condition for growth. For purposes of
forecasting yield, Region 5 employs a set of alignment charts which have been
developed from permanent sample plot studies. These are adjusted to adopt
them to stands of varying species composition, tree size, and site.

Region 6. In Region 6 two general forest conditions and methods of management
prevail. The west side types are generally subjected to even-aged management
while the ponderosa pine forests on the east side are managed on an uneven-aged
basis. In the former case, the predominant problem is to prorate the cutting of
mature and overmature stands in such a way that sufficient quantities of young
timber will come of age, by the time, the old growth is gone, to permit a rela¬
tively even rate of production. For this, normal yield tables adjusted for site
and stocking are universally applied in the calculation of growth, yield, and
mortality. In the east side types where partial cutting is the.. rule, growth,
mortality, and yield forecasts are based upon the results of temporary and
permanent sample plot studies in both cutover stands and uncut forests. These
data are now in the process of being checked and refined, using actual growth
and mortality experience.

Region 9. In Region 9 the immediate management problem is generally one of
building up a depleted growing stock— not in placing mature and decadent stands
in a condition of growth. In that respect their job is different from that
which prevails in the western regions. Their method of calculating growth, mor¬
tality, and yield is based in large measure upon the use of the principle of
stand projection.

From the replies and the discussions provided by the several Regions on the
general problem of applying growth, mortality, and yield considerations to
management planning, a few generalities may be drawn,

1. No one appears to feel fully satisfied that growth, yield, and mortality
data available to them are entirely satisfactory. This is particularly true
for working circles having extensive acreages of cutover stands.

v 4

20 In the western regions where many working circles are predominantly in
virgin timber, management planners appear to feel no immediate concern for
extremely precise growth, yield, and mortality data.

3* Almost without exception there w as expression favoring the establishment
of permanent sample plots in areas cut over for the purpose of providing a
more adequate basis for sustained yield calculations during second and sub¬
sequent cutting cycles and for so prorating the cutting of existing mature
stands that a future sharp production drop may be avoided.

4« The inference may be gained that so far as the western regions are con¬
cerned, volume regulation will continue to have a place in the scheme of things
in connection with the development of future management programs.

From the foregoing, these conclusions may be reached: Present growth, yield,
and mortality inf ormation, though possibly adequate for the purposes to which
it is currently being applied, is in need of extensive and continuous checking
to permit better determinations of its reliability. Perhaps the data the Regions
now have and are using meets all practical requirements for initiating manage¬
ment in the unregulated forests of the West, but this does not seem to be proven
to the satisfaction of western region planners. The permanent sample plot
system, which most of the Regions contemplate, will supply the experience record
that is needed and will provide a more adequate guide for the application of
yield prediction techniques than is now available.

Though from a technical standpoint extreme accuracy in preducting growth, mor¬
tality, and yield may not be required for making the first steps toward manage¬
ment in western forests, as time passes and as cutting converts our virgin
stands to a managed condition, accuracy within much finer limits than now
attainable will be required. This will be true particularly if volume regula¬
tion continues to be the accepted practice. Greater tolerances of accuracy
in these predictions seem acceptable if and where area regulation is used. In
the West there appears, however, to be little sentiment in favor of changing
from volume to area regulation systems.

From a practical point of view there is a rather impelling reason for improving
growth, mortality, and yield information. The time is not too far distant in
many western working circles when, as a result of private timber depletion and
a concurrent increasing industrial dependence upon national forest timber, rather
extreme pressures will develop for increasing the national forest allowable cut.
When that time comes, our calculated cuts will be of real rather than academic
importance, and we will need to be in a position to strongly defend our figures.
With growth and yield figures that are more or le ss theoretical and unproven, it
is apparent that the defense will be difficult if not impossible.

Though it appears that there is no particular advantage in insisting upon
standardization of methods used in applying growth, mortality, and yield calcu¬
lations as between Regions, it does seem that some advantage might be gained
if there were a better understanding of what each Region is doing by the others
in which similar conditions and problems prevail. This closer coordination I
feel would be beneficial in the field of growth, yield, and mortality research
as well as in the field of administration which applies the research findings.

SUPERVISION

Meetings

(Management Plan Conference)

Topic 18 - Methods Now Used in Calculating Growth, Mortality and
Yield, Region 8.

Ac J. Strcinz

Growth

The calculation of growth or rather periodic increment expressed in terms
of sawtimber volume is based upon the comparison of successive sample
plot inventories . The sample plots may be permanent growth plots
established for some years or sample plots taken in current timber manage¬
ment plan surveys.

Plot classification. Each sample plot is classified as to type and stand
class. The type and stand classes should be the same as those adopted
for the timber management plan survey. At least 25 sample plots are
needed to give a fairly reliable estimate for a type and stand class.

1.. Permanent Growth Plots

Romcasnrcment „ The live trees on each plot are remeasured in accord¬
ance with the instructions for the plot tree tally when the plots were
established. If cutting has occurred on' the plot since it was established
or since the last periodic remeasurement, the trees cut are recorded by
species, average stump diameter outside bark, estimated D3H and merchantable
length by comparison with trees of similar stump diameter bordering the
cutting. The tally of the cut trees should be checked against a similar
tally which should be made when the trees on the plot wore marked for
cutting o

Local volume tables are constructed for each species group in the
respective type and stand classes. The local volume tables arc based on
the plot tree tallies made at the time of romcasnrcment and the applicable
standard volume table. Differences which arise as to merchantable length
due to change in utilization between inventories are accounted for by this
method.

Plot volume. By means of the local volume tables and plot tallies the
following plot volumes are calculated?

(1) The volume of the live trees at the time of remeasuremont for
each species or species group.

(2) The volume of the live trees at the time of establishment or
last periodic inventory for each species or species group.

(3) The volume of the trees cut between inventories for each
species or species group.

These data are tabulated* For example - -

Forest Type and Stand Class -

Plot Volume 1946 Volume 1936 Volume cut

No* Pine Hardwood Both’ Pine Hardwood Both Pine Hardwood Bo th

etc0

Total —

T]ie^alculatdpn_of_^ for a type and stand class is as

fo 3-lows:

(a) Method 1„

This method assumes that the plots in a given type and stand class
are a representative sample of the type and stand class*

The plot volume totals as previously determined are converted to
volume per acre*

The periodic increment for each species or species group and all
species is calculated by means of the following equation -

PI = V2 - VI /• C

in which

PI = periodic increment per acre
V2 «= volume per acre at time of remeasurement
VI = volume per acre a t time of establishment or
previous inventory

C = volume cut per acre between inventories

The periodic annual increment per acre is calculated by dividing
the periodic increment per acre by the number of years between
plot inventories* This figure is multiplied by the acreage of
the type and s tand class to obtain the periodic annual increment
for the type and stand class*

(b) Method 2*

This method is based on the relationship between periodic increment
per acre and timber volume per acre which may be expressed by a

linear regression equation of the type - I = a / b I, in which

Y = periodic increment per acre for n years
X » timber volume per acre n years ago,

a and b are constants.

Numerical values for the constants a and b arc computed by the
"Least Squares Method" from the plot data0

Periodic increment per acre equations calculated from permanent
plot data for the Ouachita National Forest are:

-2-

Ten-year Periodic Increment Per Acre

Shortlcaf Pine Sawtimber Volume, Scribner

Class Equation

Virgin Y « 1304 / (~0S20)X

Forest Service cutover Y = 547 / 0*14 X
Private cutover Y = 464 / 0,22 X

Number Plots

104

145

171

The periodic increment per acre equations developed by this method may be
applied to individual stands, or an aggregate of stands in the type and
stand class o A timber cruise rail develop the average volume per acre, or
X. Once this is determined, an estimate of the periodic increment can be
readily determined 0 For example -

(a) A timber cruise for Forest Service cutover reveals that
the average volume per acre is 1350 bd„ft,

(b) The estimated 10-year periodic increment per acre is -

Y = 547 / (0,14 x 1650)

= 778 bd*ft, per acre.

The periodic increment or periodic annual increment for the type and stand
class is calculated as in Method 1*

Z a Sample Plots in Current Timber Surveys

Plot tally. The following data arc recorded for each merchantable
sawtimber tree on a 1/5 acre circular plot, and for each merchantable
cordwood tree on a 1/10 acre circular plots Species, d«bsh. to nearest
tenth inch, merchantable length, radial wood growth for 10 years, and
single bark thickness on a pro— determined proportion of the sample plots
to be taken in the inventory.

Local volume tables arc constructed for each species or species group
in the respective type and stand classes which show the volume by d.b.h.
nearest tenth inch.

The relation of D0B.Ho inside bark to D.B0He outside bark is determined
for each species or species group in the respective type and stand classes $
This relationship should be shewn by d,b,h, to nearest tenth inch in the
ferm of a table or chart.

The present plot volume, plot volume 10 years ago, and plot periodic

increment are determined as follows:

1, Prepare calculation sheet substantially as follows:
Plot volume, and Periodic Increment Calculation Sheet

Plot No.

Type and stand class

-3-

■

.•

• '

’

•:

Pine sawtimber 1/5 acre plot

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Twice

(5)

(6)

Sp«

DBH

Vole

R.G.

DBK

Vole

Total

Col. (2) Present d.b„h. to nearest tenth inch

Col* (5) Present volume

Col. (5) Estimated DBK to nearest tenth inch n years ago

Colo (G) Estimated volume n years ago

(a) Eor each tree on the plot tabulate the following' data: species,
column (1)3 present d*b*h. to nearest tenth inch, column (2)5
present volume as read from local volume table, column (0)3 and
twice radial wood growth for past 10 years, column (4).

(b) Determine for each tree on the plot its estimated d*b*h» to
nearest tenth inch 10 years ago and record in column (5). From
the table or chart constructed to show the relation of d*b*h,
inside bark to d.b*h. outside bark read the present d.b*h*
inside bark, subtract twice the radial wood growth for past

10 years to obtain d.b.h* inside bark 10 years ago, then read
from chart or table the corresponding d*b*h* outside bark
10 years ago.

(c) Determine for each tree on the plot its estimated volume 10
years ago by reference to the local volume table and record in
column (6), If the tree was below sawtimber size 10 years ago,
it will have no sawtimber volume to record in column (6).

(d) Add columns (3) and (6) to obtain present plot volume and plot
volume 10 years ago* The difference between them is the plot
periodic increment for 10 years 0

From this point on the procedure is the same as described for permanent
growth plots.

The equations developed by the correlation of periodic increment and timber
volume may be improved for estimation of growth by correlating periodic
increment with other stand characteristics as has been done by Jesse H*
Buell in the Prediction of Growth in Uneven-aged Timber Stands on the Basis
of Diameter Distributions* Duke University School of Forestry Bulletin
#11 1945, and Allyn M* Herrick in Multiple Correlation in Predicting the
Growth of Many-Aged Oak-Hickory Stands* Journal of Forestry November 1944*
It is planned to analyze the existing sample plot data in this Region for
this purpose and to determine the possibilities of the determination of
equations for general application as well as local application.

Mortality

Many of the permanent plots in this Region were established to provide
data on mortality as well as growths However, our past interest in
mortality has lessened considerably by the adoption of the method for
estimation of growth as already described which automatically accounts
for mortality. Then estimation of mortality is of less importance because
conditions permit the adoption of short cutting cycles and changes in
cutting plans to salvage mortality.

Yield

The regional yield tables such as "Volume, Yield, and Stand Tables for
Second-Growth Southern Pines" U,S,D.A, Miscellaneous Publication No, 50
September 19£9; "Volume, Yield and Growth of Loblolly Pine in the Mid-
Atlantic Coastal Region USDA Forest Service Appalachian Forest Experiment
Station April 1939; and several local yield tables have not been used to
any extent for estimation of yield* Probably the estimation of yield will
continue to bo made cn the basis of the data from plots as described under
growth, and the comparison of successive inventories and cutting records
for entire separate stands, or land subdivisions such as compartments.

Accuracy of Prediction of Growth. Mortality and Yield,

The current predictions of growth, mortality and yield for timber management
plans in Region 3 are adequate, whatever the accuracy expressed in numerical
terms. Forest practice is primarily the task of conducting intermediate
cuttings. Regulation of cut is reduced to the determination cf the period
or cutting cycle after which the compartments subjected to intermediate
cuttings will support another round of cuttings. Other factors such as
changes in utilization practice, markets, and volume demanded by logging
operations, character of the stands, arc of greater weight in the detcrmi>
nation of the period of return to a compartment than growth predictions o

The permanent plot data for the Ouachita indicate volume growth can be
estimated from volume per acre as expressed by the regression equations
with the following standard errors s

Class

Standard Error

Virgin

Forest Service cutover
Private cutover

d/o

Herrick working with permanent plot data in many-aged Oak-Hickory stands
found volume growth per acre can be estimated from growing stock, number
cf stems, and growth in d,b,h, with a standard error of / 14$.

Buell working with permanent plot data in uneven-aged timber stands in
Southern Appalachians found volume growth per acre can be estimated from
number of trees per acre, sum of diameters per acre, and sum of diameters
squared per acre with the following standard errors:

•

. . •

I .

• . • • •

• • '

. ' . • • • - ■ ■

* •

• ■ ■

Class

Standard Errors

• t

Old growth all types

10 $

/ Ct
hi/o

10$

Be c ond-growth

Sho r t-*ro t a ti on oaks

19$

10$

11$

Long— rotation oaks

4 0 %

35$

23$

85$

Core hardwoods

23$

20$

17$

Pine and hardwoods

30$

12$

•tality I - ingrowth

S «

survivor

growth

N = not growth

Cost

The current cost in Region 8 for the establi slime nt of a system of permanent
sample plots to serve the dual purpose of obtaining periodic estimates of
timber volume and increment in the future as well as t he current estimate
cf timber volume and increment ranges from $4t>55 to v7<>2 4 per plot for
field work, and from $0*91 to $la63 per plot for office compilation of
estimates and increment* Current costs for remeasurement and compilation
of periodic increment equations for permanent plots established for 10
years range from $5 to $4 per plot.

■6—

• • v X

■

SUPDRVISIOU

Meetings

(Management Plan Conference) March 15 » . 19-49

METHODS OP MAilAGSMSITT AMD METHODS OP REGULATION

WESTERN WORMING Cl HOLDS

CUT

Tonic 19

Austin A. Has el
Region 5

Sawlogs constitute the principal product sought in the management of timber
cropland in California. Management for other products such as poles and piling,
and Christmas trees is confined to limited areas, or is secondary to sawlog
production.

The order of preference by species in the pine-fir types is sugar pine, ponde-
rosa pine, Douglas fir, red fir, white fir and incense cedar. The most valu¬
able types are ponderosa pine — sugar pine, ponderosa pine — Jeffrey pine, and
sugar pine — white fir. In the mined types, if Douglas fir and the true firs
are not too strongly in the ascendancy, attempts are made to increase the pro¬
portion of pine among potential crop trees and in the reproduction.

Silvical Characteristics of Main Species

Pines, ponderosa pine and sugar pine are intolerant species. They require
exposed mineral soil for germination and partial shade for best seedling sur¬
vival. After establishment they grow best in the open. Seed crops occur ir¬
regularly at intervals averaging 4 to 5 years. The rodent population usually
takes a sizeable 11 cut M out of the crop. Good seedbed conditioncas left imme¬
diately after logging, late spring rains, and freedom from hard frosts after
germination are essential conditions for natural regeneration. Due to scant
rainfall from June until October, seedlings must get their roots down 18 to 20
inches early in the first season.

Young pines competing with white fir in partial shade steadily lose ground.

Even in the open, cultural measures are advisable to assure dominance of sugar
pine over white fir of equal size. Ponderosa pine can be counted upon to hold
its own in the open.

Ponderosa pine grows in extensive pure stands on the lava plateau of northeast-:,
ern California. It tends in nature to approximate the diameter class structure
of the selection forest, Por areas of 20 to 30 acres or larger, the number of
trees plotted over diameter tends to give a shape of curve that is character¬
istic of selection forests. The arrangement of stems on the ground is typically
in irregular, usually small, even-aged groups. This explains why a minimum area
of 20 acres is required before the selection stand diameter distribution becomes
apparent. The adoption of some, form of partial cutting such as group selection,

therefore* appears to he appropriate f ot this species*. Clear cutting by small
even-aged groups is more favorable to natural regeneration than either clear
cutting or single tree selection*

Sugar pine does not occur in pure stands. Where it forms an important element
of the type, it shows the same groupwise distribution as ponderosa pine*.

The chief cause of mortality in ponderosa and Jeffrey pine is attack by bark
beetles (Dendroctonus) .• There may be a chain of causes, but at least bark
beetles deliver the final blow.. Susceptibility of mature trees to bark beetle
attack is closely correlated with tree vigor*. This is not true with sugar pine,
as it appears that thrifty trees are as likely to be attacked as slow-growing
trees.

High susceptibility to blister rust constitutes a major threat to successful
future management of sugar pine. The economic and silvicultural considerations
involved in Ribes eradication and the cultural work needed to maintain sugar
pine arc currently being investigated to delimit the areas on which sugar pine
is to be favored.

Other species* On most California sites, Douglas fir is more tolerant than the
pines. Incense-codar and the true firs are definitely tolerant species. Seed
crops of these species occur at shorter intervals than with pine, are not har¬
vested as efficiently by rodents, and are dispersed over a wider radius from
seed trees. Although mineral soil is favorable to germination, it is not as es¬
sential as with pine. Seedling establishment continues gradually but steadily,
even under brush and hardwoods* Once the brush is overtopped, ^ouglas fir and
the true firs malic rapid growth and shade out the brush.

Seedling mortality is very high in inccnsc-ccdar , but once established, they
persist well in competition. Incense-codar is seldom dominant or of equal
height compared with competing species.

Douglas fir and the true firs occur both in evon-aged stands and in all-aged
stands. They arc easier to manage and maintain in the stand than the pines*

Present Management Methods

In virgin stands it is assumed that growth and mortality tend to balance and net
growth is zero. The initial objective of management is to put these areas into
productive condition as rapidly as possible by making' cuts that are confined. to
removal of poor-risk trees if profitable. 3y a poor-risk cut that removes 15
to 25 p rcent of the volume, the heavy reserve stand makes good growth of high
quality as long losses are effectively controlled. Following the poor-risk cut¬
ting the over-mature, si owe st-growing trees are cut, together with some of the
large-limbed dominants that are crowding trees of better form and quality*

Road costs arc taken out of stump age at the present time. This factor largely
governs whether the above cuts arc made separately or at one tine* The order
of cut by compartments or logging units is tied to a logical road development
program for the area as a whole that includes consideration of road costs, cur¬
rent markets for the less desirable species, and the relative threat of mortality
in different areas.

-2-

Cruise data arc conpiled in the fofn of spccies-trcc class structure tables by
sites for manage men t plan purposes* Poor-risk: trees arc segregated also* The
Dunning system of troe classification is used, which groups trees into 8 classes
that are based on relative vigor, age class, crown class, and crown size. Poor-
risk trees include those whose chances of surviving until the second cutting
cycle are deemed poor. The element of personal judgment is a factor in rating
risk.

Growth is predicted on the basis of cutting (a) only poor-risk trees and (b)
poor-risk trees plus all overmature trees that are merchantable. The annual cut
allowed during the period of removal of poor-risk and overmature elements of the
stand usually averages around one and one-half times the annual net growth of
the reserve stand.

At present, the Dunning alignment chart method is applied in predicting growth.
Predictions arc made separately for gross growth, ingrowth, and mortality — all
species combined* The variables that enter into this growth prediction include
reserve volume, proportion of volume in sugar pine and white fir, proportion
of volume in the various tree classes, site index, average volume per tree, and
number and avera ,c diameter of poles. These statistics are provided by the
species-tree class structure tables mentioned above. The predictions arc on an
average annual basis for a 20-year period*

The mortality estimates usually look discouraging. The permanent plots on which
the prediction mechanism is based were established in many cases as far back as
1910. The average annual mortality on these plots for the first 20 years was
over 80 boai d foot per acre. Mortality for the next 15 years was a little great¬
er than was predicted. In pure ponderosa pine on the Slacks Mountain Sxpcri-
mcntal Porcst losses have been reduced 80 percent by light poor-risk cutting
comured to losses in adjacent virgin stands. This much reduction of loss in
present cutting compared to old cutting cannot bo expected, but what it amounts
to is subject to considerable difference of opinion. In recent years many dead
trees have been logged and it appears th t this nay become an important factor
in coming closer to realizing a larger proportion of gross growth as net growth.
In making up the cutting budget it seems desirable to state the cut in terns
of relationship to not growth and show separately the expected volume of salvage¬
able mortality.

According to present plans, the allowable cut aft or- the whole area has been cut
over once, must not exceed net growth* iTo detailed specifications are set up
as to the type of narking that will bo done beyond the first cutting cycle. It
is likely that tree class marking rules will be given less emphasis and end ob¬
jectives in managing the growing stock will be stressed, with considerable lati¬
tude allowed to the forester on the ground.

Permanent mortality and growth plots arc currently being established after log¬
ging, or as far ahead of logging as i-c sources permit. These v/ill be remeasured
at 10- year intervals for growth, and perhaps oftenor for mortality. Analysis of
these data, together with Forest Survey plot data that arc additive to ours, will
provide local data for plan revision prior to the second cutting cycle.

Present plans provide for the setting aside of Z-V money for stand improvement
work, and in some instances for planting in case natural restocking is not se¬
cured within 4 years following logging. Provision is made for disposal of

sanitation trees, Sndgsj and the handling of brush* Included also arc pro¬
visions for fire protection* elimination or control of grazing during critical
periods in regeneration, reservation of afeas for recreation, dedication of
areas to game cover, and control of efOsion and protection of stream channels.
These provisions are prepared in collaboration with, or are reviewed by, the
personnel concerned in the Regional Office. These other-use phases require
further study so that provisions can be nao.o more specific.

Recommended Future Action

Rcgencrat ion. Plans should in all cases provide for aggressive action di¬
rected to maintenance of at least the degree of stocking that is obtained in
the virgin stand. On cut over areas where much ground control has been lost,
measures should be taken to recapture it. 3 very tree cut releases soil that
will be (a) utilized by nearby trees or advance young growth that thereby
malic accelerated growth, (b) restocked by desirable trees, or (c) lost to other
vegetation that is likely to consist of worthless shrubs.

Opportunity should be taken to cut so as to take full advantage of seed crops
and create openings of suitable size with seedbed conditions favorable to es¬
tablishment of desirable reproduction. Soed-eating rodents should be poisoned
at the same tine. If natural restocking is not successful within two years
following logging, cither the soil surface should be scarified prior to the
fall of a seed crop or, if there is no seed crop, direct seeding should be
done. Rodents should again be poisoned. Another alternative is to plant.

This work should be initiated on the most favorable sites and most critical
areas first, until successful techniques arc established. Roads and skid
trails which will be used recurrently should be levelled at intervals if nec¬
essary to minimize erosion, but should not be planted. In some cases seeding
to grass may be desirable. These measures should be taken following any cut¬
ting that creates unstocked openings that add up to worthwhile acreage, and
not deferred until the second cutting cycle. Maintenance of ground control.,
and healthy soil, is more important than regulation of growing stock if a
choice must be made*

Balanced stand structure. For the main timber types and sites, tables or
curves should be prepared showing the number of trees needed by diameter
class to insure regularity of yield at a reasonably high level. In selection
stands, or group selection stands, this means that the number of trees de¬
creases in geometric progression with increase in diameter. This relation¬
ship will plot as a straight line on scmilogarithnic graph paper. These
tables or graphs arc needed to serve as standards against which to measure
progress or regress in manipulating the grov/i g stock.

The approach to preparation of such curves raises the question of whether
normal yield tables for even-aged stands can be adapted to selection stands,
or whether the procedure used in specifying the balanced growing stock in the
method of control based on the continuous inventory system should be used.
Since wc are concerned primarily with pine species that, according to earlier
statements arc adapted to even-aged management by small, irregular groups,
it seems that the use of yield tables is safe. A possible drawback to this

-4-

is that wc will "be treating trees of a givon diameter as of yield table ago,
whereas they nay have been suppressed and actually be much older. It has been
observed, however, that suppressed ponderosa pine seedlings, whip-like and
crooked, have recovered on avera e sites and become thrifty and straight fol¬
lowing release.

The yield table method nay be illustrated by its use in the plan for the
Blacks Mountain Experimental Forest. The normal yield tables for ponderosa
pine prepared by Walter Meyer were used, interpolating for the site quality
involved and discounting to 80 percent of normal stocking. A 20-year cutting
cycle was assumed. On the basis of these yield tables, the average annual
growth by different rotations was as follows:

Bo tat ion

Average annual growth
per acre in board feet

120

140

160

180

200

136

144
146

145
143

On the basis of average annual growth alone, the 140-year rotation is indi¬
cated. With this rotation and 20-year cutting cycles, the average acre of
an ideal stand just prior to cutting would have l/7-acre in each age class
from the 20-year to the 140-yoar, inclusive. Table 1 shows the number of
trees and volume in such a stand, using 80 percent of normal yield table
values.

The balanced structure of such a stand is indicated by one of the curves in
Figure 1, where it is shown that the number of trees decreases in geometric
progression with increase in diameter. Such a stand structure would insure
sufficient trees in the 120-year age class to replace in 20 years the cut on
the l/7-acre in the 1 40- year age class. After each cut, l/ 7- acre would need
to be restocked promptly. The volume cut per acre would be 2,887 board feet.
The diameter of the average tree would be l6.2 inches for trees 11.6 inches
d.b.h. and over, and the 1 irgcst tree would be 26 to 10 inches in diameter.

The stock chart, Figure 2, shows volume over diameter for the virgin stand,
and the hypothetical regulated stand before and after the periodic cut. The
problem of removing the excess growing stock by successive stages while build¬
ing up stocking in the smaller diameters provides a real challenge to the
forester on the ground. On this area the advance growth, if saved in logging,
already stocks the area 57 percent on the basis of one or more seedlings or
saplings per nil acre. The problem is to promote growth on these and larger
trees up to, and including, the 18-inch class so as to build up the deficient
classes.

-5-

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Figure I- STAND DISTRIBUTION CURVES
Regulated selection stands, 80percent of normal stocking,
based on Meyer's yield tables for even-aged stands of
ponderosa pine:

- 140-year rotation, 20-year cutting cycle

- 200-year rotation, 20-year cutting cycle

Forest of Couvet, Switzerland:

- Selection stand managed under continuous inventory

D. B H., INCHES

(To be read at 2-inch intervals, 6", 8", etc.)

-7—

Under the older, heavy type of Forest Service cut ing that took 75 to 85
percent of the volume, and on no^t private cutting, the. 140— acre rotation and
the goal of balanced stand structure as shown in Figures 1 and 2 appears
reasonable. Long in the future it can be dcccided whether to grow selected
trees to larger size. Quality would have to be obtained largely by the prun¬
ing of crop trees.

In future treatment of virgin stands, or in lightly cut stands, however, it
scons questionable whether wo should plan on practically starting over again
with young, thrifty trees. Why not make use of the large-tree growing stock
that nature has built u during the past 300 or 400 years and manipulate it
so as to continue on a basis comparable to a 200— or 24C-year rotation? This
can certainly be done if losses can be controlled. Roads built during the
first cutting cycle will have to be maintained. Having roads, poor-risk trees
can be harvested whenever sufficient volume builds up and snags can be sal¬
vaged before they deteriorate too far. While the ring width is narrow on
large nature pine, the volume growth and value growth is good. Large logs
with narrow rings produce the quality of lumber that enables pon&crosa pine
to compete in lumber markets throughout the country.

Meyers’ yield tables which extend to 200 y ars were used to provide the fre¬
quency distribution by diameter shown for the 200-ycar rotation in Figure 1.
With the sane 20-year cutting cycle this means that only l/ 10-acre would need
to be restocked following each periodic cut, compared to l/7-acre under the
140-year rotation. It was shown previously that average annual growth would
bo changed very little compared to the 1 40-ycar rotation. At Slacks Mountain
the gross growth in the virgin stand is estimated to be 127 board feet per
acre rjer year. This is reasonably close to growth expected for 80 percent
normal stocking, and shows that the crux of the problem is to cone close to
realizing gross growth as not growth, i.e., control losses.

The adoption of a longer rotation by making less of a radical change in the
virgin stand suggests comparison with the continuous inventory system of guid¬
ing management as used in certain forests in Switzerland and other parts of
Fiiropc. If these forests are truly selection forests they should tend to the
balanced stand structure such as has been shown for hypothetical regulated
stands. To make a comparison, data for the communal forest of Couvot were
taken from Tabic 1 of an article by K. C. Biolloy entitled ’’Straight Thinking
about the Continuous Inventory System”, translated for the Southern Station
by R. 3. Worthington in 1935* The plotting of number of trees over diameter
is shown in one of the curves of Figure 1 for the year 1926. Biolloy’ s ar¬
ticle is directed mainly to answering criticisms to the effect that this forest
was mainly even-aged, rather than all-aged, and that there was a great defi¬
ciency in the younger age classes or smaller diameters. ,

The curve in Figure 1 indicates that there is a deficiency in number of trees
below 20 inches on the basis of trend of number of trees over this size. It
is possible that by cultural work in developing a higher proportion of crop
trees from these smaller sizes that the balanced structure may bo maintained
in the larger trees. At any rate the structure does not deviate very much
from what would be obtained at Blacks Mountain if a longer rotation were pos¬
sible, reducing the number of small trees and incroas ng the number of large
trees.

-8-

VOLUME BOARD FEET PER ACRE

2,500

DIAMETER CLASS, INCHES

Figure 2 - STOCK CHART

PONDEROSA PINE- BLACKS MOUNTAIN EXPERIMENTAL FOREST

- Present stocking - 1 6,81 1 board feet per acre

- Stocking at end of 140-year rotation — 8,131 bd. ft. per acre

- Reserve volume after periodic cut — 5,244 bd. ft. per acre

Periodic cut, 20-year cutting cycle — 2 ,887 bd. ft. per acre

-9-

Inventory. The charts of balanced stand structure are intended ns guides to
v/hat should be accomplished on the ground. Once the permanent plots are es¬
tablished and remeasured over the working circle, the data will be in hand
for judging the growing stock situation in a broad way by typos and sites.

Prior to the second and succeeding cutting cycles in each sale area or compart¬
ment, a mo: e detailed inventory v/ill be needed. Under the continuous inventory
system, a complete inventory is made periodically in European forests. This
intensity is not contemplated, here. Rather, it would seen possible to obtain
the essential information by sampling and no it cheaply. Plotting the number
of stems by diameter and comparing with the balanced distribution would provide
guidance to narking to insure that the growing stock volume gradually approaches
the normal volume. If the present volume is less than the normal growing stock,
the cut should be loss than growth. If there is an excess of growing stock
the cut should exceed growth by an amount th it depends upon the length of pe¬
riod of conv: rsion. In no case should trees be cut if they are needed to fill
up classes in the balanced stand. Por this reason care must be taken in inclu¬
ding ingrowth in allowable cut, as in some cases this may result in an over cut
in treos of Merchantable size.

The sample plots or strips established prior to cutting should be staked at
that time and rerun -after logging to determine the net reserve stand, and to
provide the information needed in planning the stand improvement and restocking
programs. These permanent strips should bo used to measure change over time,
compartment by compartment, so that the forester in charge can be kept currently
informed as to the efficacy of treatments. 3y so doing, indicated changes can
be made while trends arc still reversible; Inspectors and researchers would
study those results and direct their attention accordingly.

AUSTIxT A. HA SEE

10-

United States Department of Agriculture

- FOREST SERVICE

California Forest and Range Experiment Btation

University of California
• -JCm. awwuujMMi a 1 1:
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA

December 7, 1948
- *

Definition of Variables

* «• •

Following are the definitions of variables used in the growth
and loss alignment charts for selection-.. stands'. T„he definitions are
segregated by charts. « •

GROWTH OF STAND 11.6 INCHES DBH AND OVER. *

A. Volume per acre, board feet. The volume- per .acre, by-
Scribner Rule, of all trees that were 11.6 inches DBH and over at
the beginning of the period of estimate. All species included.

B. Percent of volume in sugar pine and white fir. The vol¬
ume of sugar pine and white fir-, in. trees 11.6 inches DBH and. over,
expressed as a percentage of the volume of all species, in trees

11.6 inches and larger.

C. Average volume per tree, board feet. Volume of all trees

11.6 inches DBH and over, divided by the number of trees 11.6 inches

DBH and over. All species included.

« <

D. Percent of volume in tree class 1. Volume of trees 11.6
inches DBH and over that are in Region 5 tree class 1, expressed

as a percentage of volume in all trees 11.6 inches DBH and over.

All species included.

G. Site index, feet. The average- total height, in feet, of
mature dominant (Class' 3) trees in the stand. Reference is made to
California Fobest and Range Experiment Station Research Note No.- 26,
December 1, 1942.

X. Mean annual growth per acre, board feet. Average annual
growth per acre in board feet, Scribner Rule, of all trees that were

11.6 inches DBH and over at the time of cutting. Twenty year period.

ADDRE8S REPLY TO
DIRECTOR
AND REFER TO

MENSURATION

Growth

Selection Stands

TREES GROWING INTO THE STAND 11.6 INCHES AND OVER.

vv v'-mpw-.. . ' ' '.'V*

A. Number of polos 3.6 to 11.5 inches DBH, per acre. Number
of trees per acre, from 3.6 to 11.5 inches DBH, inclusive, at the

beginning of the period of estimate. All species. “ r .v.-.-0

B. Percent of poles in sugar pine and white fir. Number of
sugar pine and white fir trees' 3.6 to 11.5 inches DBH expressed as
a percentage of the number of trees of all species 3.6 to. 11*5

inches DBH.

C. Percent of poles in tree class 1. Number of trees 3.6 to

11.5 inches DBH that are in Region 5 tree class 1, expressed as a
percentage of all trees 3.6 to 11.5 inches DBH.

D. Average diameter of pole stand, inches. Average diameter
of all trees 3.6 to 11,5 inches DBH, b-r basal area method. It will
be .sufficiently accurate to use the average of the diameters in ap¬
plication of the chart.

( G. Site index, feet. The average total height, in feet, of

mature dominant ("class 3 ) trees in the st:. nd. Reference is made to
^California Forest and Range Experiment -Station Research Note 28,
December 1,1942.

Y *

X. Average annual growth per acre, board feet. Volume by
Scribner Rule, of the /poles' at' the time they reach 1-1,6 inches DBH,
plus subsequent growth, during a 20-year period, converted \o an
acre-year basis.

LOSS IN STAND 11.6' INCHES DBH AND 'OVER. ■ D

/ . • 1

A. Volume per acre, board feet* The volume per acre, by
Scribner Rule, of (all trees that were 11*6 inches DBH , and over at
the beginning of the period of estimate V': All species.

* •

C. Percent of volume in white fir. Volume of white fir

in trees 11.6 inches DBII and over expressed as a percentage of the
volume of all species, trees 11*6 inches DBII and over.

D. Percent of volume in tree classes 4, 5, 6, and 7. Volume
of trees 11.6 inches DBH and over that are in Region 5 tree classes
4, 5, 6, and 7, expressed as a percentage of the volume in all trees

11.6 inches J)BH and over.

E. Site index, feet. The average total height, in feet, of
mature dominant ^ Class 3), trees in the stand.

X. Lean annual loss per acre, board feet. Volume by
Scribner Rule, of all trees 11*6 inches DBH and over that died
during a 20-year period. Converted to an acre-year basis.

-2-

In computing values for these variables, to be applied to

the charts, it is necessary to work with a total value for all
plots. That is, suppose 50 plots from a common site or type are
to be used in making a prediction. The volume, number of trees, etc,
from the 50 plots should be totaled. The values for the variables
must be computed from these totals and then converted to an acre
basis where necessary. Errors will result if each plot is converted
to an acre basis and the variables are derived from these converted
values •

V. A. CLEMELTTS ,

Associate Silviculturist

-3-

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1*0

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOREST SERVICE

CALIFORNIA FOREST AND RANGE EXPERIMENT STATION

E. I, KOTOK — DIRECTOR

VOLUME PER ACRE
BOARD FEET

PERCENT OF VOLUME
IN WHITE FIR

PERCENT OF VOLUME
IN TREE CLASSES 4,5,6,8 7

SITE INDEX
FEET

AVERAGE ANNUAL
LOSS PER ACRE
BOARD FEET

60,000-

50,000-

40,000-

30,00 0-

20,000-

I 0,000-

5,000-

200-

I 50-

I 00-

100
90-
80-
70-
60-
50
40-
30-
20-
10-
0-

500

400

300

200-

100-

100
90
80
70
60-
50-
40
30
20
10
0

KEY A TO C, HOLD S| ; TO D, HO'

CHART FOR ESTIMATION OF LOSS
IN SELECTION FORESTS OF THE SIERRA NEVADA

STAND 11.6 INCHES DBH AND OVER

BOARD FEET 1939 SCRIBNER RULE

PREPARED BY V. A. CLEMENTS
DfVlSION OF FOREST MANAGEMENT
RS

Mtnsurotion
Stood ttuc II

Growth

SMoctior Stood*

U.S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOREST SERVICE

CALIFORNIA FOREST AND RANGE EXPERIMENT STATION

E. I. KOTOK — DIRECTOR

, READ X

I I I I I I I I I

*> • -

s ,

PLANS - R-2
Timber Management

March 21, 19U9

MANAGEMENT PLAN CONFERENCE - TOPIC #19
Management of Lodgepole Pine

by Bert Lexen, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station

Only on a few areas is intensive management of lodgepole pine possible at
present. The lack of an adequate transportation system precludes the
development of detailed management plans. Moreover, larger quantities of
submerchant able material in commercial stands, for which there is now only
a small and intermittent market, further complicates the problem. Realis¬
tic cutting budgets are almost impossible to draw up because the planner
is in no position to say how much of the small, low-vigor material can be
sold in the future. The ability to dispose of both large and small trees
is important, if the objectives of management are to be achieved. This
will be demonstrated by a hypothetical example later.

Silvicultural Considerations

Lodgepole pine, like most pines, is intolerant. It regenerates and develops
rapidly under full sunlight, and tends always toward evenage. Seedlings
become easily established under shade, but soon die or develop into ill-
formed specimens when they are too heavily shaded.

Successful regeneration requires the removal of at least 60 percent of
the merchantable volume. Experience has shown, however , that while regen¬
eration is successful, following a partial cut of 60 percent, wind damage
to the reserve stand is so great by this method of cutting, that its use
is discouraged. Experimental cuttings of different intensities of selec¬
tive cutting on the Fraser Experimental Forest indicate a mean annual
mortality of I3I4. board feet for I4. M board feet reserve stands, and 90 board
feet for 6 M board feet stands. These mortality losses are for a 7-year
period directly after cutting and are, therefore, probably high. They do
point out, nevertheless, the losses which the reserve stand must sustain
when heavy to moderately heavy selective cutting is employed.

The exceptionally heavy mortality obtained in the lodgepole pine type is
largely the result of strong spring winds that come at a time when the
ground is made soft by melted snow. The poor root development, which re¬
sults from the many stems per acre so common with lodgepole pine, also
contributes to heavy mortality, but, regardless of the cause, it has
become apparent that lodgepole pine can best be managed on an even-aged
basis .

Stand-Condition Classes

Two important condition classes occur in commercial stands of lodgepole
pine. They are even-aged stands 200 to 2^0 years old, and broad-aged
stands in which the merchantable stand is also approximately 200 to

250 years old., but contains, in addition, a scattering of young trees.

The factors which have led to the development of each condition class are
of interest silviculturally, but for management purposes it is only im¬
portant to know that for even-aged stands, the submerchantable portion
of the growing stock is composed almost completely of small-crowned, low-
vigor trees of the same age as the main stand. Because of this condition,
complete clear cutting is always necessary. Broad age stands, on the
other hand, contain a light residual of young, vigorous, sub-merchantable
trees that can become the nucleus of two or more future cuts, provided
precautions are taken to protect these trees from wind.

Cutting System

Lodgepole pine can be easily adapted to clear cutting in groups, or some
form of strip cutting. The latter system of cutting is preferred because
it provides better control over successive cuts, reduces logging damage,
and simplifies future logging operations.

Strip cutting can be of several types, the simplest form of which is alter¬
nate clear strip cutting. This is perhaps the least desirable of the strip
cutting methods because the cutting cycle for it is long (one-half the rota¬
tion). Wherever possible, it is desirable to use multiple clear strip
cutting which reduces the cutting cycle by the number of strips which must
be cutover to completely harvest the timber from a unit of area. For
example, if cutting is completed in three strips, the cutting cycle is
equal to (rotation), and if four strips are used, the cutting cycle is

equal to (rotation). The use of more than four strips leads to over re-
finement of management .

Re gulation of the Cut

Nven-aged Stands

The regulation of the cut under the three-strip system is illustrated by
the following hypothetical example in even-aged lodgepole pine. The grow¬
ing stock is assumed to be 12 M board feet per acre, which is in excess
to that needed for high level sustained yield. The problem is to convert
a forest with an excess of growing stock to one in which the growing stock
is approximately normal 3 this goal to be achieved by cutting approximately
the same volume annually.

The successive steps to be followed in the conversion of a virgin, unmanaged
stand to one with a normal growing stock is shown in Figure 1. Strips are
15)0 to l80 feet wide, and the rotation, 120 years. The cutting cycle is,
therefore, equal to 120 or lj.0 years. In other words, all No. 1 strips in

the working circle will be clear cut in I4.0 years and all strips No. 2 and
3 lightly cut. The estimated volume to be removed per acre for each cutting
cycle is summarized below;

First Cutting Cycle

U,000 bd. ft.
2,000 bd. ft.

6,000 bd. ft.

It, 000 bd. ft.
1,000 bd. ft.

5,000 bd.ft.

It, 000 bd. ft.

Since the stand is even aged and the sub merchantable trees are of no value
as growing stock, T.S.I. consists of cutting all the trees below 10.0 inches
d.b.h. for whatever produce there is currently a market. Lacking a market,
they are felled in order to restock the clear strip as completely and as
quickly as possible. In the second cutting cycle, the cut in strip 2 and
the light cut in strip 3 assumes that growth in 1*0 years will bring the
volume on these strips back to the original volume at the beginning of the
first cutting cycle. From existing, after cutting yield studies, this is
a conservative estimate of growth.

The T.S.I. operation in the second cutting cycle is the same as in the
first cutting cycle, but coming lj.0 years later a more ready market may
be available for the small material cut. A good market for small material
is important at this time because thinning must be done in the Uo year old
stand in strip 1. If thinning is not done at this time, a 120 year rotation
is too short. Without thinning, at least 200 years must elapse before saw-
log material is again available in satisfactory quantities.

In the third cutting cycle, growth in the preceding UO years is considered
sufficient on strip 3 to provide a cut of Il,000 board feet. This is an in¬
crease of 3,000 to I[.,000 board feet, which should be obtained wathout diffi¬
culty. After the third strip has been clear cut, the light selection cut¬
tings made during the first and second cutting cycles are no longer possible
because the working circle is now completely clear cut. Additional medium
sized material wall be available, however, from strip 1, which is stocked
with 80 year old trees. Small material (I4O years old) wall also be avail¬
able from strip 2, together writh the regular submerchant able trees from
the T.S.I. operation in strip 3«

Clear-cut strip 1 = 1/3(12,000 bd.ft.) -
Light selection strips 213 = l/ki 8,000 bd.ft.) =
T.S.I. strip 1 = Foies, posts, props

Second Cutting Cycle

Clear-cut strip 2 = 1/3(12,000 bd.ft.) =

Light selection strip 3 = l/h\ 1|,000 bd.ft.) =

T.S.I. strip 2 = Foies, posts, props

Thinning strip l(IjOyrs.old)= Posts

Third Cutting Cycle

Clear-cut strip 3 1/3(12,000 bd.ft.) =

Light selection = None

Thinning strip l( 80yrs . old)= Poles, posts, props
Thinning strip 2(I;0yrs .old)= Posts, props
T.S.I. strip 3 = Poles, posts, props

- 3 -

While the board foot volume available for cutting drops progressively with
each cutting cycle, the amount of cubic foot volume ready for harvest in¬
creases enough simultaneously to offset this loss. New markets must be
found for this small material, but that should not be difficult 1*0 to 80
years hence.

Sven though the annual cut is not kept perfectly constant from cutting
cycle to cutting cycle, the original forest with a surplus of growing
stock is converted by the first cutting cycle in the second rotation to
one that is approximately normal. The ease with which lodgepolc pine
regenerates should result in the complete and immediate restocking of
each strip as it is clear cut. The growing stock at the beginning of
the first cutting cycle in the second rotation will deviate from ideal
only insofar as thinning or intermediate cuttings have or have not been
made correctly.

Broad-aged Stands

The problem in broad aged stands is to bring to maturity the light residual
growing stock of submerchantable trees, and, at the same time, convert the
old surplus growing stock to a normal growing stock as rapidly as possible.
Strip cutting makes possible the development of the light reserve stand
because of the protection given to it by the lightly cut strips to the
windward. The conversion of the original stand to a 3-age stand with a
normal growing stock is not completed, however, until the end of the
second cutting cycle in the second rotation. A summary of the volume avail-
able during each cutting cycle is given below.

( First Rotation)

First Cutting Cycle

Clear-cut strip 1 -
Light selection strips 2&3
T.S.I. strip 1 s

Second

1/3(12,000 bd.ft.) n U,000 bd. ft.

= l/b (8,000 bd.ft.) = 2,000 bd. ft.

Poles , props , posts , pulpwood _

6,000 bd. ft.

Cutting Cycle

Clear-cut strip 2 =

Light selection strip 3 =
Second cut strip 1 =
T.S.I. strip 2 =

Thinning strip 1 =

Third

1/3(12,000 bd.ft.) = MOO bd. ft.

l/k (MOO bd.ft.) = 1,000 bd. ft.

750 bd. ft. 7^0 bd. ft.

Poles, posts, props, pulpwo o d

Posts , props, pulpwood _ _

5,7^0 bd. ft".

Cutting Cycle

Clear-cut strip 3 = 1/3(12,000 bd.ft.) = 1*,000 bd. ft.

Light selection None

Third cut strip 1 = 75>0 bd. ft. 75>0 bd. ft.

Second cut strip 2 = 75-0 bd. ft. 750 bd. ft.

Thinning strip 1(80 yrs.old)= Poles, posts, props, pulpwood
Thinning strip 2(1*0 yrs.old)= Posts, props, pulpwood

T.S.I. strip 3 = Poles, posts, props, pulpwood _

5,500 bd. ft.

- h -

(Second Rotation)

First Cutting Cycle

l+,000 bd. ft.
75>0 bd. ft.
75>0 bd. ft.

5,500 bd. ft.

U,000 bd. ft.
750 bd. ft.

5775oTdTft.

lj,000 bd. ft.

1|,000 bd. ft.

If management can bo intensified, the four strip system mil permit the
reduction of the cutting cycle from I4.0 years to 30 years (see Figure 2).
This is desirable from the standpoint of the intermediate harvest cuttings,
which should be made more frequently perhaps than even 30 years for optimum
results. More than four strips could be used, but it would make management
cumbersome. If more intermediate cuts are necessary than scheduled above,
they must be made without the advantage of harvesting a strip of mature,

120 year old trees simultaneously.

Rigidly adhering to the cutting schedule for the three strip system neces¬
sitates holding a portion of the original growing stock for 80 years and,
for the four strip method, 90 years, ’diether this can or cannot be done
depends upon the thriftiness of the original stand. If it lacks vigor,
it may be necessary to shorten this period to 50 or 60 years. Should
this step be taken the growing stock must be brought into balance in the
second rotation.

Clear-cut strip 1 =
Third cut strip 2 =
Second cut strip 3 =
Thinning strip 2 =
Thinning strip 3 =

14,000 bd. ft.

750 bd. ft.

poles ,, posts, props, pulpwood
Poles, posts, props, pulpwo 0 d

Second Cutting Cycle

Clear-cut strip 2 = b,000 bd. ft.

Third cut strip 3 = 750 bd. ft.

Thinning strip l([j.0yrs. old) =Posts, props, pulpwood
Thinning strip 3(80yrs .old) =P ole s, posts, props, pulpwo od

Third Cutting Cycle

Clear-cut strip 3 = Iq.OOO bd. ft.

Thinning strip l( 80yrs. old) =Poles , posts, props, pulpwood
Thinning strip 2 ([j.0yrs .old) =Posts, props, pulpwood

- 5 -

STRIP CUTTING IN LODGEPOLE PINE

Cutting cycle 30yeors_ Rototion 120 years

^Cutt-ing Direction

Wind Direction

\ YEAR
1950

V YEAR
( 1980

YEAR

2010

YEAR

2040

STR 1 PN0.4 | NO. 3

NO. 2

NO. 1

NO. 4

NO-o

1 NO. 2

NO. 1

YEAR

2070

Southwest

Northeast

-STRIP CUTTING IN LODGEPOLE PINE

Cutting cycle 40 years - Rotation l20yeors

Cc>/72pl/ect

Cutting Direction

Wind Direction

3dar‘49

€

Practical Application of Lexers Proposal to Lodgepole

Pine Stands on the Poudre Working Circle -

Roosevelt National Forest - Colorado

by Theodore Krueger - Region 2

Lexer’s proposal may appear to some as rather theoretical and not applicable
in unregulated stands in our Western Working Circles.

A cutting system is hardly ever applied exactly in practice as given in
textbooks or taught in schools. On our western forests j tq start with , we
generally have a surplus or deficit of one age class and the administrator's
job is to take the system and give it practical application to the stand
conditions as actually found by survey and gradually convert what you find
into an orderly and regulated forest.

The lodgepole pine, as found in the Poudre Working Circle, offers an example
of what we have to start with and how we expect to apply the principles of
Lexen's proposal a practical way.

Following are the stand conditions as found by the timber survey:

Area

Volume

Acres

M ft. b.m.

Mature 160+ years

51*, 370

287,1*21).

Intermediates 101-160 years

21,197

1*1,768

Pole stands 61-100 years

45,927

Saplings 26-60 years

17,720

Seedlings 1-25 years

2,203

Rotation 120 years
k cutting cycles - 30 years each

The following is a suggested application of Lexen’s proposal to these
conditions”

1st Cutting Cycle 1-30 yeans

M ft. b.m.

Cut 55% of mature 160+ =

+ 10% of intermediate 100-160 class

1^8,083

>,177

162', 260

2nd Cutting Cycle 31-60 years

129,31*1
37,591

166,932

3rd Cutting Cycle 61-90 3rears

Cut remainder of l6o+ mature =
+ Remainder of intermediate =

4- Growth of intermediate
+ Some salvage in poles

If no thinning was done, should have at least
5,500 ft. b.m. per acre or U5,927 acres x 5,500 =
2)48,000 M ft.

However, to balance shortage of area in seedlings

^ per acre

lith Cutting Cycle 91-120 ye ar s

Cut remainder of pole area held over from 3rd cut

12,927 acres

66,5 00

Cut all of sapling area, part of

)

20,000

seedling area ready

)

acres

some light selection in now

)

110,000

mature 1st cutting cycle

)

5,500 ft.

176,500

If before the end of the 2nd cutting cycle it is possible to make thinnings
in the pole and sapling stands, the cut in the 3rd to lj.th cutting cycles
would be increased.

At end of rotation would have a fairly balanced acreage of the U age class
stands .

32,000 acres mature
1*3, 500 acres intermediates
33>000( poles

32,800 seedlings and saplings

Increased grovrth over first rotation will depend on possibilities of
markets for thinnings.

The topic outline also asks this question;

’’May two or more methods of management be prescribed for
different parts of one working circle?M

This can be answered by ”YesM using the same Poudre Working Circle, as
an example, where in addition to the proposed clear cut in strips or
small blocks for lodgcpole pine as described above, we propose a k0%
overall partial cut and 30 year cutting cycle for Engelmarm spruce and
a %0% tree selection cut with first cutting cycle of 20 years in the
mature and overmature ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir stands.

- « k

*< } f ...

• y '

Portland, Oregon
March 2 U, 19U9

METHODS OF MANAGEMENT AND METHODS OF REGULATION OF CUT
IN THE NATIONAL FORESTS OF THE NORTH PACIFIC REGION

Philip A. Briegleb

Pacific Northwest Forest & Range Experiment Station

In the North Pacific Region, as elsewhere on the national forests
of the nation, emphasis is no longer primarily on protection but on in¬
tegrated sustained-yield management.

Within the past decade, timber cut on the national forests has
accelerated at a rapid pace. During that period the rate of harvest in
Region 6 has increased fourfold j in I9I4.8 the regional cut totaled 1,651
million board feet, Estimated harvest allowable under sustained yield
is 2 ,14|6 million board feet or about 1^8 percent greater than the present
cut0 Thus, the timber management work load, already tremendous, will
increase still further.

Of the 16, 339 9 000 acres of commercial forest land in Region 6,
9,601,000 acres is classified as old-growth forest. Thus, the princi¬
pal job of forest management in the region is (l) to direct the transi¬
tion of wild, predominantly mature and overmature forests to thrifty,
managed stands through the processes of timber harvest and related
activities. Discussion in this paper is directed largely to this field
of effort. Other jobs are (2) to restore or improve the productivity of
non- or poorly stocked burns and cutovers, totaling some 696,000 acres,
and (5) increase the volume and value of increment in immature stands,
covering about 6, 0l±2, 000 acres, by stand improvement and intermediate
harvest cuttings.

The Douglas-fir Subregion

Operating Conditions

Timber volume in the mature stands is high. Net recovery per acre
averages roughly 14.0,000 to 60,000 board feet and ranges to more than
100,000 board feet. Tree sizes likewise are large, generally averaging
over 36 inches in diameter and they range to over 80 inches in diameter.

In logging, the conventional skidding method is by high-lead, using
cable and internal combustion engines. Owing to prevailingly steep topog¬
raphy and wet climate it is practical to yard logs by tractors probably
on not more than l/5 or I/I4. of the Douglas-fir region national forest area.
Large timber size precludes the use of horses except in second growth.

These operating conditions rather sharply limit the application of indi¬
vidual tree selection cutting, particularly in old-growth forests.

The principal market is for logs — sawlogs, pulp logs, veneer logs,
shingle logs. Relatively minor volumes are sold as poles, piling, pulpwood
bolts, and other primary timber products. Logging and utilization in
general are highly mechanized. Average output per man in the woods and
in the mill is high in comparison with some other parts of the country.
Wage rates are also high, however, and the average output per dollar of
costs is probably more nearly on a par with most of the remainder of the
country.

Biological and Other Factors

Douglas-fir, the most important species, is less tolerant than its
most common associates. It regenerates in the open or in light shade and
after establishment grows best in full sunlight. Hemlock, spruce, the
cedars, and the true firs, except noble, are all relatively tolerant.

They can grow well in uneven-aged stands, but they appear to attain best

«2«=>

development if they start growth in fairly dense, even-aged stands.

With the exception of the cedars this group of tolerants is highly sus¬
ceptible to decay following logging injury, Trees in the natural for¬
est are not particularly wind- resistant, and in some instances are
highly susceptible to wind damage. Brush cover of shrub species is
variable, ranging from light to extremely dense, but is commonly
fairly well established.

The old-growth forest typically is infected with trunk rot and butt
rot. In some problem areas not more than half the gross volume of live
trees consists of sound wood. Stands of all ages may be infected with
root rots that appear to be distributed by small-area foci of infection.
In past years quite serious inroads have been made in localized areas by
Douglas-fir bark beetles and by the hemlock looper defoliator and cur¬
rently several outbreaks of spruce budworm infestation have been found
in the region.

Annual precipitation is high--generally above lj.0 inches, ranging
to over 1QQ inches. Most precipitation comes in the fall, winter, and
spring. Summers usually are quite dry and frequently bring severe fire
weather. This, together with normally heavy slash on cut-over areas,
represents an extremely serious and recurring threat to Douglas-fir for¬
ests.

The wildlife population of unbroken Douglas-fir forests is low but
game animals tend to multiply rapidly in areas of interspersed forest
and cutover. Wildlife and recreational uses of the forest are growing
as population increases.

Influence of the forest on watershed and streamflow conditions is

becoming increasingly important as conflicts develop between the inter¬
ests of waterpower, manufacturing industries, irrigation, flood control,
and recreation0 Revegetation of disturbed areas usually progresses at a
fairly rapid rate if not heavily and repeatedly burned, but considerable
erosion nevertheless results from truck road construction, swing road¬
ways, and from tractor roads.

Methods of Cutting Used in the Douglas-fir Subregion

Against this background of conditions, current cutting practice has

developed*, Presently the timber is harvested about as follows*

Clear-cut in unit areas of 80 acres or smaller - 80 percent

n n w ** greater than 80 acres - 10 ”

Partial cut by tree selection and by small group - 10
selection

Even-aged management is prescribed for the areas from which con¬
siderably more than 90 percent of the timber is cut because even-aged
regeneration is anticipated on the small group selection cuttings. In
addition, some of the tree selection cutting is being made as an inter¬
mediate harvest to salvage or forestall mortality with the intent of
eventually clear-cutting for final harvest and regeneration.

Slash is usually broadcast burned on clear-cuts to reduce fire haz¬
ard and sometimes to reduce shrub cover and improve seedbed conditions.
Sometimes slash is left unburned if seedbed and hazard conditions permit.
Little or no burning is done on partial cuts. Normally, plans call for
cut-over examinations within 5 years after logging and if restocking is
unsatisfactory, planting.

Methods of Computing Allowable Cut in Douglas-fir

Anticipating preponderance of even-aged management, the Hanzlik
formula is used in computing allowable cut, This formula says:

AC = I + XE
r

In which AC = annual cut*

I = mean annual increment of immature stands up to
the age when they will be cut.

Vm = volume in mature and overmature stands, i.e.,
those in which as a group, growth equals loss,
r = rotation selected for management.

Assume, for example, a Douglas-fir working circle averaging site
III having at present the age class distribution indicated in the first
two columns of table 1. Net recoverable volume per acre in the mature
stand is assumed to average JO, 000 board feet. A rotation of 100 years
is assumed, which approximates estimated age of maximum mean annual in¬
crement for saw timber.

Table 1 also illustrates a preliminary computation of increment
”l” for use in the formula for a first approximation of cut. Substitut¬
ing the values in

AC = I + XU! indicates
r

= 33,1+13 + 2>iQQ*ooQ

100

= 5l+sUl3 M board feet

or, for first approximation, 5l+ MM board feet.

"5“

•

I-1

•“*

P»

C/1

Next step is to use the figure of 5 1* MM board feet in making an
area-volume stand allotment check as illustrated in table 2. This shows
that following a cut of 5U MM will result in cutting over the entire
circle in 113 years instead of the 100 years contemplated for the rota¬
tion. Study of table 2 shows that the average cutting age for each age
class will be well above the 100-year rotation if 5l+ MM per year is har¬
vested. Cutting in the present 10-year class will commence at

108 - (i 30) or 93 years, which is well within the usual 13 percent

tolerance allowed.

The 5U MM figure can be adjusted on the basis of judgment or by
"rule of thumb" calculation similar to the following:

Total estimated volume cut in rotation = 6,102 MM (113 x 5U

Less mature volume = 2,100 "

Estimated volume of immature
Total years to cut all timber
1*,002 MM 7 H3

For 100-year rotation total immature
to cut, estimated

1*,002 "

113

35,1+16 M, av. per yr.

35,1*16 M x 100
3,51+1,600 M

Plus mature timber - 2,100,000 "

Estimated total volume to cut in

100 years = 5,61*1,600 M, or

Second estimated AC = 560I* MM board feet

The figure of 56,1+ MM can be run through the area-volume computa¬
tion for checking, after which a recommended figure for AC can be
determined readily.

-7-

Table 2 „ --Area-volume stand allotment check of indicated cut

Current

age

class

(yr.)

160+

100

1+0

Area

M acres

Estimated age
when cut

Estimated
net vol.
per acre
when cut

Total
volume
to cut

M bd, ft.

MM bd. ft.

Mature

2,100

(100 + 59 + 2 20)

11+9

1,21+0

(l+o +62+1 20)
112

1,11+0

(10 +83+I 30)
108

1,620

Years to cut

Periodic Cumulative

113

-8-

Application of the Hanzlik formula and related area-volume cal¬
culation provide "both for reduction of excess growing stock over the
first rotation and for avoiding a deficit of growing stock during the
first rotation. Adequate growing stock in the second rotation can be
insured only if regeneration is obtained promptly and in desirable
density and composition.

The Ponder osa Pine Subregion

The other papers on this topic deal at some length with the pine
subregion; thus, the situation in this portion of Region 6 will be but
briefly reviewed.

Timber volume per acre is lighter than on the west or nfirH side
of the region, the pine types averaging 8,000 to 20,000 board feet.

Trees average 30 inches in d.b.h. and range to above 60 inches. In the
operating zone terrain is generally gentle in slope, occasionally steep.
Tractor skidding is the rule. The timber product market is principally,
and in most places almost exclusively, for sawlogs.

Ponder osa pine grows well in pure stands and if in a dominant posi¬
tion it grows well in mixture with Douglas-fir, larch, white fir, and
lodgepole. It is much less tolerant than its commonest associates,
white fir and Douglas-fir, but when very young has the capacity to sur¬
vive severe suppression and generally responds well to release except
when overmature.

Virgin stands tend to be unevenaged by small even-aged groups, A
dense sapling stand is commonly well established in the understory or
in small openings. On the moister sites the firs frequently predomi¬
nate in the understory, even where the main stand is principally pine.
Brush-form shrub species, usually not particularly aggressive, become so

-9-

where encouraged by hard and repeated burns. The western pine beetle
has taken very heavy toll in virgin ponderosa stands and one of the pri¬
mary objectives of management is to reduce losses caused by this insect.
The mountain pine beetle, the Douglas-fir beetle, the tussock moth, and
the spruce budworm have caused considerable damage to upper-slope for¬
ests. Ponderosa pine is comparatively free from defect. It is commonly
infected, however--in some .places severely — by mistletoe, root fungi,
and during moist periods by twig blight, but these infections are less
severe generally than are the insect problems.

Growth capacity generally is moderate. The 52 percent of the com¬
mercial forest land that is in this subregion includes only 28 percent
of the total cut allowable under sustained yield.

Climate is generally moderately dry. Precipitation averages about
25 inches per year, but large deficiencies or excesses of rainfall may
persist for periods of up to two decades or so, resulting in pronounced
growth and mortality cycles. Only uncommonly does much rain fall during
the growing season. Periods of extreme fire weather occur almost every
summer, lightning is common, and only the comparatively light stands
prevent frequent major fire catastrophies .

Most forests in the pine subregion serve important multiple use
functions. They provide forage for both livestock and game and function
in the role of watershed protectors in a territory in which water is
scarce and valuable. Recreational use is increasing.

-10-

Methods of Cutting Used in Pine Subregion

Individual tree selection is followed almost exclusively. A pri¬
mary objective generally is to reduce losses in the virgin stand and get
the forest under control as quickly as possible by cutting as lightly as
economic conditions permit. Presently about four-fifths of the timber
cut is harvested in selection cuts which remove I4.O to 60 percent of vir¬
gin stand volume. About one-fifth of the annual cut is harvested in
light, sanitation salvage cuts which remove 15 to 30 percent of virgin
stand volume. The trend in the initial harvest is toward lighter cut¬
ting.

First priority is to mark for cutting those trees of poor current
health and high risk. Next component is selected on the basis of longer
time growth and mortality probability as indicated by the Keen tree
class. Approach to the cutting of associated species is similar to that
used for pine, but scientific basis therefor has not yet been developed.
Stumpage values of these other species are usually lower than those for
pine and there is less opportunity to do a good job of stand improvement
in the cutting process. In the first-cycle cuts now being made, small-
area or group selection clear-cuts are rarely applied.

Usual method of slash treatment is to pile and burn in strips along
selected roads, leaving the intervening area untreated.

Methods of Computing Allowable Cut

Heyer* s formula is used for computing allowable cut for the selec¬
tion forests of the pine region. This says s

AC = I + (Measured volume) - (Desirable Volume)

n years

-11-

In which AC = the volume of annual timber harvest that can be

sustained while bringing the forest to its poten¬
tial level of continuous productivity or main¬
taining it at that level 0

I or annual growth. As used in the above formula this repre¬
sents the weighted average annual net growth for
the tract being regulated over the period of n
years 0 Increment for the first cutting cycle is
estimated from growth and mortality probability
tables derived from temporary and permanent plot
measurements o These are being checked and revised
as experience records accumulate from the perma¬
nent plots o Potential growth at rotation end is
estimated from normal yield tables and will be re¬
vised as warranted by experience records „

Measured volume is the net merchantable content of the present

forest as determined by timber cruise,,

Desirable volume is the volume contained in a managed forest

whose growing stock is balanced by having all age
classes up to rotation age equally represented,,
Rotation is usually selected as age of maximum
mean annual increment, and desirable volume for
balanced growing stock to this age computed as a
percentage, usually 60 percent, of normal yield
table volumes o

-12-

n years - the period during which approximately balanced grow¬
ing stock is to be attained,, In stands prepon¬
derate ly overmature, probably 100 to 200 years,
or approximately a full rotation will be required
to reach this object ive* In exceptional stands
having better age-class distribution, wn years*
may be no longer than a cutting cycle or two.

This formula provides directly for reduction of excess growing stock
or for increase of deficient growing stock,,

Preliminary determination of length of cutting cycle is made as
follows? (1) Estimate the average volume of cut and percentage of cut
per acre that must be made to permit economic operation; (2) assume that
the annual cut will approximate l-l/3 percent of the virgin stand volume
present at the start of the cutting cycle* The result for various per¬
cents of cut is?

Average percent of stand Length of cutting

volume cut per acre _ cycle _

Percent Years

13.3

18*7

26*7

33«3

37 o5

53oU

66*7

52.3

Cutting cycles are not adhered to rigidly* If need for sanitation
salvage cuts arises they are carried out when there is opportunity
whether or not they correspond with regularly scheduled harvest cuts*

-13-

Some working circles include mixed conifer or upper-slope types,
generally evenaged, and for which continuing even-aged management is
anticipated* For these, allowable cut is computed by Hanzlik formula
as explained for the Douglas-fir subregion and a separate cutting budget
is maintained for the different broad forest type or method of manage¬
ment classes*

How About the Future

In general, the methods of management being used are adapted to the

biological conditions and economic limitations that prevail* One job is

/•v

to improve economic limits through improved forest utilization ^facilities
and market research* In addition, there is infinite detail to be learned
about the techniques of applying the methods being used* In other in¬
stances we are working into new stand variations for which effective
management procedures are not even roughly worked out*

To illustrate some of these points by examples, the staggered setting
or patch system of clear-cutting seems well adapted to many of our
Douglas-fir situations* But just what is the most efficient size for
the unit cuttings^ how should they be located and oriented with respect
to topography, prevailing winds, and brush situations? Which are the
stands in the fir region that will yield greater total timber volume and
value if given one or a series of intermediate cuts before regeneration?
Another problem we have not yet faced is how to obtain prompt regenera¬
tion on the later cuttings of the patch system when the natural source of
seed is greatly reduced or eliminated* How long should the delayed
settings be left before they are harvested? Where, how, and just when
should slash be burned and where had it better be left unburned? These
are examples of the very practical questions facing the Douglas-fir

forester today, and the adequacy of the answers that are found will de¬
termine whether or not we are actually able to sustain, in following
cycles and rotations, the future cuts that we are assuming will be
f orthcomingo We need to learn to recognize in the virgin stand ahead
of cutting, brush threat, and other regeneration problem areas so that
these can be planted promptly after harvest instead of waiting to see
if planting will be necessary and thereby losing through brush encroach¬
ment our only reasonable opportunity within a rotation to plant 0
In the east-side subregion our silviculture seems to be well
adapted to the pure pine type*, Trend is in the direction of lighter
cutting and shorter cycles 0 The results are encouraging*, We have much
to learn, however, about cutting methods best adapted to the mixed pine
and the non-pine types which cover more than half the commercial forest
acreage of the subregion*. We need to know where and how pine should be
favored over the other species, where and how to apply small-area group
selection clear-cuts, where the ecological trend to more tolerant
species can be permitted to continue with some assurance that we will be
growing in future years a timber crop somewhere nearly commensurate with
productive capacity of the site*, Certainly until all of these unknowns
are worked out allowable cut should be computed for ponderosa pine and
for the other species separately*, In general, the need for separate
regulation by species, types, or products should be reviewed working
circle by working circle in both pine and fir*,

We need in timber management to improve our knowledge and our tech¬
niques of avoiding excessive erosion on cutting areas and maintaining
optimum watershed and streamflow conditions* Many of our cutovers show
erosion scars that cannot be tolerated as our use of the forest and its
multiple products becomes more intensive*,

Most of the management in Region 6 is likely to be even-aged manage¬
ment * In a major part of the fir region, owing largely to topographic
conditions, we will be limited to one cut per rotation unless vastly im¬
proved logging methods can be devised* However, intermediate cuttings
will be possible in the second crop on many areas where this form of oper¬
ation is impractical with old-growth timber* In some parts of the fir
region, particularly the drier, warmer areas, there may be a place for
regeneration by the shelterwood method, by small-group selection, and pos¬
sibly by tree selection, as well as by unit clear-cuts of larger size*

A higher proportion of our total yield in the second crop will come in
the form of intermediate cuttings than is coming from our virgin stand
harvest* In the pine region, regeneration, stand quality, and growth im¬
provement will be of increasing importance when the job of salvaging
losses and getting areas under control is further along* There will be
places for even-aged, even-aged by small group, and uneven-aged manage¬
ment, frequently on the same working circle* All of this adds up to a
future system of cutting methods that must be quite flexible and variable
to be adapted to varying conditions*

This development, together with the increasing pressure on the na¬
tional forests for timber, will require increasingly flexible and refined
methods of computing allowable cut*

Our personnel policies as well as our management plans must recog¬
nize realistically the trend toward intensive management and set up
career positions that will attract and hold the skilled men required to
do the job* Some of our most important timber management jobs calling
for skill and experience are being done by young, potentially capable
foresters in a training capacity* Frequently we are training at the

-16-

expense of the woods because as soon as a young forester shows real
competence he must be shifted to another job in order to promote him0
In other countries, having a tradition of centuries of intensive for¬
est management behind them, the procedure is quite different,, The top
foresters mark the timber to be cut and determine on the ground plans
for regeneration and stand improvement, the sequence and directions
that operations will takec

The best of plans in the book and specifications in the cutting con¬
tracts will bring our forests to their potential productivity and keep
them there only if the men who do the job on the ground are highly
skilled, enthusiastic, and determined in their zeal to look beyond the
expediency of immediate stumpage returns and build an increasingly
valuable and productive forest for the future 0

-17-

SUPERVISION

Meetings

(Management Plan Conference)

Topic £0 - Methods of Management and Methods
of Regulation of Cut, Region 8

Methods of Management

A. J. Streinz

Most of the national forest land in Region 8 was acquired by purchase,
exchange, donation and transfer from other agencies. Prior to acquisition
the timber stands on this land was subjected to one or more logging
operations for the removal of the merchantable timber* The prevailing
stands arc therefore young and middle-aged second-growth, and/or culled
to cutover old growth and second- growth, and plantations 0 Si lvi culturally,
the primary need is for intermediate cuttings, i.c„, liberation cutting,
thinning, improvement cutting, salvage cutting and sanitation cutting.

Management practice, in the past has been, and is currently, chiefly con¬
cerned with the systematic coverage of the timber stands by intermediate
cuttings. Some of the intermediate cuttings such as improvement cutting,
salvage cutting and sanitation cutting when applied to sawtimber stands
in poor condition resemble and are in effect reproduction or regeneration
cuttings. The terms "light selective cutting" or "selective cutting" have
been applied to the system of intermediate cuttings as practiced in Region
8.

The silvical characteristics of the 5£ forest types in this Region require
the practice cf both even-aged management and uneven-aged management in
any single working circle and in many single compartments 0 There arc
some forest types which may be managed as even— aged stands or uneven-aged
stands. This situation will permit the conversion of all stands in such
types to one system as seems best locally. There are some types which
are probably impermanent and may be eliminated by conversion to adjacent
types. On the other hand there arc some permanent types which must be
managed as even-aged stands or uneven-aged stands. Subdivisions of the
working circle with small or ill-defined even-aged stands should probably
be managed as uneven-aged stands under the group selection system. Even
though the planning and execution of reproduction cuttings arc not contem¬
plated during the 5 to £0 years covered by the timber management plan, the
applicable silvicultural systems for the respective forest types should be
clearly and concisely stated in the timber management plan.

Topography is not adverse to the management of those types which require
even-aged management or uneven-aged management. In other types there is
sufficient leeway to overcome local adverse topographic situations*

•I . ij . : ,

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• : ' . ' • ' ’ • " f

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: ‘

■

Markets arc adverse to the management of stands as even— aged or uneven-
aged to a varying degree • In most localities hardwoods and cypress below
sawlog size arc net merchantable * In a few localities pine below sawlog
size is not merchantable* This situation does net permit the removal of
such material in commercial thinnings, or the harvesting of unthinned
even-aged stands on rotations of 60 to 100 years because of the high pro¬
portion of tr^es below sawlog size in such stands* There is virtually no
demand for a few hardwood species and considerable reluctance to take low
grade hardwoods in nixed pine and hardwood stands* This situation requires
a large amount of non— commercial cultural work in both types of management
to maintain or secure a preponderance of the marketable species in the
stands®

Other land uses affect the management practice to a varying degree de¬
pending upon the local situation * The current policy of prohibiting
harvest cuttings in the roadside^ zones simply means the adoption of the
natural rotation as set by wind, insects and disease with cutting limited
to the removal of single trees or groups of trees*

Logging operations prior to acquisition of national forest land have to a
large extent set the size and location of the stands* In even-aged
management the application of clear-cutting in strips or patches with
natural reproduction requires (3.) that all parts of the clear-cut area
be within a specified distance of the uncut portion of the stand] (2)
that the uncut portions be not loss than a specified width * For example®

Shortleaf— Loblolly Fine Type

ill Dortions of clear-cut areas must be

within 150 feet of uncut portion and uncut portion must be not less than
50 feet in width. Both the clear-cut and uncut portions comprise the
reproduction cutting area. The reproduction cutting area in the clear-
cutting method, the seed-tree method, and sholtorwood method may be, but
should not exceed, the size of the planned reproduction cutting area as
determined by the method of regulating the cut. However, the planned
reproduction cutting area may be too large if confined to a single locality
from the standpoint of utilization, ' silviculture, and protection. Where
there is more than one local market, provision must be made for cutting in
several often widely separated subdivisions of the working circle© Silvi¬
cultural experience shews small areas are more readily reproduced than
large areas. Experience in the protection- of the stands from fire, insects,
and disease shows large areas of seedlings, saplings, and polo-timber are
poor risks* -hat is smaUL or largo must be determined locally. For
example in the longlcaf type prescribed burning is an intergral part of the
reproduction system. Currently it is believed to bo uneconomical to burn
ever less than 100 acres in prescribed burning.

In addition to the items referred to above, the size and location of the
stands have another aspect which is frequently overlooked. The planning
and execution of reproduction cuttings in even-aged management sooner or
later requires the location, and description of each separate even-aged
stand. With suitable aerial photographs, the location, area, and most of
the descriptive data are readily obtained for even-aged stands of almost
any size, but stands of 5 to 10 acres, so located and described, present
considerable problems in sampling for volume and- increment and in sales
preparation. Without suitable aerial photographs, intensive cruises are
usually necessary to locate and describe' the separate stands. In uneven-
aged management the planning and execution of the reproduction cuttings
eventually requires a specific description of the growing stock for

• '

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■

• i ■ ;• - i ■■ _ j* j .

■

L. ' I 1 r,

’

I J

definite units of land area such as a compartment or other subdivision *
This is usually presented in the form of a stand and stock table based
on an inventory for the unit of land area. The intensity and cost of
such an inventory depends upon the size of the unit of land area. This
suggests that the unit of land area or uneven-aged stand be large to
avoid intensive inventories 0 Perhaps in both oven-aged management and
uneven-aged management, the size of the stand should approximate that
which is required for a well-stocked stand to yield' the amount the
prevailing unit of logging organization for foiling, skidding, and
hauling can handle during the logging season.

Rotation as defined by Forestry Terminology is - - "The period of years
required to establish and grow timber crops to a specified condition of
maturity,” The rotation is characteristic of the forest type and
silvicultural form of forest. It is not peculiar to cvcn-agcd stands
alone, it applies to uneven-aged stands as well. It deals with the
growing and reproduction of the stands. In each of the silvicultural
systems depending upon natural seeding and with reproduction cuttings
made during the time of seed fall or immediately thereafter; the shortest
possible rotation is the period required for trees to develop the degree
of maturity needed to produce ample quantities of seed; the longest
possible rotation is the period through which the stand of a given species
or mixture may be expected to survive and occupy the soil, i„c., natural
rotation.

The "specified condition of maturity" chosen to determine the rotation
usuallv falls between the maturity limits of seed production and natural
rotation. In regard to this matter of maturity Section 202.3 Chapter 2
of the Timber Management Section of the National Forest manual states -

"In authorizing the use of national forest timber, the law states
that ’mature and large grow timber’ may be sold. The intent is
to authorize the disposal of timber so that it will bo of the
greatest usefulness to the people of the United States both as
to the material removed and as to the effect of its removal on
future growth o A tree which should be cut in a thinning in
order to improve the condition of the stand is ’mature’ irrespective
of its age in years. A tree which has attained a size and form which
makes it suitable for meeting some' definite and useful purpose,
such as a telephone pole or piling, may be ’mature’ if there is
greater need for that product than the prospective need for the
wood of the tree in other forms such as the sawlogs which might
be obtained if it were loft to grow. Some forest areas, even if
containing very old trees', would have a greater public usefulness
if left intact' for scenic, inspirational, watershed protective or
other purposes, than would result from the present consumption of
their wood, and such areas should not be' cut. Maturity will bo
determined by present and future benefit, and not solely on the
basis of years of age or sale value on the stump."

Section 202.3 seems to assign to maturity, and consequently to the rotation,
a flexibility which is compatible with uneven-aged management but incom¬
patible with even-aged management. In even-aged management, the rotation is
fixed for purposes of regulation. It determines : the number of age classes,
the proportion of the total area which each age class should occupy, and
the proportion of the total area which should be reproduced annually.
Separate even-aged stands are selected for cutting and reproduction to make

✓

up the proportion of the total area to be reproduced annually as follows:
(1) stands s ever ahy damaged by wind, fire, insects or disease (2) decadent
stands, (3) stands of inferior quality or slow growth, (4) stands in the
oldest age class division of the adopted rotation.

Chapman (Chapman, H, II, Forest Management 1931. Chapter >1X111) says -

"The cutting cycle is the period elapsing between the initiation
of successive logging operations within the same logging unit.

This does not mean that cutting must take place within every
stand during the cycle. The cycle merely gives the opportunity
for such operations wherever there arc stands in need of removal.

In this logging, only the stands and tr^es which are nature and
designated for cutting will be logged. The remaining trees
and stands wall form the nucelus of the succeeding cut in the
next cycle."

"The length of the period which must elapse between successive
logging operations is determined by the volume of timber demanded
to justify the second operation, the number of years required
to produce this volume by growth and the density of the stand
and diameters of the trees, left after the first logging operation,
upon which growth must be laid."

"It is the problem of the cutting cycle to fix the amount of the
annual cut of existing mature timber on the b a.sis which wall
extend this cut over the first cycle and permit its resumption
in the second."

"In all-aged forests for which it is often difficult to determine
the actual rotation required, the cutting cycle serves the purpose
of regulation of yield in place of the rotation,"

Regulation of Cut

The even-aged stands in most of the working circles in this Region have not
been organized for even-aged management. In such a working circle

all the

stands, even-aged and uneven-aged, arc in effect arbitrarily grouped to
form a single large uneven-aged stand. Single trees or groups of trees arc
removed in intermediate cuttings and in addition it may be desirable to
make a reproduction cutting or harvest cutting. In the latter, single trees,
group of trees or small even— aged stands are removed which have reached a
"specified condition of maturity" or are needed to provide the largest
possible allowable cut to maintain a community. In practice the intermediate
cuttings and harvest cutting are combined. The cutting cycle is the chief
means of regulating the cut. The allowable cut in terms of area and volume
may be calculated as follows?

Method I

(1) Sample compartments or other subdivisions of working circle which are
likely to be cutover in the initial year of the cutting' cycle, to determine
the total volume, volume cut under the cutting practice, the volume and growth
of the residual stand. Estimate the probable volume demanded to jus tidy a
successive logging operation. This may or may not be equal to the volume of the
initial cut.

•

•t

’

•

' • •

(2) The length of the cutting cycle nay be calculated by dividing the
estimated volume demanded for a successive logging operation by the annual
grovrth of the residual stand, or

CC = Vc in which
Ir

Vc ~ volume of cut demanded by successive logging operation.

Ir = periodic annual increment for residual stand left in
compartments cutover in initial year of cutting cycle,

CC = years in cutting cycle.

For example

Compartments sampled

Area - 4000 acres - of saw timber, pole-timber, and sapling
and seedling stands with over story of sawtinber.

All operable if clear cut.

Total volume -
Volume cut -
Volume leave -

Periodic annual increment leave stand -

20^000^000 bd.ft. sawtinber
7,800,000 bd.ft, 51

12,200,000 bd.ft, "

976,000 bd.ft. «'

Volume demanded by

Successive legging operation

6,000,000 bd.ft.

GC m 6.000.000 = 6.1 years
976,000

It' nay be desired to build up the growing
12,200,000 bd.ft, or 5050' bd.ft. per acre
1000 bd.ft. per acre or 4,000,000 bd.ft,
volume demanded by the successive logging-
length of the cutting cycle.

stock from a leave stand of
during the cutting cycle by
This amount must be added to the
operation in calculating the

CC = 6,000.000' 4- 4.000.000 ~ 10.2 years
976,000

(3) The annual cutting area = A in which

A - acres of operable stands - 100,000 acres

CC - years in cutting cycle - 10 years

Annual cutting area = 100,000 = 10,000 acres.

Volume check,

(a) If the compartments sampled are reasonably representative
of the balance of the compartments to be "worked over during
the cutting cycle, then the average cut per acre for the
sampled compartments may be applied to the annual cutting
area to calculate the annual alienable cut.

Cut per acre ~ 7,8100,000 - 1950 bdcfto

4, 000

Annual allowable cut = 1950 bd0ftc x 10,000 acres

= 19,500,000 bdoft®

(b) If an estimate of the santimber volume for the operable
stands is available, the annual allowable cut may be
calculated as follows;

(V-Vx) (1 r t)n - V in which

V = present volume of operable stands or 1

Vx - cut or percent cut of present stand*

(1 / t)n ~ growth factor for leave stand for cutting cycle.

V_= amount by which present stand is to be built up during
a cutting cycle. For compartments sampled;

Leave stand

Amount to be added (976,000 x 10)
Total 10 years hence

Present volume

IS, 200, 000 bd ,ft
9,» 760.-, 000
21,970,000 bd.ft

20,000,000 bd.ft
1,960,000 bdoft

V / VJ= 1,098 or 1,10
a

Simplifying —

(1 - x) (1 / t)n =1.10

(1 - x) ° 1.10„

IW1

x = 1 - 1 olO percent cut of present stand,

U"7t)n

The numerical value for (1 ~ t )n is calculated from data for samp
compartments as follows ;

(1 / t)n = Vr ^ (Ir x GO) in which

V r

Vr - Leave volume - 12,200,000 bd,ft.

■

■ •

■

Ir « Periodic annual increment leave stand - 976,000 bd.ft.
CC - Years, in cutting cycle - 10 years*

Then -

percent cut of present stand " 1 - 1*10 = .39 or 39$

1*81

If the sawtimber volume for the operable stand is 500,000
cut for the cutting cycle is 39$ c£ 500,000^000 bd.ft. or
The annual allowable cut is 1/10 of 195,000,000 bd*ft0 or

bd cft. the allowable
195,000,000 bd.ft.
19,500,000 bd.ft*

Method I!

(1) If, as is often the ease, most of the anticipated cut will come from
intermediate cuttings, it will bo better from the point of view of silvi¬
culture to select a cutting cycle of 10 years or less depending on the
probable thinning interval for second-growth stands*

Given for operable stands.

Area - 100,000 acres

Volume of sawtinber - 500,000,000 bd.ft.

Periodic annual increment - 40,000,000 bdu*ft*

If assumed cutting cycle i3 U years.

(2) Annual cutting area = A

- 100.000 acres
8

= 12,500 acres.

(3) Volume check -

(1 / t)n = 500,000,000 •) (40,000,000 x 8 )

500,000,000

= 820, 000, 000
500,000,000

= 1064

Percent cut = 1 - 1 = 1 - *61 = *39 or 39$

10S4

The' allowable cut for the cutting cycle i s 39$ of 500,000,000 bd„ft. or
195,000,000 bd.ft. The annual allowable cut is 1/8 of 195,000,000 bd.ft.
cr' 24,375,000 bd.ft. This is the yield from the annual cutting area of
12,400 acres. The average cut per acre is 2031 bd.ft.

-7-

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; - '*

If it is desired to build up the growing stock by l/5 during the
cycle 9 then the percent cut formula should be adjusted as follows

cuttin

Percent cut - 1 - 102 - 1 - 073 = 027 or 27%

1.64

The- al3.oi7D.ble cut for the cutting cycle is 27% of 500^000^000 bd.,ft, cr
135,000^000 bd«.fte The annual allowable cut is l/8 of 135,000,000 bd.ft,

or' 16,875 .000 bcUft. This is the yield from the annual cutting a:

12-, 500 acres • The

cut per acre is 1350 bd.ft.

-8<

\ -r. i

. .

(

Management of Second Growth Short leaf -Loblolly
Pine -Hardwood Stands

Prepared for management portion of Crossett
Management Conferences — October 15-25, 1946

R. R. Reynolds, Officer in Charge

The objective of timber management is to grow the maximum amount of high-
quality timber per acre per year* In this session we will sum up many of
the things discussed during the week and see how all of these can be applied
in the actual handling of a forest property. We will go one step further and
discuss cutting budgets, marking, records, and overall management.

In order to make this summary realistic it is necessary to make a few
assumptions. We will assume that we are in charge of management of 20,000
acres of second-growth shortleaf-loblolly hardwood timber that has not been
under management before and that the area is to be managed for maximum pro¬
duction of good quality sawtimber with the production of some poles, piling ;
and considerable volume of pulpwocd from thinnings and Improvement cuttings.
The principles will apply regardless of what products you wish to grow.

We will assume the area is to be managed on a selection basis, although an
even-aged system may work just as well, especially if pulpwood is to be
produced.

Determination of growing stock and growth rate

In any organized effort at timber production it is first necessary to know
what we have in the way of growing stock on which to base our plans for
management. We also need to have some idea as to how fast our timber is
growing. A survey or cruise, therefore, is our first consideration. This
cruise need not be an intensive one and the larger the property the smaller
percent that is needed. In our case we will make a 5 percent line-plot
cruise in order to get a good idea as to where our timber is located as well
as obtain information on growth and volume. If we have access to aerial
photographs of the area we will, of course, use these to make our base map
and possibly our type map. If we cannot get aerial photos we will make a
rough map of roads, streams, open areas, and timber types in order to better
know the area. In the cruise we will keep cur tally separate by 40-acre or
similar units. We will bore all pine trees 8 inches or larger in diameter
on a 1/100 acre plot (radius 11. 8f) on each eighth plot for growth information
and will measure the diameter growth inside bark over the last 10-year period.
At the same time we will record the diameter of the sample trees, the species,
and number of logs or volume of the trees.

Types to recognize

Foresters seem to have a universal failing. They have "typeitus." By this
I mean they try their best to recognize as many forest types as possible in
their mapping, cruising, and management work. Net only that, but it seems
that a type map is no good unless each type is broken down into about a dozen

stand classes. The idea then is to attempt to prepare all the records on the
basis of this great number of types and classes. The idea is swell until you
start doing it and then you will wake up some morning and find that you will
need 69 men and a few others to keep the records and the boss will say you are
too costly and will throw the whole works out of the window.

In some cases there is a good reason for mapping lots of types and stand
classes. The turpentine region is a good example. It might be very desirable
to use lots of types in places when radical differences in soil types occur on
a given property. In most cases we have found, however, that under management
a large number of our types and stand classes will disappear in a very few
years and that after 5-10 years our original classification is no good. My
advice, therefore, is to select as few stand types as possible. Recognize
the real ones such as upland hardwoods, bottomland hardwoods, and possibly two
outstanding pine types but work the rest into one of these. It will save you
a lot of work and worry.

Once we have our cruise completed we will work up our volumes by types and
will compute the average por acre stand for each type, We will also compute
the growth rate for timber.

Growln determination

Perhaps we should discuss this question of growth determination since it
is always an interesting and important subject. Many different methods and
variation of methods have been worked out for determining the growth of saw-
logs, pulpwood, or a combination of products. Most of them aim at building
up a growth curve showing for trees of each size and species, the diameter
growth of wood, or wood and bark, for a given 5- or 10-year period. There
have been many refinements developed to take care of a decreasing growth
rate brought on by the closing in of uncut stands. The same procedure is
sometimes used to take care of an increasing growth rate that usually follows
cutting. All of these methods of growth determination have two weaknesses,
however; they are expensive to use, and in stands that are continuously being
disturbed by cutting or that are closing in because of lack of cutting, one
is quite lucky if he comes within a mile of forecasting the correct amount
of growth. Our experience has been that it is much cheaper and the results
are better to use growth percent. I am quite sure that you can pull a figure
representing growth percent out of thin air and be plenty safe in using it
until such time as you can obtain accurate and reliable data from sample
plots or check areas. We have found that the growth percent will vary
considerably from one 40-acre tract to another, depending upon the amount
of growing stock .and the type present. Over any reasonable area of second-
growth stands, however, the growth percent for pine, at least, will be very
similar to the growth percent found on a similar area in the same territory.

If the stands are being managed you probably will also find that the growth
percent will not vary much from year to year. On the Experimental Forest,
for example, the growth percent based on cubic volume of all pine trees
4 inches in diameter and larger has averaged somewhere between 7.2 and 7.6
percent simple interest since we started management. For the same area
and Seme time the growth percent based on board feet, International 1/4" rule,
for all trees 11.5 inches in diameter and larger, and including ingrowth during
the period, has varied from 8.6 to about 10 percent simple interest for the
stands under management.

A timber manager for this territory could use 6 percent compound interest or
7 percent simple interest if he were growing pulpwood and 7 percent compound

- 2 -

interest or 8.5 to 9 percent simple interest if he were growing sawtimber and
have a very acceptable basis on which to plan his management and allowable
cuts.

To determine if your growth percent is similar to ours it is quite necessary to
check it on the ground. This is the reason I have indicated that we would take
some increment borings on our first 5 percent cruise.

To check our growth percent from the increment borings we have taken on the
cruise we proceed as follows: (l) Set down the diameter, present volume, and
the inside bark diameter growth in inches over the last 10 years. From a D.b.h.
o.b. , and i.b. table for the species in question (sample attached), subtract
the present double bark thickness from the present D.b.h. Then subtract the
diameter growth i.b. for the last 10 years. Look up the outside bark diameter
for 10 years ago and then refer to the volume table to get the volume 10 years
ago. The difference between the volumes gives the growth for the last 10 years.
The volume growth divided by the volume 10 years ago gives the percent increase,
and this divided by the number of years involved gives the percent (simple
interest) per year. Likewise, the volume at present divided by the volume 10
years ago gives a figure which, if looked up in a compound interest table, will
give the compound interest growth percent.

There are other good methods of computing growth of the sample trees. I like
this one because once you have computed the growth of all sample trees you auto¬
matically take care of the problem of mortality. If you also only apply volumes
to trees that are now at or above the merchantable limit or that, according to
our calculations were at or above the merchantable limit 10 years ago, you also
take care of the problem of ingrowth.

Actually, we would work up all the present volumes and the volumes for 10 years
ago before we computed the growth percent. We must remember that we must have
a D.b.h. volume table to compute the growth percents or develop one by curving
the tree volumes estimated and computed on the basis of number of logs over
D.b.h. We must also remember that we will compute volumes in board feet only
for trees over a certain specified size and that in our growth determination
the trees that were below this size 10 years ago would have no vclumesc

Once we have computed the average growth percent for our stands we car then
quickJ-y determine the estimated volume growth for the property we are to
manage and can compute our allowable cut. This method of determining the
amount of growth the stands cr property are producing should be considered
only as a stop-gap that permits us to start managing our property at an early
date. We must look for better and more reliable data on growth and can only
get it through the establishment of some permanent growth study areas. These
can be plots of small or large size or can be whole 40--a<'*re tracts. Personally r
I prefer the 40-acre tracts if one has sufficient acreage-, These would be
cruised 100 percent at the time of each measurement® By using 40-acre units
the crews can spend all of their time measuring trees instead cf half the time
running and checking lines and distances and only half of the time measuring
trees. Whatever the size, they should be selected by chance instead of having
someone pic!: areas that "appear to be average," The growth plots should be
cut in the same manner as the remainder of the property and our records should
show the volume by species groups both before and after each cut in order that
we might obtain good growth information.

Attached is a stand table for the pine and hardwood found on our pine type.
For use in cur example we will assume that only one type is present and that

- 3 -

• V*

. ' i ,*
•••l •

: 7

RS-SS

MENSURATION
Volume Tables

Crossett, Arkansas
September 9, 1946

RET. AIT Civ OF I3.B.H. INSIDE RAFF TO D. C^STDE DARK

LOBLOLt? Pllffi 1/

D.B.H. SD.B.H. :D.B.H. :D.B.H. :D.B.H. SD.B.H. :D.B.H. :D.B.H:D.B.H:D.B.H. :D.B.H.

o.b. : i.b. : o.b. : i.b. : o.b. : i.b. : o.b. ; i.b.: o.b. ; i.b. i o.b, : i.b.

Inches

4*0

3.45

4.1

3.54

3.63

3.72

3.81

8.0

3.90

3.99

4.08

4.17

4.26

5.0

4.35

4 . 44

4.52

4.61

• 4

4.70

9.0

4.78

4.87

4.95

5.04

5.12

6.0

5.21

5.30

5.38

5.47

5.56

10.0

5.64

5.73

5.82

5.90

5.99

7.0

6.08

6.16

6.25

6.34

6.42

11.0

6.51

6. 60

9.75

6, 68

■ .3

9.84

6.77

9.92

6.86

10.01

6.94

. 6

10.10

7.03

10.19

7.12

10.28

7.20

10.37

7.29

12.0

10.46

7.38

10.55

7.47

10.64

7.56

10.72

7.64

10.81

7.73

10.90

7.32

10.99

7.90

11.08

7.99

r*.

11.17

8.08

11.26

8.16

13.0

11.35

3.25

11.44

S.34

11.53

8*43

11,62

8.51

11.71

8.60

11.80

3.69

11.89

8.73

11.98

8.86

12.07

8.95

12.16

9.04

14.0

12.25

9.13

12.34

9.22

12.43

9.30

12.52

9.39

12,61

9.43

12.70

9.57

12.80

9.66

12.89

12.98

13.07

15.0

13.16

13.25

• ^

13.34

13.43

13.52

19.0

13.32

13.71

13.30

13.39

13.99

16.0

14.08

14.17

14.27

14.36

14.45

20.0

14.54

14; 64

14*73

14.32

14.92

17.0

15.01

15.11

15.20

15.29

. 4

15.38

21.0

15.43

15.58

• —

15.63

15.77

15.87

18.0

15.96

16.06

16.16

16.25

16.35 22.0 19.91

16.44
16.34
16.64
16.73
16.83
16.93
17.02
17.12
17.22
17.32
17.42
17.52

17.61
17*71
17.81

17.91
18.01
18.11
18.21

18.31

18.41

18.51

18.61

18.71

18.31

18.91
19.01
19.11
19.21

19.31

19.41

19.51

19.61

19.71
19,81

1/ Data for second-growth timber.

For use in Crossett, Arkansas, territory.

- 4 -

Crossett , Arkansas
September 9, 1946

EE-SS

FINANCIAL ASPECTS
Industrial Forestry
CR-2.1

STAND AND STOCK DATA

Species Group Pine

Compartment 21
Area Per Acre

D.b.h.

(inches)

•

: No. Trees

: Los Vol.

•

: Pulpwood Vol.

^ P f\ Vol. in trees

: be} ow 11.5 inches

Bd. ft.

Cu -

28.6

22.9

27.0

45.8

21.6

66.9

15.9

82.6

13.6

•

106.2

12.6

135.4

10.7

151.2

6.5

117.0

6.5

647

51.6

4.6

557

37.0

3.3

508

30.7

2.7

523

28.4

2.4

558

24.7

1.7

444

19.6

1.2

382

13.3

1.0

349

14.1

212

6.9

154

5.2

Total

160.9

4,400

232.7

728.0

Equivalent in bd. ft.

or std. cords 4,400 2.7 6.6

5 -

}

this stand and stock table represents an average acre of our 20,000 acres,

As will be noted from the table, the pine sawtimber in trees 11.5 inches in
diameter and larger is equivalent to 4,400 board feet, International 1/4 n
rule, per acre. In addition we have an average of 11,3 standard coras of
pine wood in tops of sawtimber trees and in trees below 11,5 inches in
diameter. The total volume of the property is, therefore, 88,000,000 bd. ft, ,
International l/4M rule, of sawtimber and 226,000 standard cords of pulpwocd.

Our growth figures indicate that the pine saw logs in the p ine-ha r dw oo d type
are growing 7 percent per year compound interest, or about 9 percent simple
interest. This percentage includes ingrowth, or the volume contained in trees
that become of merchantable size during the year, as well as the growth on the
merchantable sizes. The total growth on the property would, therefore,
average about 6,160,000 bd. ft. of logs per year if cutting was equal to the
growth. In addition, the growth on the pulpv;ood sizes and grades would be
equivalent to about 15,320 cords. Under certain circumstances we could cut
all of the hoard foot growth each year .ana still be on sustained yield. In
our case , as well as in most cases , our stands are quite badly understocked
and are producing only about half the amount that the land is capable of pro¬
ducing. We are growing somewhere around 300 bd. ft. per acre whereas the land
is fully capable of growing 500 to 600 bd. ft. , or one to two cords of pulp-
wood per acre per year if and when we develop sufficient growing stock. Under
our plan of management we wish to grow as much as possible. We, therefore,
must of necessity cut less than the growth at the present time in order to be
sure that we can obtain a greater cut per acre at some near future date.

Our figures indicate that the yearly growth of pulp wood in tops of sawlog
trees and in trees below sawlog size is equivalent to 15,320 standard cords.
Here, too, we cannot or should not plan on cutting this amount of material
each year. Part of this growth is lost because it is in trees that grow into
sawtimber size during the year and in subsequent years, and in order to allow
for an increase in the sawtimber growing stock in the future we must allow
for a large percentage of these trees to become of sawlog size. The first
time we cut through our stands is an exception to the general statement that
the cut of pulpwood size and quality material should not be equal to the
growth. The unmanaged stands contain numerous dense groups that need to be
thinned, some trees are very rough and some have heart ret or other defect
and need to be removed.

Rotation

In school the term "rotation" was probably drummed into you from morning
until night. Nearly all forest practice apparently hinged upon the rotation
under which the timber was being grown,. Southern pine was to be handled
under a 100-year rotation, Douglas fir required a 200-year rotation, etc.
Even today a good many foresters who are managing their land on an all-aged
basis have a feeling that unless they know what rotation they are using
their management isn't worth too much. Actually, we do not have much of any
idea as to what rotation we are or should be using in southern pine. We are
not far enough along in our intensive management to know,.

I agree that there is a good reason for those attempting to manage their
properties on an even-aged basis to have some idea as to what rotation they
will use. Fir those of us managing our timberlands on an all-aged basis, we
don't care what the rotation might happen to be. As a result of the manner
in which the trees are selected for cutting, some of the mature individuals
may be 125 years old when they are cut and some may be 50 years old. It

A \ 4k

really makes little difference since our management can be handled very nicely
on a short cutting cycle basis and by so doing we can have very excellent day-
to-day control of our management policies and practices »

Cutting cycle

Our experience to date has indicated that the shorter the cutting cycle that
we can use the greater will be the growth. Short cycles mean lighter cuts
per acre but at the same time they permit better treatment of the stands.

There is less chance of having periods of fast growth followed by periods of
slow growth as the stands close in near the end of a long cycle. On the
other hand, the cut per acre at any one period must be sufficient to make
possible reasonable logging costs. It is necessary to log approximately
1,000 bd. ft. per acre under present conditions to interest a contractor in
the cutting of the timber. This means that we will be required to adopt an
8-year cycle in our example. At the same time we should plan very definitely
on using a 5-year or shorter cycle as soon as our stands are built up enough
to permit it. Once our stands are built up to near full stocking of 10,000
bd. ft. of sawlog material we should probably adopt a 3 -year cycle.

Division of property into compartments

In starting management of a property it undoubtedly is good practice to pick
out the areas that are in greatest need of treatment and cut these first#

It is also undoubtedly good business to put the whole property in good grow¬
ing condition as rapidly as possible. Once this is done, however, good
management of an area requires that we not jump all over the property to
select our areas for cutting in any one year. If we are to hold to our
cutting cycle once we make a cut on a given 40 acres, we automatically set
the date when we must or should return to this area for a second cut. There¬
fore, in our cutting operations we should, after the improvement cut is
completed, adopt a definite plan of area control. Since we have accepted
an 8-year cutting cycle we should divide the 20,000 acres into 8 compartments
or blocks of 2,500 acres each and plan to cut one area each year. These
compartments should, insofar as possible, contain roughly an equal volume of
growing stock in order to obtain about the same amount of production each
year. The order, or year in which any given compartment will be cut, should
be determined on the basis of maturity or density of the timber.

Determination of allowable cut for property

Before we decide how much volume we can cut per year on our property, or
more specifically, on the 2,500 acres to be cut during the year, we should
build up a table or curve which will show, for any given volume, how much
we can cut and still allow for building up of the stands. This can be done
in the same manner that table 51 of Technical Bulletin Nu. 86l was built up.
This was developed from table 50 which in turn was bui3.t up from a detailed
study of growth, growing stock, and cutting ratios. Once the growth percent
and the cutting cycle has been determined table 50 will give the maximum
allowable cut that will permit sustained yield. In our case the maximum
allowable cut for a 7 percent growth rate and an 8-year cutting cycle is 42
percent of the sawlog growing stock. This means that each time we cut over
a given area, or an 8-year cycle, we could cut selectively 42 percent of the
stock and have this volume restored by the time we returned for a second cut.
Such a cut, however, would not allow for any increase in growing stock and,
therefore, would only be made in case of a fully stocked stand of 10,000 board
feet of sawlogs or 24 cords of pulpwood. For stands containing only 2,000

~'7 -

! l.

•

V . 4

•:>

board feet of sawlogs per acre we would cut only about half of the growth and
allow the other half to be added to the growing stock. This means that instead
of cutting 42 percent of the stand we would remove 21 percent and allow the
other 21 percent to be added to the growing stock. For stands containing' a
volume somewhere between 2,000 and 10,000 board feet the percent of the grow¬
ing stock cut would increase with each increase in volume of growing stock.

In other words, if the volume per acre was 6,000 feet, we would cut a volume
equivalent to about 32 percent of the growing stock. We would cut more of the
growth and add a smaller percentage to growing stock than on stands having
2,000 board feet per acre. At the same time we would still add about one-
fourth of the growth to growing stock. The completed table of suggested
percents of growing stock to cut, with a 7 percent growth rate and an 8-year
cycle, under various volumes per acre are as follows:

Suggested proportion of volume of sawtimber growing stock
to be cut in each 8-year cycle for stands that are growing
7 percent compound interest

Growing

Stock

Vol. of growing
stock to cut
each cycle

Growing

Stock

Vol. of growing
stock to cut
each cycle

10 M

5 M

9 M

4 M

8 M

3 M

7 M

2 M

6 M

Since our stand averages 4*400 board feet per acre, we can cut about 27
percent of the growing stock each cycle. Thus, we can cut an average of about
1,188 board feet of pine sawlogs per acre during the first cycle and the total
cut of sawlogs per year would equal about 3 million feet of pine plus whatever
hardwoods of sawlog size that need be removed to benefit the stand.

If the stands on the theoretical 20,000 acres are similar to the stands on the
Experimental Forest the amount of pulpwood removed from tops and from improve¬
ment cuttings in the under sawlog-size classes would be equal to about 2 cords
per acre for the first time over the property. This would give us about 5*000
cords of pulpwood per year. In second and third selection cuts of the same
areas the cut per acre would run from 1.0 to 1.5 cords of pulpwood per
thousand feet of logs.

Determination of allowable cut for stands

In each 2,500-acre compartment that we are to cut over each year we obviously
have some areas that are inoperable because they contain no merchantable or
few merchantable trees. Other areas have 3*000 feet per acre, others 6, 8,

10, and a few perhaps 15.000 or more board feet par acre. We obviously do not
wish to cut the same 1,188 board feet per acre regardless of the growing stock.
To solve this problem we make use of our 5 percent cruise and determine the
allowable cut for each 40 acres or on each 80 to 160 if the stands are uniform.
In this way we can treat each small tract in accordance with its needs and can
get our production from those areas that are producing most. We realize that
the 5 percent cruise will not give us a wholly accurate basis on which to
determine an absolutely accurate allowable cut but with some slight adjustment
in the marking to take care of abnormal conditions it will be plenty accurate
for our purpose.

- a -

Determination of flexible diameter limit for marking

Any marking or catting that is based on a fixed diameter limit : e mail;/ not
satisfactory from a management standpoint because it leaves poor trees in some
cases and causes excellent fast-growing ones to be removed in others. Wo. have
found that the use of a flexible diameter limit is a good moans of getting
around this difficulty. The determination of a flexible diameter limit also
aids considerably in the selective marking of the stands that are being cut
for the second or third time because it does tell the marker the relative size
of trees that will be removed. To determine this flexible diameter limit let
us refer to the average pine stand table for our 20,000-acre tract. Let us
assume that this is a stand table for one of our 40-acre tracts that we are to

mark tomorrow. If all trees were equally good and well spaced, about what size

should we remove? Perhaps we should not remove any if we were thinking strictly
from the standpoint of maximum growth. But people have to work, the mills have
to be kept going, taxes must be paid and we must have something to live on, so
we must cut some regardless. We determined before that our allowable cut for a
stand of this volume is equivalent to 1,188 board feet per acre. We, therefore,
start adding sawtimber volumes by diameter classes, starting with the largest
trees, or 23-inch class in our case. To this volume we add the volume for the
22-inch class, the 21-inch class, etc., until we have 1,188 board feet. In our
case this brings us to the 18-inch diameter class. We now know that if we

were to mark all trees in and above this diameter class we will have marked all

the volume we determined we would mark under cur computations on allowable cut*

In actual practice, however, this computation only furnished us with a guide.

We mark trees of any merchantable diameter over 11.5 inches that need to come
out because of necessity of thinning or because of roughness or defect. To
balance this volume cut in trees below the flexible diameter limit we leave an
equal volume in good, well-spaced, rapid-growing trees over the diameter limit.
By keeping in mind the volume left in trees over the diameter limit and the
volume of trees marked for cutting in diameters below the limit, one can mark
almost exactly the volume desired on a given area without keeping any kind of
written record.

Type of trees to cut

The first time we mark an area for selective cutting is by far the easiest of
all marking that we will do because the trees that obviously need to come out
of the stand are quite apparent. The trees that we will remove include:

1.. Mature or over-mature.

2. Badly scarred or leaning.

3. Red heart (or other rot) and bug-damaged trees.

4. Very limby trees with less than one #2 leg if of log size, or those
dominants with large limbs clear to the ground if of pulpwood size.

5. Badly suppressed trees that will not live over the next cycle unless
released.

6. Trees regardless of quality that must be removed to permit better
trees in the group in which they occur to grow at a satisfactory
rate over the next cycle.

7. Trees of low value species that are occupying land that can or will
be utilized by trees of a better species.

8. Sufficient large near-mature trees to make up the remainder of our
allowable cut.

In the second selective cut in the same stands we, of course, remove any of
the above-mentioned low-quality trees that we can find but there is usually

- 9 -

few cf these to be found. We will have some rot show up and we wij _ fund more

trees that have become suppressed during the period. For the most part,
however, we will mark for spacing and quality. Unless a group of immature
trees have good crowns and growth rate it is quite necessary that we remove
some of them. At the same time we do not wish to remove a good quality sup¬
pressed tree if that tree will live over the next cycle and it will be released
at the time of our next cut through the removal of the overtopping tree.

Treatment of hardwoods in the stands

As yet nothing has been said about hardwoods. On a good hardwood site they are
excellent. Some few individuals of some species are good growing stock in some
pine types and sites, I do not mean to suggest that we sell hardwoods short,
but most hardwoods in the pine sites are distinctly not desirable growing stock.
Moreover, these hardwoods are definitely interfering with the development of the
present growing stock as well as keeping new growing stock from developing. It
has been estimated that these low-grade hardwoods are occupying nearly half of
the effective pine-growing space and are, or have, or will reduce the potential
pine growth per acre per year by nearly half. Under the circumstances, no stone
should be left unturned to reduce these hardwoods at the earliest possible date.
Consequently, no allowable cut is figured for hardwoods except on hardwood sites.
It seems to be good business to grow some red and white oak and possibly some
gum on our pine sites, but satisfactory trees of these species that can compete
with pine from a growth per acre standpoint are relatively few and far between.

Reinventories

In order to have a basis for necessary management plan revisions, to get a check
on the growth that has taken place on the whole property, and in order to have
data on which to base the allowable cuts for the second cycle of management, it
is quite necessary to make a new 5 percent cruise cf the whole property at the
end of the first cycle or at the end of 8 years. This can be done all at once,
or the job can be split up and the 2,500 acres that are to be cut during a
given year can be cruised just before marking and cutting is started, thus
having up-to-date figures on which to base the cuts during the year.

Records

Any good and efficient business must cf necessity maintain a good set of
records. The timber-growing business is no exception. In order to know what
we have, what we have accomplished, and where we are going, we need a good set
of forest records. Tuese need not be extremely costly or all-inclusive, but
they should tell us what volume of timber, of what sizes and species, we have
when we start. They should also tell what we have removed during a given
period and what we have at the end of the period. Detailed records, such as
I am suggesting, should only be kept for our "check" or growth study areas,
but we should have enough of these to get a good accurate picture of our
operations. Tne records should include : (l) Volume data cn original stand

by species groups and year, (2) volume marked for cutting by species groups
and year, (3) volume present at time of reinventory and year. Another column
that could be added would be, "Growth plus cut for period between inventories."

I would set up such a record for each 40 or other unit that is used as a check
area so as to get good information on growth under various volumes and species
composition.

10*-

•-'I

SUPERVISION

Meetings

Management Plan Conference

TOPIC 20

METHODS OF MANAGEMENT AND METHODS OF REGULATION
OF CUT, EASTERN WORKING CIRCLES - REGION 7

practically all of the land included in Region 7 came into Government ownership
through the purchase procedure. For the most part it includes culled-over,
cutover and badly wrecked stands that have been exploited by private operators
over a long period of years, prior to acquisition by. the United States, much
of the land was subject to severe recurrent fires which not only depleted the
soil fertility but also damaged many of the trees comprising the present stands.
The volumes of sawtimber remaining from heavy exploitation in private ownership
are scattered and generally of poor quality. Nevertheless, the recuperative
powers of the soil are strong and on the better sites, the young forest is
growing up rapidly.

As heavy exploitation of privately owned nearby stumpage progresses, the local
dependency on National Forest stumpage is continually increasing, private
cutting of immature stands is widespread and destructive. To contribute its
share toward sustaining local industry, the sawtimber elements of the National
Forests have been budgeted for cutting at a level designed to furnish a con¬
tinuing supply while the young stands are growing into usable size. Other
products, principally in the form of hardwood cordwood, are available and in¬
creasing in volume far more rapidly than we have been able to dispose of them
to existing outlets. Large areas of young timber are in need of thinnings
and improvement cuttings for which additional outlets must be developed. This
is the only way in which the loss through mortality can be captured and the
growing stock put into the most productive condition. Herein lies the Region’s
biggest management problem. To it is tied full production, the best silvi¬
culture and the largest contribution to local economy.

The early history of management -on Region 7 Forests records silvicultural
systems leaned heavily to clear-cutting methods and a trend toward even-aged
management. In the 1Q20’ s and early 30’ s, the forests were relatively un¬
developed, transportation systems were embryonic and much of the timber left
from the exploitive years prior to Federal acquisition was hard to get at.

Fairly heavy cuts per acre were necessary to interest a logger. Except on the
most accessible sites light cuts and true selection systems of silviculture were
mostly impractical. Consequently, we found a relatively high proportion of the
areas treated with various forms of clear cutting. Early plans of management
specified such methods, and even-aged management seemed to be the result of cir¬
cumstances,- Many foresters argued that the besb^second growth hardwood 'stands
known- were the . re suits'- of clear cutting for charcoal and /that such- methodsr •.. .
should be perpetuated. It was a £>6/+ question. Subsequent examination of many
of the earlier sales where clear cutting was used does not always bear out the
earlier philosophy. New stands are largely of sprout origin. Often less
desirable species such as soft maple, black gum, grey birch or moosewood took
over the site, and all was not as it should be. We saw little difference in
the appearance of cutover areas on the National Forest and those on private

land nearby. We weren’t too sure of ourselves, and we took another look at
what we were doing and ought to be doing. Meanwhile, the remote country was
being opened up with the CCC and other programs, and the possibilities of more
intensive forestry were improving.

The majority of the commercial forest land in Region 7 Forests carried hard¬
wood timber in types that originally comprised varying mixtures of numerous
hardwood species. Exceptions to this, of course, are the spruce-fir types of
New England and the original hemlock-white pine types of the Allegheny plateau.
Within these latter classifications are native softwood soils which because of
exploitation, fiie or other causes now carry hardwoods. Observation through
the past 30 years under adequate protection and what management we were able
to apply, indicates a gradual return toward the climax or natural balance. For
example, the filtering of spruce and fir into presently hardwood mixtures in
the north woods, hemlock on the Allegheny and white pine in Virginia is very
noticeable. The tolerance of these species, at least in the early stages,
makes this possible.

Since the bulk of our area was and is hardwoods with varying admixtures of
softwoods, it is important that management work with nature rather than against
her in assisting the return to normality. In a hardwood country the cultiva¬
tion of useful softwoods to a practical degree is a significant long-range
objective. The hardwood types either with mixtures of softwoods or all hard¬
woods are rather complicated, with species of varying tolerance and utility.

By the same token the silvicultural and management practices become complex.

We are convinced now that with uneven-aged management we can attain the highest
production from the land with an increased growing stock, and at the same time
progress toward species composition that is in best balance with the soil type.
Furthermore, the demands of aesthetics, the reduction of erosion and turbidity
on important watersheds and to some extent the needs of wildlife add weight to
a choice of uneven-aged management.

This conclusion is not for 100% application. Generally speaking, all aged
forests are chiefly comprised of tolerant species and uneven-aged management
implies light and frequent cuttings on a tree selection basis, and considerable
acreage must be operated to yield appreciable volumes.. At the same time some
of our most valuable species like yellow poplar, black cherry or white ash
are highly intolerant. To retain a satisfactory representation it is often
necessary to compromise true selection methods with heavy cutting in groups,
strips or patches to assure satisfactory regeneration and development of the
int ole rants.

Again, uneven-aged management is not feasible in sections where only an
extensive form of forestry is justified. For example, from a silvicultural
standpoint, spruce-fir forests should be under a form of uneven-aged management.
Yet we may have lightly stocked stands, or high slope areas where because of
excessive logging costs, high per acre yields are necessary for practical
operation. . So within a given working circle we may find it necessary to have
both even and uneven-aged management, and for any successful plan the areas
upon which each is to be applied should be well established.

A lot of our country is in view of large numbers of the traveling public. The
importance of this factor is increasing. It reaches its peak expression in
the highly scenic drives, parkways and trails which thread much of our area,
and from which considerable areas beyond the road or trailside itself have

- 2 -

• r, ...

important aesthetic value. Totally aside from silvicultural or management
consideration, limitation of clear cutting may be necessary and plans should
specify locations and size. Some sacrifices of silvicultural ideals may be
necessary to meet the overall demands of well balanced multiple use. Dis¬
turbance of the soil may limit the size of clear cuttings allowed in any one
period on municipal or industrial watersheds.

Notwithstanding the limitations outlined above , the species of trees which
make up a forest and their silvical characteristics should be fundamental con¬
siderations in the choice of management methods. Management methods should be
silviculturally correct to assure prompt attainment of silvicultural goals.

To the extent that we are forced to compromise silviculture , to that extent
will we fall short of attaining these goals,

In uneven-aged management rotation age is not too significant. Should it be
determined that because of market demands or soil condition it is in the best
public interest to produce shortwood rather than sawtimber, some determination
of rotation age or size for the shortwood crop as compared with the sawtimber
harvest is necessary. Otherwise, in a true selection stand maturity is more
a matter of tree condition and utility than of age.

The volume method of regulation has been used in Region 7. Considerable
growth and stand table data were obtained as part of the CCC program. These
data have been extensively used in the preparation of our management plans.

It developed , however, that much of the basic data were not of too reliable a
nature. As a result of this condition the usefulness of a number of our
present management plans has been seriously impaired.

As indicated earlier, uneven-aged management appears best suited to the forests
of this Region. The structure of such forests makes regulation of cut by the
area method alone difficult. Yet it is important that the allowable cut be
allocated to areas silviculturally in most need of cutting. This objective
can best be attained by regulating the cut by a combination of volume and area,
using area primarily to control the allocation of the cut.

Many of the working circles have surpluses in materials of relatively poor
promise, principally in the form of cordwood, which should be removed in
thinnings or improvement cuttings to get the stands on considerable areas into
best condition as to density, composition and thrift. One of the major
management problems on our National Forests, therefore, involves disposing of
large quantities of these low value materials and building up the quality and
quantity of growing stock. The problem is silvicultural but fully successful
silviculture is dependent upon expanded markets. Management plans should,
therefore, be directed toward the solution of both aspects of this problem as
rapidly as possible. This can be best achieved by adhering to a cutting plan
whereby the cut during any given period is less than the increment for that
period. It follows, therefore, that the rate at which desirable growing stock
is built up will depend upon the proportion of the increment retained. To
provide a basis for controlling the rate of such accomplishment, accurate data
are needed op the rate at which the stands are growing. ' This can' best be
provided through the establishment of permanent growth plots so distributed as
to obtain a representative sample of the working circle. Systematic accumula¬
tion of such data would make it possible to continually improve the effective¬
ness of our management plans.

- 3 -

On the basis of our experience vie do not foresee any immediate need for Formula
methods. Use of Formulas to-date has been limited to checks against cutting-
budgets arrived at by methods now employed.

Each working circle presents problems of regulating both the annual cut and
growing stock. In determining the allowable cut, stands, species and products
must be considered. Under Region 7 condition, live sawtimber species and
stands occurring on commercial forest areas that are subject to economic
operation are regulated* Spruce and fir pulpwood on the New England forests
is also regulated. Dead timber, such as chestnut which occurs in the southern
oart of the Region, is not regulated. In general, products such as hardwood
pulpwood, mine timbers and posts are not regulated. The only important excep¬
tion in this respect is the regulation of hardwood cordwood on the Allegheny
National Forest. This plan is based on a recent inventory which contains what
we believe to be reasonably reliable figures on hardwood cordwood volumes. In
some of the older plans an attempt was made to regulate cordwood and locust
posts. In many instances the basic data used were incomplete with the result
that the regulated volumes as set forth in the plans are known to be wide of
the mark. All of our working circles contain a large amount of products which
should be removed in the form of thinnings and improvement cuttings to the
limit that the markets will absorb them. While careful attention is being
given to developing additional outlets for products, progress is slow. Until
the demand increases to the point where it is really significant from the ,
standpoint of supply, the regulation of miscellaneous hardwood' products is
meaningless.

D. W. Tabbutt

March 15, 1949

- 4 -

Kerch 8, 1949

A METHOD OF REGUIaTING- CUT

individual stands

By Paul Zehngraff 1/

Most forest management plans and schemes for regulating the cut deal with
large tracts. The data and recommendations for regulation set forth in the
over-all plan may apply perfectly to the tract as a whole and to the top
men, but very seldom will they apply to the individual stands or be especially
useful for the field men who must apply the plans to various stand conditions.
The purpose of this paper is to stress the importance of the field man’s
job and to try to help him in his task.

In the Lake States region we deal primarily with second-growth and young
timber. Our problems, therefore, differ considerably from the regions that
still carry large quantities of virgin timber. Although our timber is small
and often of inferior quality and species, we have the advantage that it is
situated right in the "back yard" of the wood-using industries and that the
production of these concerns is geared to local conditions. As a result, we
get good enough prices for the material we are able to produce, so that
fairly intensive forest management is, or can be, a paying proposition. As
a matter of fact, intensive management, up to a certain point, is the only
kind of management that does pay in our region. As a result, the forest
management concepts in the Lake States are rapidly changing from the harvest-
philosophy of the pioneer days into concepts of making the best of what there
is to work with.

What , then, are some of the aims of management?

One of the chief difficulties is the present^ run-down condition of the bulk
of our stands. They are practically all natural or wild second-growth
stands, which include some culled-over remnants of the original forest. As
such they are most frequently understocked and produce neither the quantity
nor the quality that we desire or of which they are capable. The most
important present objective, therefore, is to build up the growing stock as
a whole. This will gradually result in higher production.

But, we are not interested in quantity alone. We know that our soils and
climate can not produce the annual growth per acre that is possible in some
more favored regions. We must, then, be primarily concerned with quality.

In other words, we must strive through careful management to develop as much
of our growing stock as possible into the highest possible local uses. By
that we don’t necessarily mean that we want to grow trees as large as the
old virgin stands which were 200 to 300 years old. To grow extra large trees
for saw-timber production usually does not pay because of the very slow
growth that takes place after the trees reach certain diameters.

2/ Silviculturist, Lake States Forest Experiment Station maintained by the
U, So Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, in cooperation with the
University of Minnesota, at University Farm, St. Paul 1. Minnesota*

We can, however, grow pines up to 20 inches d.b.h., but from then on the growth
is usually so slow that the time it takes to grow the larger trees soon eats
up the profit. In several cases, however, the highest value of our products,
such as in poles and piling, is reached in diameters less than 20 inches.

To attain better stocking of the most suitable species, and to manager these
for their highest financial local uses are, then, the chief aims of manage¬
ment.

Bearing this constantly in mind in our management practice, one of the most
effective ways of improving the stocking is to cut as much less of the growth
during a given period as is deemed necessary to build up the stand to the
required growing-stock levels or carrying capacity of the soil. In other
words, it is not what we take out of a stand in each cut that determines
the financial feasibility of management in the long run, but it is what we
leave for growing stock, both in volume and kind.

In making management p^ans for large tracts, the growth and allowable cut is
determined for the whole tract, or by ranger districts or working circles.

This is at best a rough picture. It may tell the forest manager approximately
what his annual growth and cut ought to be, but even if this is broken down
by types it still does not help him appreciably in determining the management
of individual stands. The individual stands may vary considerably from the
average for the type or working circle. Unless the best management is applied
to each stand and condition the broad management plan will fail in its pur¬
pose.

To accomplish the purposes of the management plan and the concepts of manage¬
ment, the field men need help and training. They must be taught (a) to
recognize what constitutes optimum growing stock levels of the species and
age classes they work with both in regard to the kind and amount; (b) to
determine the rate of growth in each particular stand; and (c) to decide how
much of this growth can be removed in each cut in order to attain the desired
growing stock level in a given time if the stand is understocked or, in less
frequent cases, how much to reduce it if the stand is overstocked.

To determine what constitutes optimum growing stock to produce maximum growth
in the different species and age classes is a high priority job for the
Experiment Stations, but in most cases the work is far enough along so that
guides can be issued — at least for some types.

This leads into another thought, namely, how to measure growing stock. In
quite young stands the number of stems are used as a measure; when they reach
pole sizes we use cords; and still later in life we express the stocking in
terms of board feet. Each unit has its merit, but as an expression of grow¬
ing stock they are all misleading due to various factors such as, for instance,
the ingrowth that takes place up to certain ages. Cubic measure would be
more expressive, but most field men are unfamiliar with its use and would be
reluctant to change over. One measure they are all familiar with, however,
is basal area. Basal area is a good indicator of carrying capacity of the
soil because it may be expressed as a certain percentage of the soil area.

Basal area, like cubic volume, should, under normal conditions, gradually
increase up to a certain point prior to the halfway mark of the rotation of
any species. When this point has been reached, the basal area remains
practically constant until shortly before the end of the rotation. Basal area
is simple to use in the field, for only the number of trees by d.b.h. classes
needs to be recorded on the inventory plots, and the growth is equally simple
to compute, even in the field.

- 2 -

When it comes to determining the growth and the allowable cut, various
formulas may be used. For direct use in the field the simplest methods are
the best. The more complicated the methods the less apt they are to be used.
It is essential, however, that some system be applied by the field men _to the
individual stand, for if growth and allowable cut is not determined and the
stand cut accordingly, the cutting might, and often does, result in loss of
growth. Kow anyone can go out in a stand and start swinging the marking axe
without first having a picture of past performance and future possibilities of
the stand, and some sort of a plan for its future management, is simply beyond
one's imagination — and yet, one sees it done every day.

One of the simplest methods of determining growth, one that has been started
on the Chippewa Forest, is to use permanent inventory plotsiv in key stands.
They need not be established in all key stands at once. Only a few plots are
needed in each stand, provided that they are carefully chosen to represent
important condition classes. Periodic measurements and computations of the
plots prior to each cut are not difficult to make. The results, moreover,
are much more accurate than those obtained from borings, and they may be
applied to similar stands located elsewhere.

’When temporary cruise plots and borings must be used, as is often the case,
it should be remembered that the information obtained is only an indication
which is of temporary value. There is no one formula that can determine
accurately the future behavior of a stand for very long. The simplest and
quickest method, therefore, is the best. While the field man is at it, he
may just as well include a simple classification of growing stock valuation.
This can be done without much additional work, provided that his field tally
sheet is correctly designed for the purpose. In our work involving improve¬
ment and intermediate cuttings, we use the following forms as a guide for
quick determination of stocking, growth, allowable cut, and length of cutting
cycle.

Form I is a tally by d.b.h. classes and a computation of basal area. The
trees are tallied by two general classes of silvicultural desirability viz;
’’primary” and ” secondary” growing stock. The former incxudes all trees
potentially of high value and low risk, but they are not necessarily all
’’final” crop trees. Rather they are the trees upon which to build quality
growth and from which to select final crop trees in the future.

The secondary growing stock consists of trees which should be removed from
the stand in partial cuts due to low potential value and high risk. It
includes trees which are poor in form, defective or of undesirable species.

Use of a multiple table speeds up the calculation of basal area.

Another point needing comment is the matter of age. This particular stand
was not entirely even-aged which explains the variation. Ages are, of
course, determined by an increment borer. The annual growth is the mean
annual growth in basal area and is calculated by dividing total basal area
by age as shown.

2 / Using the mapping technique suggested by Stott and Ryan (Journal of
Forestry, April 1939) which we have found to be a great time saver.

Form II, perhaps, needs more explanation. The secondary and primary growing
stock figures ere carried forward from Form I. The liquidation period of
secondary growing stock; which is decided by the man on the ground, will depend
on the stand volume and the xength of time such trees are needed as "fillers.”

The growing stock goal is the best attainable stocking which the present stand
should have at some predetermined future period. The calculation of the allow¬
able cut is divided into three parts5 namely? (l) estimated cut from the
gradual liquidation of the secondary growing stock, (2) estimated cut from the
gradual liquidation of the portion of the primary growing stock not needed for
the optimum stocking desired, and (3) estimated length of the cutting cycle
which would allow a large enough cut for commercially feasible operation.

The method gives sufficient accuracy for general marking purposes. It is
simple enough to apply so that the field man can sit down on a stump and get
his information in a few minutes, And it has the advantage that it can be
applied to uneven-aged stands as well as even-aged.

It should be stressed once more that this method, like any other method, is
only a guide. The procedure should be repeated prior to each cut.

If permanent inventory plots are used, more accurate long-term predictions
can be made; In the long run, permanent inventory plots will be much cheaper
than the temporary plots. They are not costly to lay out, and once they are
established they will serve for a long time. The data obtained from periodic
measurements, immediately before each cutting, or for other purposes, is
reliable because remeasurements are on the same basis. This would hold true
for large tracts as well as individual stands.

Whichever method, permanent plots or the temporary tally, is used for individual
stands is immaterial, but some simple standard method must be adopted as a
guide for the field men wrho are carrying out management on the ground. Some
rangers would like to calculate their growth and cut in each stand right now,
prior to marking, but they are simply too busy with other things to take the
time to do it, or to sit down and figure out how to do it. Most of them
would eagerly accept a simplified standard method and start using it. The
application would soon make the field men think in somewhat different terms
and would translate paper plans into field practice^ It would result in
better management, earlier achievement of the goal of well-stocked stands,
and the production of quality materials to the full capacity of the soil.

S X

. Vv %

Form I

Type,

Age_

5c - 8c ’ ’ ’
40~~

-o c a t ion 3F-BW , Sec, 9 .

Fore st Chippewa _

District Blackduck

T145N, K31.»

No. .riots

Date _

Name _

Measured by _

Tallied by _

Computed by _

1.0 Size l/lQ acre each

Number of trees * Basal area

D.b.h, :
class

Total age

Annual growth
(Basal area)

rrim.

Sec. ‘ -Prim.

Sec.

* rrim. * Sec,

rrim.

Sec,

Square feet ; Years

Square feet

• •« » * *

P" + )*■ .. * * i

—

2.4

- 1 39

.06

—

";1 KJ !-*f

* J.v H

rs ra ts4

W *} . ,
£7 1—*

7.8

4. 1

■ ■

.20

. 10

;b k m k
.7m u tt t :

17 IH

5-J

10.2

5.4

. . .....

. . .

.25

.14

6 \7Z & X

R X &

e; &• k

# »

• *»

11.8

6.7

. .

.30

.17

7 \hl Y.t tSl
. \&u .

». f f * * *

* • ^ • '

12.5

6.4

- --

.31

.16

8 i if * N, 1 ,

1 :

12.2

5.2 ! 41

\
i

.30

.09

H CsJ ‘

. .

•

CT>

L.: .

4.0

.23

.07

• ♦ t

1 5.4

1.6

.13

.03

n !:

)

1.3

■

1.3

- - - . - -

.03

.78

. ..... .

— i — p

. .

f~ . ,

-p

_ .. i _ _

- - - - .

... . . . .

> 19

... .

Total

390

j 174

72.9

34.7

= i

1.81

_ _ . . _

.78

j-er

acre

390

j 174

y •*

72.9

34.7

1.81

.78

Form II

Allowable Cut (Per Acre)

I Secondary Growing Stock = 54.7 sq, ft.

Liquidation Period = 50 years

Annual Growth, Sec. Growing Stock = ,78 sq. ft.
(From F orm I)

Cut: a. Liquidation = ...sc» .

50 years

b. Annual Growth = SF * — £-4i_

* 2

• • • •

II. -rimary Growing Stock 72.9 sq. ft.

Annual growth

1.81 so. ft.

Growing Stock Goal in 40 years = 120 sq. ft.

Total Deficiency (Goal ~ Stock. ) 47.1 sq, ft.

annual Deficiency = - 1.18 so. ft.

fears 40 -

Cut = Growth ( 1.8l) - Deficiency ( 1. 18). . . .

annual Cut

1.16

.59

.65

Total

Cutting Cycles

2. IS

a. Volume needed for a feasible operation 15 . 00 sq.ft.

b. Annual cut 2. 18 sq.ft.

Cutting Cycle = — = = 7 years

b 2.18

March 30, 1949

MANAGEMENT PLAN CONFERENCE

TOPIC 21. POLICIES AND LEGAL LIMITATIONS AFFECTING

NATIONAL FOREST TIMBER MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

Ira J. Mason

Chief, Division of Timber Management, W.O.

The basic statutory" authority for conduct of the national forest
timber business is in the Act of June 4, 1897 — 30 Stat. 35, This
Act has proved to be a remarkably flexible and practical measure.
With only a few minor amendments it has met the changing conditions
of the last 50 years. This Act Was the first authorization to sell
timber on the then Forest Reserves. It is serving this year for
the sale of 4 billion board feet with a value of ^30,000,000.

The long life and the great utility of this statute is particularly
remarkable in view of the conditions under which it was drafted and
enacted. The story behind this Act is told in Gifford Pinchot’s -
BREAKING NEW GROUND. This part of Pinchot’s autobiography should
be required reading for every Forest Officer who wants a thorough
understanding of national forest operating authorizations*

This legislation was an amendment or rider to a civil sundry
appropriation act. It was drawn up to in part act as an appeasement
measure for the ifest where there was violent antagonism to the
establishment of 40 million acres of Forest Reserves by President
Cleveland on February 22, 1897. Pi.nchot's account of the
circum stances under which the measure was drawn up will dispel any
illusions of supernatural wisdom on the part of its framers.

Instead its continued use with but minor amendment is perhaps due
to our ability to interpret and rationalize the somewhat eliptic
phrases on Which national forest timber management is founded.

The one sentence bearing on silviculture and management as stated
in the U. S. Code (16 U.S.C. 476) is;

"For the purpose of preserving the living and growing timber and
promoting the younger growth on national forests, the Secretary of
Agriculture, under such rules and regulations as he shall
prescribe, may cause to be designated and appraised so much of the
dead, matured, or large growth of trees found upon such national
forests as may be compatible with the utilization of the forests
thereon, and may sell the same for not less than appraised value
in such quantities to each purchaser as he shall prescribe."

One other important sentence from this Act is codified in 16 U.S.C.
475:

"No public forest reservation shall be established except to improve
and protect the forest within the reservation, or for the purpose of
securing favorable condition of water flows, and to furnish a
continuous supply of timber for the use and necessities oi citizens
of the United States."

■*

The foregoing is all the general legislation there is bearing on
silviculture, management planning and utilization policies for the
national forests. The following is a regrouping and analysis of
the essential thought in this legislation:

1# Securing favorable water flows. It is well to remember that
watershed management is given a coordinate place with timber
production as a basic purpose of the national forests'.

2. Furnishing a continuous supply of timber for the use and
necessities of the citizens of the United States. This is the
legislative basis for sustained yield management and management
planning on the national forests.

3. Preserving the living and growing timber and promoting the younger

growth, and also improving and protecting the forest. These are the
fundamental instructions for the practice of silviculture on the
national forests.

4. Designating so much of the dead, mature or large growth trees

as may be compatible with the utilization of the forests. This is
the statutory language for development of utilization policies and
requirements for national forest timber sales.

5. Selling in quantities as the Secretary may prescribe. (At such
times and in such locations as the Secretary may prescribe is also
clearly implied). Here is the language on which our cutting budgets
are based. It places full control in our hands in regard to where,
when, how much, and under what conditions timber is offered for
sale.

6 . Under such rules and regulations as the Secretary may prescribe •

The power of the Secretary to issue rules and regulations and to
enforce them has been a basic tool in all phases of national forest
administration. This device has materially helped in establishing
rules and guide lines where more detail than is available in the
statutes is needed. The Secretary’s regulations are an intermediate
step between the basic legislation and operating instructions for
use by field personnel.

Since all of the Secretary’s Regulations on timber management were
revised and reissued in December 194^, a brief review of them is
desirable.

REGULATION S-l is a general delegation of the Secretary’s powers to
the Chief, Forest Service (and who may delegate to subordinate
officers) in respect to timber management matters. This is a new
regulation to indicate the general concept of national forest
timber administration. Under one school of thought this single
regulation is all that is needed from the Secretary. The balance
of the material in the Regulations could be issued by the Chief
as manual instructions. Decision was reached, however, to continue
the practice of publishing more detailed specifications for the
conduct of our timber business. It is v/orth noting that these
details are not required by the Federal Procedures Act since they
are concerned with management of public property rather than rule
making for private activity.

-2-

'*1

, i / , ’ • _ \

REGULATION S-2 covers silviculture and utilization. It is in this
regulation that the phrases in the Act of June 4* 1897, are expanded
into more useable form. Contrast the statutory language with the
regulation which reads as follows:

’'Each sale or other use of national forest timber will be authorized
only after the approving officer is satisfied that practicable fire
prevention measures and methods of cutting and logging are prescribed
which will preserve the residual living and growing timber, promote
the younger growth, reduce the hazards of destructive agencies,
secure favorable conditions of water flows, and obtain as complete
utilization of the various species and grades of material as the
existing markets or the requirement of users permit."

REGULATION S-3 gives directions for the management planning. It is
similar to previous regulation on this subject except for one
important paragraph in respect to control over location and degree
of manufacture. This paragraph will be discussed later at length.

REGULATION S-4 covers activity under the sustained yield unit act.
Unless otherwise noted the other timber management regulations
deal with actions basically authorized by the Act of June 43 1897.
Regulation S-4 is concerned with the Act of March 29, 1944.

REGULATION S~5 deals with the intricacies of conflicting claims and
entries in areas under consideration for timber sales. It perhaps
is worth while to call attention to the addition of certain stages
of development in land exchange and sustained yield unit activity
as a basis for priority of timber use over mineral or other similar
entry.

REGULATIONS 6 to 18, inclusive, deal with various phases of timber
sale activity. Practically all of this material lias been in
previous editions of the regulations. The only item which is of
particular interest to a management planning group is the modification
of the material which formerly appeared as Regulation S-9-(6), and
is now in item (f) of Regulation S-10. This will be discussed
later with the paragraph from Regulation S-3.

REGULATIONS 19-20-21 cover sales of forest products other than
timber. Disposal of such material was not specifically mentioned
in the Act of June 4, 1897, but is so obviously related to timber
disposal that it is considered proper for inclusion as a Secretary's
regulation. In addition to the long standing Secretary's
regulations for sales of non-convertible products, references to
such sales have been made in subsequent legislation. The most
recent reference of this sort is in the so called Department of
Agriculture organic Act of 1944.

The well known REGULATION S-22 for sales at cost is under a
specific statute, the Act of August 10, 1912. A number of field
officers have submitted suggestions that sales at cost be
eliminated. It would take an act of Congress to do so. There is
no prospect of obtaining such a repeal. Likewise REGULATIONS 26
and 27 for free use are based on a specific section of the Act
of June 4* 1897.

-3-

REGULATION S-23 covers exchange cutting and is of no particular
interest to this discussion, but REGULATIONS 24 and 25, and 28
and 29 , in regard to administrative use and timber settlement do
bring up an important additional principle in the management of the
national forests. Aside from a very minor provision for the use
of telephone poles (16 U.S.C. 560) there is no specific statutory
authorization for our administrative use procedures as well as
certain portions of timber settlement arrangements.

These Regulations are based on the proposition that the responsibility
of public property management carries with it common sense authority
to. use and to control the use of the entrusted property to attain the
purposes and objectives as stated in laws. >

Aspects of this same reasoning have been applied in the more difficult
field of control over type and location of manufacture of national
forest timber. Included under this heading has been action in the
interest of community support which prior to March 29, 1944* had no
specific statutory recognition. The Secretary’s regulations issued
in December 1948 were drawn to the proposition that actions in regard
to location or type of manufacture in the interest of community
support should now be taken under the Act of March 29, 1944* or to
state it another way, under Regulation 3-4* It was realized that
- some of the procedures of the sustained yield unit act are awkward
and that the act does not cover all types of communities where some
form of regulation of location or type of manufacture may be
desirable. It is our deliberate decision after much discussion
with our legal advisors that this act should be considered as an
expression by Congress of the circumstances under which such
controls should be exercised for community support purposes. Hence
if action under Regulation S-4 is not feasible, justification for
control over location or type of manufacture must come from other
than community support considerations.

The paragraph of new material in Regulation S-3 was written to
supply a basis for exercise of control over location or type of
manufacture where such action can be justified as a sound measure
of property management. This paragraph reads as follows:

’’When necessary to promote better utilization of national forest
timber or to facilitate protection and management of the national
forests, a management plan may include provisions for requirements
of purchasers for processing the timber at least to a stated
degree within the working circle, or within a stated area, and,
when appropriate, by machinery of a stated type; and agreements
for cutting in accordance with the plan may so require.”

Since 'ho circulation has "yet been given 'to the' proposed text of
the manual on this paragraph, it is here Inserted for ' discussion:

A. * •,

”103 » 8 Requirements for. Processing National Forest Timber.

Action to require primary processings or •. remanufacture of
National Forest- timber in a specified M-o'cat ion, or to;-a .
specific degree, which is needed to_ protect a community or
communities primarily dependent on such timber may be
taken under the authority of Regulation S-4 (sec. 103.10)*

• . ~ 1

3972

7/hen necessary to promote better utilization of National
Forest timber or to aid' in the protection and management
of the National Forests, Pie gulation S-3 provides that
purchasers of National Forest timber may be required:

a. To process National Forest timber to a stated degree
v/ithin the working circle, or within a stated area.

b. To process such timber by the use of specified type
or types of machinery.

Whenever requirements of either character are deemed necessary,
they will be stated in the management plan, together with the
reasons for the action. If the need for such requirements
develops subsequent to approval of the management plan for
the working circle, the proposed requirements may be submitted,
for the consideration of the Chief, as an amendment to the
management plan; Subsequent to the Chief’s approval of a
management plan, or of an amendment to a management plan,
the requirements of operators stated therein may be included
as conditions of sale in timber sale advertisements and
agreements covering timber advertised and sold pursuant to
the provisions of the management plan. Examples of require¬
ments which may be made under this authority include, but
are not limited to:

.1., Manufacture -within the working circle, or 'within
a stated area adjacent to the working circle, when
the timber cannot stand the expense of hauling to '

more distant-points; or when local manufacture will
permit the use of sawlogs to a smaller top diameter
or shorter length, the use of inferior species, the
removal of a smaller percentage of the timber stand,
the operation of lighter timber' stands, or other
advantages to the United States, all as compared to
the transportation of the raw forest products to more
distant points for processing.

2* Primary manufacture outside the timbered areas,
thus preventing the fire hazards caused by such
operations and by the accumulation of inflammable
debris, such as sawdust and slabs.

3. Processing the timber in a band mill, thus
reducing saw kerf. For some types of timber or grades
of logs it may be desirable to require processing by
a gang saw, thus insuring utilization of timber which
might otherwise be wasted. In certain cases it may be
justifiable to require processing in a pulp mill or
similar plant virhich reduces the raw material to fibers,
thus providing much better utilization, or an outlet
for material, such as the products of thinnings, which
otherwise could not be used.

Each such proposal must be supported in the management plan
and requirements of operators must be practicable and
economically justifiable.”

~5~

/ ...

3972

REGULATION S-10 (6) provides that award to other than the high
bidder may be made if ;

"The award would result in removing or materially
lessening opportunities for gainful employment to
local labor; or would be against the interests of
local users dependent' on national forest timber;
or would cause the abandonment or prevent the
establishment of a local industry which would furnish
a desirable permanent market for national forest
products.**

The manual instructions will provide that no action under this
section of the regulation will be taken except by or with the
approval of the Regional Forester. Advice from the Regional
Attorney, and if needed from the Chief’s Office, should be
obtained before decision is made by the Regional Forester.

It is intended that this provision will only be used as a last
resort to prevent serious and irreparable damage of the types
mentioned in the regulation. The action authorized is of an
emergency stop gap nature. If permanent provisions are needed
and justified, they should be established and administered under
REGULATION S-3 as discussed herein, or REGULATION S-4, the
sustained yield unit act procedure.

-6.

3706

3-14-49

Management Plan Conference

Topic 22 Management Plans for Cooperative and Federal
Sustained Yield Units

L. S. Gross

Timber Management, Chief’s Office
Cooperative Sustained Yield Units

Basically there is no difference between a management plan for
a cooperative sustained yield unit and a plan for an ordinary
national forest working circle. The outline and general form
of both plans should be about the same. Ordinarily, however,
it will be necessary to prepare or revise a management plan
for each cooperative unit.

The first step is to compare the unit boundary with the former
working circle boundary. Probably there will be some
differences since the unit boundary necessarily will include
the committed private lands. Perhaps the boundary changes
will result in more or less national forest timber than
originally was included in the working circle.

The basic data on timber volumes, areas by types, sites,
age classes, etc., and existing and planned transportation
facilities usually will need to be reworked in order to cover
the private lands and timber as well as those in national
forest ownership.

The terms of the cooperative agreement and the degree of
utilization required thereby will have a bearing on the
rotation, cutting cycle, methods of cutting, and cutting
budget. Since the unit will be operated at sustained yield
capacity to support a definite community or communities,
more than ordinary cars must be used in determining the
allowable cut and in budgeting it. In some cases the
committed private lands may be potentially more productive
than the national forest lands. Although the basic silvi¬
cultural practices should be the same on both public and
private ' lands, certain modifications peculiar to the
particular operation covered by the cooperative agreement
may be necessary.

Since the cooperative agreement will insure a regular supply
of timber to the dependent industries, a large element of
risk is removed. Every opportunity should be explored which
may lead to better utilization and greater production from
the land. More intensive forest practices ordinarily should
be possible on a cooperative unit. Thus the harvesting plans
and cutting budgets must be prepared in more detail and with
greater care. The same is true of transportation plans.

(Over)

The details of the management plan should be discussed
thoroughly with the cooperator and after approval he should
be furnished a copy of the plan. Perhaps interested
community groups may want to study and discuss the management

plan.

In addition to the ordinary management plan each cooperative
unit Mil'll involve a cooperative management plan. It is a
supplement to the cooperative agreement in which the
principles e::pressed in the cooperative agreement are
developed into action programs. Since our experience with
this type of plan has been limited to one case, perhaps the
best way to develop the subject is to present the following
excerpt from the current draft of the Timber Management
Title of the Forest Service Manual:

103.22 Cooperative Management Plan. The management
plan for a cooperative sustained yield unit
constitutes the working tool which will direct
operations on national forest and other lands
covered by the cooperative agreement. It will be
prepared and signed by the private coopera.tor
and by the Regional Forester and approved by
the Chief, Forest Service.

Repetition of "wording from the cooperative
agreement will be avoided in the cooperative
management plan. The foundation or supporting
data usually included in a national forest timoer
management plan should be omitted or greatly
reduced in preparing a cooperative management
plan. Specific and adequate references will be
made to the various sections of the cooperative
agreement.

The cooperative management plan will include
detailed specifications, standards, and programs
supplementing the principles and points covered
by the cooperative agreement. It is important
that the cooperative management plan express a
meeting of minds on all included deta.il s of
silviculture, allowable cut, cutting plans, pro¬
tection, and improvements. It also will contain
summaries of basic data on acreage, site quality,
typos, timber stands, and age classes.

Private land cruises, areas, growth
determinations, etc., supplied by the cooperator
must be checked thoroughly by the Forest Service
to insure their reliability, The prospective
cooperator may make a corresponding or jk of the
national forest lands, if he desires.

If these data for private cooperating lands
are obtained direct by the Forest Service, they
will be gathered with the same degree of
refinement as for the national forest lands in the

3706

Unit. The cooperator should boar the cost of such
work whether or not a cooperative agreement finally
results.

The plan should contain a table of contents and
an approval page. Each section that relates to a
specific section or sections of the cooperative
agreement should be headed uPrepared pursuant to

section _ of the cooperative agreement.” No

precise form is prescribed, but the plan should
include :

a. Introduction. Reasons for the plan, and
reference to cooperative agreement. Statement
that the management plan supplements but does
not replace the cooperative agreement and that
in case of conflict the provisions of the
cooperative agreement will hold.

Revision and amendment of the plan should be
defined. I revision should be made for approval
of revisions by the Regional Forester; amendments,
including the establishment of periodic cutting
budgets, to be approved by the Chief,

Ordinarily the Forest Supervisor will be
designated to handle all current negotiations
with the cooperator, including administration of
the Unit under the terms of the cooperative
agreement and the cooperative management plan,
as well as maintenance of performance records
and initial Forest Service action on revisions
and amendments.

b. Timber Disposal, Forest Management. The plan
should include needed specifications and programs,
including s

A sample calculation of allowable cut, using
the method prescribed in the cooperative
agreement .

General order of cutting for the budget
period (usually 10 years). This is not a
detailed cutting budget, but a guide to needed
road development.

Marking rules or guides.

Detailed cutting budget, listing specific
areas and volumes (national forest and private
separately) to be cut each year for a 3- to ■

5— year period. Rates and methods of cutting,
special considerations, recreational
reservations, etc. Provision for annual review,
posting of accomplishments and extension of
detailed plan for another year.

Spt cifi cations for cruising or for
installation of permanent growth plots.

Three— to five-year program, with provision
for annual review and extension.

-3

3706

Specifications for planting surveys and planting C
seeding). Three- to five-year programs for both,
subject to annual review and extension.

Provision for maintenance of needed maps and
statistical records of accomplishment on all listed
activities.

c. Protection. Existing and potential areas of high
hazard (such as clear-cut areas) and the measures
required to reduce them. General and specific
protection plans and specifications. Provision for
annual review and revision *

Necessary measures and schedules for protection
from diseases and insects,

d. Development . Specifications for various types
of utilization roads and bridges to be built on the
unite The general road construction program for the
next 5 to 10 years, showing responsibility for
construction and maintenance. Detailed schedule of
construction for a 3- to 5-year period, subject to
annual review and addition*

Specifications and plans for other improvements,
such as logging camps, if necessary.

e° Revision. At the end of 10 years, or earlier if
necessary because of availability of improved data
or for other good reasons.

f. Basic Da tea. Tabular data on acreage, sites, ago
classes, volumes, grovrbh rates, etc. Any special
volume or yield tables pertinent to the 'unit, as
well as reference to published tables.

The Regional Forester should submit a draft of the
cooperative management plan to the Chief for review
with the draft of the cooperative agreement. After
approval by the Chief, the Regional Forester will be
authorized to include the plan with the proposed
cooperative agreement in fina.l prehearing negotiations
with the cocperatcr.

Since the cooperative management plan will include definite
provisions for maintenance and revision to be done jointly
by representatives of the cooperator and the Forest Service,
this action program will be kept current at all times.
Periodically - usually at 10-year intervals - 't b].i b?
necessary to ie consider the fundamental d; 1. on which the
plan of management for the unit is based. This will
involve recalculation of the allowable annual cut and
may require more or less revision of the basic plan,

Whenever this is done it vd.ll be necessary to revise the
cooperative management plan accordingly. Revision or
amendments of the cooperative agreement may require
similar treatment.

-4~

Federal Sustained Yield Units

The requirements and procedures for management plans on
Federal units are similar to those discussed for cooperative
units. The unit boundary should be compared with the
previous working circle boundary. Basic data and management
plan should be revised accordingly.

As with cooperative units, ordinarily it should be possible
to practice more intensive forestry on a Federal unit. Plans
can be much more specific than for an ordinary working circle
because of the requirements for manufacture at a certain
point or within a designated area.

The cutting budget and harvesting plan should be worked out
in considerable detail. This can be done with the knowledge
that the planned operations will proceed as scheduled,
barring serious fires, insect losses, economic depressions,
etc.

Definite provision is necessary for current maintenance and
periodic revision of a management plan covering a Federal
unit, including recalculation of the allowable cut.

It is desirable to make copies of the plan available to the
people and organizations of the community which benefits
from the Unit. These people should be encouraged to
understand and study the management plan.

TOPIC 23

FORM AND PREPARATION OF TIMBER MANAGEMENT PLANS"'''

1. INTRODUCTION

All will probably agree that timber management plans should be:

a. Prepared primarily for the guidance and use of the on-the-
ground unit manager, usually the District Ranger. Plans should,
therefore, be prepared to take care of his needs and for continuity
by his successor. It must also be recognized that reviewers and
approvers will need and should have certain essential information
which is obvious or well known on the ground, but is not known by
those at a distance.

b. Concise, to the point, and contain no superfluous or
duplicate material.

c. In such form that continuity, progress and action programs

are always obtained, or carried forward, by personnel (Forest Officers)
that come and go.

2. TYPES OF PLANS

Generally timber management plans can be divided into three groups
as follows:

a. Temporary or stop-gap plans. They briefly indicat e the re¬
source status and what will be done with the resource. (See Topic
7). They are made for working circles to serve an interim period
until a standard type management plan can be prepared.

b. Simple plans for working circles or management units, with
little or no sawtimber, such as those in the Nest that contain mostly
woodland species that may or may not be fully utilized.

Plans for the above two groups should be brief, contain little sup¬
porting data and go no further than to the Regional Forester for re¬
view and approval.

c. Standard timber management plans for commercial forest lands.

•“’For presentation at Hot Springs conference - March 28- April 8, 1949

1-23

Depending on circumstances, individual plans may provide for extensive
management such as in the Western virgin stands, for intensive manc.g
ment in a few highly developed working circles,, or for building up tht,
growing stock on newly acquired lands.

The discussion which follows is confined to the standard type timber
management plan as defined in 2-c above.

3, STANDARDIZATION AND OUTLINES

a. Standardization

A certain degree of Service-wide standardization is desirable
and necessary in the form and contents of the plan. It is the only
way to insure that essential material is included and superfluous
material is excluded. It will tend to prevent the inexperience
from wandering into the "trial and error" field. It will facilitate
reviews. At the same time standardization must not lead to stagna¬
tion or a fixed common pattern, exceptf'pcssibly as to form of presentation.
"Minimum retirements" more aptly describes the situation than "steodard-

ization" .

Certain minimum Service-wide requirements should be insisted upon
bv the Chief. Regional Foresters will usually wish to add to the
Chief's list, at least for special cases. Suggested requirements are
discussed below under "Outlines".

b . Service-wide Outline

/in all-inclusive timber management plan outline, which will pro¬
vide for covering all phases of extensive and intensive management,
should be made available by the Chief. It will need to be emphasized
again and again that only applicable items should be included m a
plan and that the degree or scope of presentation will have to be
varied to fit each case.

The management plan outline starting on page 66 of the Review
Edition of "Timber Management Plans on the National Forests" by L. S.
Gross fully covers the subject. The outline is one fly commented
upon as follows:

(1) A. 1, »'J.O." should be added so that when the plan is

typed appropriate space is provided for initials in the
Chief's office,

(2) C. 3, The item should be expanded to include: Allowable
annual cut (by prescribed volume, species, types or areas
as appropriate) with any permitted periodic variation, and
length of cutting cycle.

Items A through C should as a minimum be required in all plans.

2-23

(3) Following Item C it is possible to prepare and present the
plan in one of two ways as follows :

(a) To continue as Gross' outline provides with required
action scattered throughout the remaining portion of
the plan. It becomes necessary for the unit manager
to hunt throughout a long text to determine day-to-day
action. It would improve the plan if action programs
were definitely set forth at the end of the various
points discussed.

(b) To summarize the action program in one place which
should appropriately follow Item C as Item D and be
entitled "Action Program Summary". Normally, it
would include in detail or by reference, a five-year
action program of jobs in order of priority for the
working circle or, if necessary, by defined sub-units.
Appropriate items as follows would be covered:

(1) Sales or harvesting program tied to the
cutting budgets.

(2) Reforestation program.

(3) Stand Improvement program including
prescribed burning.

(4) Insect and disease control program.

(5) Inventory (including mensurational work)
program for subsequent planning purposes.

The action program would either include or provide for necessary
supplemental records. Such an action program summary within
the fore-part of the plan would make it easier for the unit
manager to determine what needs to be done without thumbing
through all the philosophy, foundation material, statistics,
and conclusions each time he has occasion to use or apply the
provisions of the plan. It would be especially desirable
if such a procedure were followed where there is considerable
cultural 'work to do such as in many of the Eastern working
circles. For the initial harvest cut in virgin stands in
the west the need for such a summary would not be relatively
so important.

If a strong action program summary were incorporated as Item
D in the plan. Items A through Item D could well be Part 1 of
the plan and all the balance of the plan treated as an appendix
or Part 2. The unit manager should, of course, be thoroughly
familiar with all items in the plan but the summaries and
record-keeping would serve to take care of the day-to-day
needs and, therefore, best serve as a live working tool.

3-23

It is recommended the outline provide for an action program .
summary for optional use in the Region.

(1) Under Item D-6 - Sales Policy - any action contemplated
under Regulation S-3 , particularly the second main para.-
graph, should be covered. It would be well to add an
item D-6e - "Type of Manufacture".

(5) Item D-?e - The Fire Control Outline would be clarified
by changing to:

(a) Past Record

(b) Relation to Fire Plans

(1) Treatment of Slash (Coop or Purchaser)

(2) Intensive Protection Measures

(3) Other

(6) There is no notation in the outline regarding a program for
inventories or gathering data for use in future plan revi¬
sions. It would be desirable in many cases to set forth
needs and an action program. It is recommended an Item
D-7g be added to contain "Fact Needs and Program" with
sub-heads: a. Status of Data Used; b. Needs for Next
Revision; c. Program to Obtain.

Under D the Chief should require Items 1, k, 5, 6,

7a and 7e be included in all plans if the facts are
available and appropriate. The other items will
usually be included in a plan in whole or in part
but they need not necessarily be required.

The items under E should be required to the extent facts
and materials are available. It is well that Items b-1
and 2 be kept short and concise in a plan as they are
seldom, if ever, referred to after a plan has been pre¬
pared.

c . Regional Outlines

If the Service-wide outline is complete and all-inclusive, there
will be little need for supplemental Regional outlines except for
clarification and interpretation purposes or to take care of special
situations. Such supplemental outlines should be permitted and en¬
couraged.

4-23

4. MANAGEMENT PLAN TERMINOLOGY

a. Technical Forestry Terns

The current SAF "Forest Terminology"* should, to the extent of
its coverage, be used in all management plans. The terms contained
therein should be accepted and their use should be insisted on. Coin¬
ing of new terms is objectionable; any clarification or the defining of
new terms, if needed, should be through the SAF terminology committee.

It is recognized that there may be special situations or technical
terms not defined in "Forest Terminology". If so, and they have to be
used in plans, they should be defined by footnotes.

b. Other Terms

Various glossaries should not be overlooked for definition of
special terns. Cases are: Manual of Photogrammetry by the American
Society of Photogrammetry and Glossary of Terms Used in Fire Control.

It would be appropriate to include a list of glossary or terminology
books with acceptable terms in "Timber Management Plans for National
Forests".

Unfortunately, all subjects discussed in timber management plans
are not adequately covered by modern terminology definitions. One
of the outstanding examples is the lack of adequate terminology for
utilization or harvesting roads. "Forest Terminology" or the Truck
Trail Handbook does not cover the subject so as a result common usage
for various terms has grown up on Forests and in Regions, When "Forest
Terminology" is revised the modern adaptation of harvesting road terms
should be included.

It is assumed necessary modern road terns will be defined under Topic
8 - "Transportation Planning -for Timber Management Planning" and re¬
commended for use in preparing timber management plans.

5. MANAGEMENT PLAN FLEXIBILITY

In the preparation of timber management plans care must be taken to
avoid such rigid controls that the plan is not usable by the unit
manager. Each plan needs to be sufficiently realistic so it will
work on the ground and continue to provide support to dependent
communities.

'“"It's out of print - a new edition is badly needed

5-23

There has been a tendency to rigidly use volume as the primary
criteria for controlling the allowable annual cut regardless of the
reliability of volume data. For the initial harvest cut in virgin
stands volume control has been reasonably satisfactorjr, particularly
for long cutting cycles. With lighter initial cuts and shorter cutting
cycles consideration should also be given to correlating volume and
area control in preparing management plans. For instance , if the
cutting cycle is 20 years, 5 percent of the area should be cut over,
on the average, each year* It is realized the area cut over annually
will have to be adjusted to conform to the condition of the stand, the
percent of cut, and volume to be removed per acre since stands vary
considerable throughout a working circle. Nevertheless, the acreage
cut over should be considered if the cutting cycle objective is to be
attained.

For light intermediate cuts there must be considerable control by
area. Volume control should be primarily to provide a reasonable
flow of products for the dependent industry. Area control should be
used for silviculture and administrative management in the woods -with
minor adjustments to provide reasonable continuity of operations.

If areas to be cut over annually are considered in the plan, data will
be available as to the average annual acreage to be covered by pre-sale
work including inventorying. Such data will also indicate the annual
cutover acreage which will be available for KV-TSI work.

Management plans should be concise as well as flexible. They should
avoid duplication with other material and plans. Data on history,
physiographic items and economics can and often should be prepared for
an entire national forest and included in each working circle manage¬
ment plan by reference. Likewise, technical items, such as forest
descriptions, general policies, marking rules, sale area betterment
and treatment of slash, can be referenced to acceptable national forest
or Regional policies, plans or instructions. Similarly, other avail¬
able Forest or unit resource management plans can and should be ap¬
propriately included by reference, particularly recreation, range
management, water management, wildlife management and fire control
plans and, in addition, transportation plans. Full advantage should
be taken of other resource plans and Forest-wide or Regional material
in order to keep timber management plans concise, workable and flexible.

6. MANAGEMENT PLAN PREPARATION

Timber management plans are usually revised each decade. Seldom has
the same Forest officer had an active part in an individual plan more
than once. Usually, a Ranger will actively participate in the prepara¬
tion or revision of a timber management plan only once in his lifetime,
t must be recognized, in discussing the preparation of management plans.

6-23

that there has been no continuity of personnel or of experience. It
usually has been an inexperienced man on his first and only job of its
kind (for him)..

The question resolves itself to that of how best to prepare acceptable
timber management plans the most effectively and economically.

The planning job consists of bringing together all available information,
analyzing the facts, setting objectives and giving consideration to
policies and regulations and then, like a puzzle, take the small pieces
ana fit them together in a plan or action program. Preparation of a
plan for a working circle is a summary, together with what general guides
may be necessary in the way of policy, technique, dependency, etc. which
added together will spell what can be done toward reaching certain de¬
sirable objectives.

Actual planning is an on-the-ground job, i.e. the plan can best be
put together near the source of material and by local Forest officers
who are the best informed. It should be a general rule that the man
most familiar with the detailed conditions within the working circle
should take the lead in writing the plan. If he is not qualified as
a writer, he should at least sit at the elbow of the person who puts
it together.

Plans have been and can continue to be prepared in one of the follow¬
ing ways :

a. District Ranger

If he has been on the District long enough to be thoroughly familiar
with the local conditions and the working circle is wholly within his
Ranger District, he should take the lead in plan preparation, if he is
qualified to do so.

b , Forest Staffman

If the working circle involves more than one Ranger District or
the District Ranger is not familiar with conditions or is not qualified
the Forest staffman, assigned timber management, should usually take
the lead in plan preparation.

c . Regional Technician

If neither the District Ranger or Forest staffman is qualified
to do the job, or for Cooperative Sustained Yield Units or for especially
important cases, a Regional planning technician will usually be assigned
to take the lead in plan preparation.

7-23

d. Task Force

A planning task force can be handled in one of two ways :

a) Forest : The most qualified Forest officers on the Forest
would get together and do the job on a project basis.

Usually the task force will consist of the timber manage¬
ment staffman, the District Ranger and one or more P-1 or
P-2 foresters (fact finders and compilers). Generally ,

this system is being followed, is effective and merits
consideration.

(2) Regional : In some cases the task force can be expanded to
include one or more from the Regional Office for doing the
job on a project basis. On especially important cases or
for the purpose of keeping informed or providing leadership
and training, this system merits occasional use. Occasionally
including the staff planner from the :J. 0. Division of Timber
Management would also be helpful to all concerned.

There should be no insistence that all plans have to be prepared by one
and only one method. All have merit for certain cases. It is recom¬
mended, however, that the following be carefully considered for each
case :

(a) A local qualified Forest officer prepare or sit in on
plan preparation in contrast to doing the job on a mass
production basis by Regional technicians,

(b) The task force method be used except for relatively un¬
important cases. The main advantage of this method is
that the task force can assemble at a place where they
will hot be interrupted and can do the job on a project
basis.

In all except minor cases, and regardless of the method used for pre¬
paration, it is desirable to hold a planning conference in advance of
actually initiating the planning job. For most cases the Forest
Supervisor, Forest staffman and District Ranger (s) should be the key
conferrers. For important cases a Regional representative should sit
in on the conference. If the planning job is to be done by a task
force, the first step would be the conference; the Forest Supervisor
should, of course, be available to take the lead during the conference.
At the conference major objectives, land use coordination, assignments
c'.nd a preparation program should be discussed and decisions made..

8-23

7. MANAGEMENT PLAN REVISE, COORDINATION AND APPROVAL

a. Rough Draft

After the rough draft is available the first thorough and basic
review and coordination should be by the Forest Supervisor, He should
give especial attention to coordination with other resource uses, action
programs and relation to local economy. Any revisions should be incor¬
porated in the review edition. A copy of the review edition should be
sent to the Regional Forester for review by the interested Divisions as
a check on the Supervisor's judgment, accuracjr, and adequacy of planning.
The review edition should be returned with comments to the Forest Super¬
visor for final editing and typing.

b . Final Edition

After the final edition is signed on the Forest, it will be sub¬
mitted to the Regional Forester for final review, initials by interested
Divisions, and approval before transmittal to the Chief for review and
final approval.

It is recommended the Chief authorise the Regional Forester to
give final approval to minor and relatively unimportant plans. The
formula for final approval by the Chief and by the Regional Forester
should be somewhat as follows:

(1) The Chief give final approval to all plans involving
Federal Sustained Yield Units with an allowable cut •
of over 5 million board feet and to a 11 those involving
Cooperative Sustained Yield Units.

(2) The Chief give final approval to all important plans
which could well be based on the size of the allowable
annual cut (see (3)).

(3) The Chief authorize, except for Sustained Yield Units
as covered in (l), the Regional Forester to give final
approval to all plans, with a planned allowable annual
cut of 5 million board feet or less and to all those
where the allowable annual cut is 20 percent or less of
the timber sale authorization. For instance. Regions
with a sale authorization of 50 million board feet could
approve plans with an allowable annual cut of 10 million
board feet or less. Copies of approved plans should be
submitted to the Chief so his file will be complete.

It takes time and costs money to review and approve a plan in the
Chief's office. The time saved, by not formalizing action on the
relatively unimportant plans, could be profitably used by the planning

staffman, in the J. 0. Division of Timber Management, by spending more
time in the Regions reviewing plans on the ground, by providing leader¬
ship, by training and by sitting in on planning conferences.

8. COST OF PLAN PREPARATION

So far as known, detailed time and cost studies have not been made for
the preparation of timber management plans. A rough estimate for a
single plan for salaries and expenses would probably be within the fol¬
lowing range for the preparatory steps only (does not include inventories,
mensurational studies or other field work or permanent record-keeping):

On the Forest . . $ 600 to $1,000

In the Regional Office . . 125 to 200

In the Chief's Office . . 50 to 100

Total per Plan . $ 775 to $1,300

If plans are made or revised for the 688 working circles, once each
decade (conservative) it would then cost from $53,320 to $89,440 per
annum Service-wide for preparation. Since many plans are revised
oftener than once a decade, it would be safe to say that the cost of
plan preparation (office only) will be about $100,000 per year.

Topic Assignees:

Lindh

R-3

Tabbutt -

ft- 7

10-23

Region 8

TIMBER MANAGEMENT PLAN
OUTLINE

Title and Approval Page.

II. Summary Page.

III. Timber Management

A. Introduction.

B. Program for period beginning _ (date) _ and ending (date)

1. Objectives.

2. Correlation of timber management with other land uses,

3. Forest Practice *

a. Digest for natural stands by each broad type.

b. Digest for plantations.

4. Regulation of Timber Use.

a. Subdivision of working circle.

b. Digest of basis for regulation,

c? Calculation cf allowable cut.

d, Cutting budget and plan.

e. Cutting records.

5. Schedule for timber stand improvement work, planting,
prescribed burning, timber surveys, and remcasuremcnt of
permanent plots, special fact-finding projects,

IV. Protection.

Program for period beginning _ (date) and ending (date)

1. Fire.

2. Disease and insects.

3 . Grazing

V. Development.

Program for period beginning _ (date) and ending (date)

1. Roads.

2. Land acquisition and exchange.

3. Socio-Economic.

VI . Appendix

-1-

. .

»■

• . , . .

, . ' ■ ■ • •

. :

• •

Timber Management Plan for Period
beginning (date) and ending (date)

.Working Circle

National Forest

Region 8

Submitted

( date )

by _

(Name)

, (title)

Approved

(date)

(Name)

.Forest Supervisor

Reviewed and recommended for approval by Regional Office Divisions:

Timber Management _ ___

Lands, Recreation, Wildlife, Watershed Management _

Fire _ _

Engineering _

Approved (date)

( Name )

, Regional Forester

Approved

( Name )

, Acting Chief, Forest Service

Washington Office Divisions:
Fire Control

Forest Management Research
Recreation and Lands
Watershed Management
Range Management
Timber Management
Wildlife Management

-2-

■%

1 •

- t» -

■

. ,

os.ll 'lO Jtaoolst

■

• •

■

SUMMARY

Location: List counties and state in which working circle is located*

Area of National Forest Land as of (date) _ .

Non-forest land _ acres

Non-commercial forest land _

Commercial forest land

Total acres

Net Merchantable Volume Commercial Forest Land as of (date) _

Pine (size class) _ M cords (128 cu,ft«)

Hardwoods - Cypress (size class) _ _

Total

M cords (128 cu.ft,)

Pine (size class)

Hardwoods - Cypress (size class)

_MBF, Scribner

Total

MBF, Scribner

Periodic Annual Growth for Period, (date) to (date)

Pine (size class) _ MBF, Scribner

Hardwoods - Cypress (size class)

Total

MBF, Scribner

Allowable Annual Cut for Period, (date)

Sawtimbe r : Pine

Hardwoods - Cypress

to ( date )

_ MBF, Scribner

Total

MBF, Scribner

Minor Forest Products:

TIMBER MANAGEMENT

Introduction

Brief and concise statement of the relationship of the proposed plan to
previous plans, if any, and/or timber management of area included in working
circle •

Program for Period beginning (date) and ending (date) _ »

lo Objectives.

(1) To manage the timber stands primarily to grow trees of a size
and quality required for sawlogSo

(2) To build up the growing stock in the amount of _ MBF of

pine sawtimber on _ operable acres and _ MBF

of pine sawtimber on _ inoperable acres.

(3) To conduct (regeneration and/or intermediate) cuttings over
_ operable acres 0

(4) To contribute to the stability of communities and opportunities
of employment by selling, cutting, and removing the allowable

annual cut of _ MBF of pine saw timber ; _ M cords

of pine pulpwood; etc.

(5) To conduct stand improvement work over _ acres.

(6) To plant _ acres with (species) _ .

(7) To obtain estimates of the net merchantable volume and increment
during the period, (date to date).

(8) To prepare and submit to the Chief, Forest Service, prior to
(date), a revised timber management plan.

2, Correlation of Timber Management with Other Land uses.

A . National Forest lands on which timber growing for primary forest

products is not the dominant use.

The dominant use may be grazing, recreation and roadside zones,
water, wildlife, special uses, administrative use, experimental
forests, etc. List each area and its dominant use, show general
location on working circle map. Refer to pertinent sections of
approved plans in other fields of land use; i.e., recreation plan,
or to approved forest or regional policies for timber use program.

B. National Forest lands on which timber growing for primary forest

products is the dominant use, and other uses are secondary.

Other secondary uses may be grazing, recreation and roadside zones,
water, and midlife. List secondary uses. If any such uses are
localized give general location in terms of compartments involved.
General statement of principles and policies in regard to corre-

—4—

lating timber use with other secondary uses as applied to the working
circle covered by the plan.

(1) Grazing (see NF-C2-8)

(a) Exclusion of livestock at critical periods to gain
natural reproduction or aid plantation survival.

(b) Maintain open areas: old fields, sawmill sites etc.

(2) Recreation and Roadside Zones (See NF-G— 3 Page 20)

(3) Wildlife (See NF-D2-15)

(a) Openings in forest cover0

(b) Timber stand improvement instructions.

(d) Stream pollution.

(4) Water

(a) Adequate forest cover after cutting.

(b) Preservation of stream bed, and stream bed vegetation,

5, Forest Practice

A • Digest for natural stands for each broad forest type.

(Shortleaf .Loblolly - Mixed Hardwoods) Forest Type.

(1) Area and/or proportion of working circle occupied by type.

(2) General location and sites occupied.

(3) Character and condition of timber stands,

(4) Major and minor forest products.

(5) Methods of cutting.

(a) Applicable regeneration systems.

(b) Applicable intermediate cuttings.

* ■ ■ t- >.

: •

M « ' ..os' i’i ne i sn a <

;

. • .

• . , .. ••• . • . .

■ * • 1‘

... . ..

■

(6) Timber stand improvement work and K.V. collections
(princuples and policies).

(7) Permissible logging methods.

(8) Reduction of fire hazard (principles and policies).

(9) Reduction of losses and damage from insects and disease.

(10) Utilization practice (principles and policies).

(11) Marking rules (principles and policies, details in Appendix.
Tie in with correlation with other land uses).

B . Digest for Plantations

(1) Area and/or proportion of vrorking circle occupied
by plantations o

(2) General location and sites occupied.

(3) Character and condition.

(4) Major and minor forest products0

(5) Methods of cutting

(a) Applicable regeneration systems.

(b) Applicable intermediate cuttings.

(6) Timber stand improvement work and K.V, collections
(principles and policies).

(7) Permissible logging methods.

(8) Reduction of fire hazard*

(9) Reduction of losses and damage from insects and disease,

(10) Utilization practice.

(11) Marking rules.

4. Regulation of Timber Use

A. Subdivision of Working Circle

(1) Land Units - Block, compartment (show on map)

(2) Forest Units - Working grqsp, stand.

—6—

♦

; , • .

: .

E „ Digest of basis for regulation by each working group •

(1) Volume required for economic logging,

(2) Factors affecting removal of timber: roads, weather,

(3) Markets - kind and amount of forest products,

(4) Dependency on national forest timber,

(5) Problem species and/or products,

(6) USFS sale- history by compartments, and estimate when each
compartment will be ready for a return logging operation
for cutting sawtimber and minor forest products,

(7) Timber stands operable under cutting practice: area, net
merchantable volume, and increment,

(8) Timber stands inoperable under cutting practice: area, net
merchantable volume, and increment,

C » Calculation of Allowable Cut by each working group.

(1) Basis: operable stands, certain species or all species,
sawtimber or all products,

( 2 ) Me thod ,

(3) Allowable cut,

D. Cutting Budget and Plan.

(1) Show fiscal year when cutting operations are to begin
and be completed in each compartment,

(2) Sequence of sales: sawtimber sales and minor forest
product sales o

(3) Material chargeable to cutting budget; material not
chargeable to cutting budget,

(4) Relation of size and kind of sales to cutting budget,

E, Cutting Records.

List cutting records and maps to be maintained, and purpose of

each.

5, Schedules - for timber stand improvement work, planting, prescribed
burning, timber surveys, remeasurement of permanent plots, special
fact-finding projects® Set up 3-year schedule for each class. List
area to be worked over by compartments and fiscal year of working.

Each fiscal year prior to May 1 review compliance and accomplishment,
adjust schedules for next two years and develop schedule for ad¬
ditional year. After approval by Regional Forester, copies of revised
schedules will be inserted in plan.

— ?

PROTECTION

Program for Period beginning (date) and ending (date)

A, Fire

Give objectives, scope, and extent of program necessary to produce
successive crops of timber and reduce loss and damage to existing
growing stock 0

( 1 ) Allowable burn c

(2) Protection of areas of extra hazard (sale areas) «

(3) Ircscribe burning for hazard reduction » Tie in with
Forest Fire Plan,

B. Disease and Insects

Give objectives, scope, and extent of special projects;
(prescribed burning for brown spot control, etc.)

C. Grazing

Fencing program and/or closure program to ^exclude stock at
critical periods to gain natural reproduction or aid plantation
survival. Tie in with Forest Grazing plans or policies#

♦

( '

DEVELOPMENT

Program Lor Period beginning (date) . and ending (date)

A; Roads

Give objectives., scope, and extent of program necessary to obtain
removal of forest products© Tie in with Forest Transportation
Plan or Road Plan, and policies dealing with maintenance and
construction of roads by purchasers of national forest timber,

B, Land Acquisition and Exchange „

Give objectives, scope, and extent of program as related to timber
management on acquired land. Tie in with Forest Land Purchase and
Exchange plans or policies,

C, Socio-Economic

Timber uses are to be planned so as to obtain, so far as possible,
stability of employment, homes, and communities© This does not
necessarily require the establishment of sustained yield units
under the Act of March 29, 1944, Give the objectives, scope, and
extent of the program. Tie in with the timber management section
of this plan, and forest plans or policies dealing with community
supports

—9—

( ,

APPENDIX

10 Physiographic features of working circle: topography, soil, climate.

2. Timber Resource Data: area, volume, increment by stand classes etc.

3 . Socio-Economic Data :

a. Brief description of each community, location,
population, transportation facilities, economic
activities supporting community, dependency on
timber processing operations.

bc List of timber processing operations: name, location,
kind, of plant, products produced, annual requirement
for primary forest products, dependency on N.F. timber.

c, Table showing flew of National Forest timber cut for processing
to each of the communities 3

40 Timber Management: Digest of pertinent facts relative to timber
management on the working circle for period prior to proposed
plan «

a. Date of establishment of working circle and national forest.

b. Timber management prior to first policy statement or timber
management plan.

(1) Timber resources: character and condition, net
merchantable volume 0

( 2 ) Timber use: limitation of cut, if any, method of
cutting, area cutover, volume cut, principal
products.

(3) Planting: area planted, species planted.

(4) Stand improvement work: Character of, area worked.

c. Timber management for each period covered by policy statement
or timber management plan.

(1) Date of policy statement or timber management plan and
period covered.

(2) Timber resources: character and condition of timber stands,
net merchantable volume, increment.

(3) Timber use: allowable cut, method of cutting, area cutover,
volume cut, principal products.

(4) Planting: area planted, species planted.

—10—

< )

....

• • .

(5) Stand improvement work: character of, area worked.

5. Protection: Digest of pertinent facts relative to fire, disease
and insects, grazing, storm damage etc., having a bearing on timber
management for period prior to proposed plan.

6. Development: Digest of pertinent facts relative to road, land
acquisition, and exchange programs USFS and private, consolidation
of ownership, socio-economic developments having a bearing on timber
management for the period prior to the proposed plan.

7. Map - of suitable scale shewing boundary of working circle, compartment
boundaries, national forest land, roads and roadside zones, and major
physio graphi c feature s 0

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< A

' •' -

: ' - - •

TOPIC 24

4/1/40

CONTROL RECORDS, HARVESTING PLANS, TIMBER MANAGEMENT

PLAN REVISION
By Paul A. Gross onbach :

To begin, I wish to thank Austin Hasel of Region 5 and Albert Sump of
Region 9 for their help on this topic. Much of the material regarding
present practices in this paper they will recognize as their own.

Control Records

Control records are needed to determine the results obtained under
management, the costs and returns of management, and for planning
future action. The records kept should be limited to essential items,
for each of which the method of putting the information to use is
definitely known beforehand. Obviously the records should be as simple
as possible for practical maintenance and usability.

The failure to provide for and maintain this simple record of accomplish¬
ment has been the weakness of many management plans in the past.

What control records should consist of and how they should be kept can
probably be shown more easily by a review of some of the methods in
use at the present time than in any other manner.

Present Practices

Region 5

t t rv ^

In general, the system now in use requires a listing of data obtained
from the timber sale reports, a forking circle map and cutover cruises.

From timber sale reports the following information is obtained:

Area cutover by G.L.O. subdivisions
Method of marking used and whs did it'

Summary of cut and leave plots
.. -Summary of scale by species, including number of species,
merchantable scale, and cull percentages.

Stumpage pric’es and receipts
Felling and other logging damage.

. System of logging used.

Brush disposal

Disposal of snags and diseased trees and amount utilized.

• Operating costs.

, Map' showing area cut over and rail and truck roads used and
constructed during the season.

Tho working circle , maps show the followings.

Boundary7- of working circle
Sale boundaries. ... ' i :

Government land cut" ‘O'Ver to date.
Boundaries of areas 100% killed by fire.
Existing railroads and all passable roads.
Completed land exchanges

•*< ’

Cutover Cruises

These were originally 10% cruises which were found too : burdensome to
keep up to date and about 1940 a 1% cruise was adopted as. standard,
on the" basis that estimates would be accurate within 1C% when the
accumulated . cutover area reached 10,000 acres. The primary objective
of the cruise was to collect data for the prediction of growth, and
permanent sample plots representing average conditions were set up for
periodic romoasurement. Cruises by this method are far from being up
to date and the Region now proposes to use the continuous inventory
system which has been previously discussed for the collection of those

data.

Rocommondod Practice, R-5

■ -- - - — ■■■■" «

All working circles should bp subdivided into compartments, and records
kept separately by compartments instead of sale aroas.

^ , . , . . ■ r* • / •

Data essential to the management record should bo abstracted from sale
reports and filed in the compartment record. Likewise any non- sale
cutting should be summarized and included, Tho sale data should bo
segregated by allocated and unallocated cut.

Compartment cruiso data taken boforo logging, and periodically after
logging should bo summarized by stand and stock tables and compared with
tho balanced stand and stock charts sot up as tho goal necessary to
claim that the stand is regulated.

Results of periodic reexamination of permanent lino, samples to show con¬
dition with reference to restocking and brush covor will be listed,

• % >

Summaries of stand improvement work, Ribes eradication, insect control,
and planting, together with maps showing aroas affected, are to bo
included.

Each compartment should have a suppJLy of overlay skeleton maps for add¬
ing new map data.

Observations on compartments xvhero presont logging or other activity is
nil, should be notod regarding mortality, development of poor risk
volume, and other useful information.

Prosont Fractico, R-9

The Region is now in tho process of revising all management plans and
oxpects to complete tho job within the next ton yoars. The first stop
in tho rovision of tho plans is to proparo a good timber typo map by

uso of aerial photos. This map will show timbor typo, size class
and density, and will bo usod in harvest planning and for rocording
accomplishment. Area regulation, with volume as a -chock, will be
Used in regulating the cut as each working circle plan is rovisod.

An allowable cut will be established for each major timber typo.
Consequently, control records must bo devised that will bo simple
to maintain and the kind that will provide the forest manager with a
record of proposed and accomplished cutting in conformity with the
proscriptions of the management plan. Also the control records
must bo so maintained that tho information recorded will be useful
in future revisions or harvest planning at the start of each now
cutting period.

Tho control records to be used consist of a timbor type map (2" to
tho mile scale), a form for preparing the annual sales program, and
a form for rocording area' sold and cut by timbor type as well as
volume by products. Samples of tho forms and maps aro hero and I
will pass them around so that all who desiro may . soe them.- Sample
entrios have been irado on both the forms and the map.

Specifically, the records will bo maintained as follows:

Map

At tho start of each now cutting period, a cutting budget by years
for the initial three-year period will be outlined on a timber typo
map using a legend that will show tho year to be sold and eventually
the year cut. Ten colors will bo used each representing ono year
of the period. Thus red may be selected as tho color for year 0.

If the sale was sold and cut in 1950, it would bo shown in red
according to tho legend for sold and cut. If it was sold in 1950 and
cut in 1953, it would bo indicated by red for the yoar sold and by
tho selected color. for tho yoar cut. At the beginning of each new
period a now sot of maps will bo used with oach year of tho new
period bearing the same color as the past period. Thus one will
speak of the l*rod yoar”, ”b^ack yoar”, etc., depending upon the
color scheme selected. By uso of the color schomo the map properly
filled out will show harvest planning and the year oach area was
cut. This is an important record whon short cycles aro in uso.

Annual Sales Flan - Form 78 R-9

Each yoar an annual sales’ plan will bo prepared for oach working
circle. This plan will show oach cutting: area scheduled for cutting
and tho area by timber typos to be cut. It will also show the
volume of tho important species and products scheduled for cutting
as well as tho estimated amount of K.V. funds to bo collected
from each area. Each cutting area will bo tied in to the manage¬
ment maps by use of a number. This mothpd follows the compart-
mont system quite closely with tho exception that cutting area
takos the place of compartmont.

" » • • ft

Permanent Timber Control Record - Form 77 R-9

This form will be us.ed to recqrd_the sold and cut progress by area ^
for eaoh regulated timber type as well as to y re card the sold^and out
volume and value by products for preparation of the 949 Quarterly
Cut and Sold Report. Rata from each sale will be recorded and will
be tied to the map by the "area number’* *, which is the number assigned
to each cutting area. It will, therefore, be.possible to.compute,
if necessary, the volume removed from any individual cutting area.

In addition to the. above, the maintenance of a correction map for
use in the preparation of a new map and lor scheduling cutting in
the next cutting period, is believed highly desirable. Changes in
timber type and condition class will be noted after cutting as well
as any changes in cultural features such as the construction of new
roads and other improvements. Land lines will also be corrected if
found to be in error.

Present Practices R-8

The timber management control records currently in use consist of the
followings

A map of the working circle on which the general location
of the timber sales are shown.

Customary timber sales records.

Annual sales plan. Form TM-148-R8 . ..

* / * w

The 949 work sheet, TM-149-R8. < ; . ' *■

Perhaps they’ may take objection to my statement, but there seems to
be some similarity between the methods in usd-. .in at least two of
the eastern regions. How any of the systems described work or will
work I do not know, I merely listed the information as given to
me, for informational and comparative purposos which' will bo shown

later.

Up to -this point this paper has been. concerned only with practices
in use or proposed for use in the Regions mentioned. It might have
been shortened but I did not wish to delete anything that might change
the meaning. From here on thero may bo some repetition but, in all
fairness to Messrs. Hasel and Sump, I will say that duo to lack of
time, they have had no chance to roviow the following statements
and therefore they may or may not agree.

From a review of past practices thero aro a few obvious deductions
that can bo made.

1, Tho need for control rocords is woll established.

The typo and amount of data recorded will probably vary

- 5 -

with regions because of different species, products,
management practices, etc., and therefore cannot bo
standardized for all regions, but there may bo a
place for somo standardization .for groups of regions#

3, The form of recording data will vary for the same
re a s ons #

4, There is more to control records than mo ro records of •
cut, tabular and graphical, but the annual maintenance

of control records is primarily concerned only with
these and they are of major importance.

5, The more intensive the management the more factors become
involvod in control records but along with intensive
management come better inventory data and bottor
growth data, placing management on a firmer basis, thus
tending to toko somo of the responsibility for revision
from control rocords#

The Components of Control Records

I- VOLUME HE COEDS

1. Rogulatod volume cut by species (and products) which can

bo further broken down by allocated and unallocated cut, .
cutting not budgotod such as salvage cutting, individual
sales, etc. . • u. a;

2. Non -regulate d volume cut, also by species and products
(this includes thinning).

3. Losses, not salvageable, such as fire and" insect killed
timber m the regulated area which for any reason, -cannot
be salvaged,, (These will in most cases bo estimates).

I I - AREA SECONDS

— — — T- — - —

i ’ * *

1. Regulated area cutover (by types if regulation is by :
types).

2% Non- regulated area cutover.

3. Area of timber producing land lost through any causes,
such as fire, withdrawals, etc#

* ' • * ' . I * * •

4. Area gainod through any causo-s., such as planting,
acquisition, road construction, opening up inaccessible
areas, etc.

5# Other cultural work kopt by aroa, such as prescribed
burning, pruning etc#

- 6 -

Those, I bolieve, are the main components of control records, al¬
though I may not have every small item listed#

I ha vo purposely not included in the above list any inventory data#
Technically, I suppose stand changes as shown by inventory could bo
includod as control records but such records are primarily for use
for revision purposes (after the first' plan has boon made) and aro
not %istod for that reason* •

The Use and Value of Control .Records

Needless to say, it is impossible to put down hero how much of the
above should or should not be includod in any plan# Tho simplest
records that will serve the purpose should be the aim, and thoso
will vary even within regions.

The immediate use of control records is of course to see if you aro
on tho way to whore you started out to go# For this purpose straight
volume control is known to have failed and it is my contention that
it alone is useless with anything loss than highly accurate small
area inventory data# "Regulation by major "types and regulations by
area further complicate tho matter.

To tie tho plan to the ground then, some area records aro necessary •

Tho simplest of those is, of courso, tho timber typo map, and tho
better the map tho more positive tho control. Ihe map affords a
visual check on progress that even the best volume records cannot show#
Tho two together become an invalunblo aid in chocking for inconsistencies
between the actual and tho planned and making immediate corrective
action possible# They may bo all that aro needed for a short-term
chock.

The accumulation of control records over a poriod of years is noedod
for plan revision purposes and will bo taken up later in this paper#

A summary form for the posting of the required data, such as thoso in
use in "Regions 8 and 9, is practically a necessity for any plan#

Nearly every active working circle will have more than one operation
requiring posting at stated intervals# In any case this work should
bo done annually, but oftenor if necessary because of volume handled.

For annual posting, the time of closing timber sales is suggested as
a possible date# If neglocted, the records are soon filed away and
forgotten, and when a later effort to assomblo tho data is mado, tho
task assumes major proportions# Maintenance of tho unit progress
map is included as a part of the • above-mentioned posting of rocordsi

HARVESTING FLANS

For the purpose of this discussion I have borrowed tho Region 3
'*Outlino for limber Harvesting Flans.'* As far as I" know it is the
most complete outline in use by any of tho Regions at tho present

-< f ■ 7> *■> •

.. - _ ; • , . . v> 1 -* ; n*;*- •' *

time • In fact, "it is the onlyt-ione I wag able to secure sufficient
information about to present as a part of the,' "'present practices’*

section of this topic. It is, therefore, reproduced in full below;

• . .. \vr ■ - * : ' ■>i ; ; ... ... , • ;

lx \V; • * . ' - •

OUTLINE .FOR TIMBER HARVEST! NO PLAN - R-3

Objective - as a' supplement to the approved forest management plan,
to prepare a harvesting,. plan for1 five years ahead' which will: (l)
delinoate -future' sales , areas;- (-2) provide a base for advising
prospective purchaser § of the, -sales program;; (3) ..develop invent ory
of pre-sale needs including enginee ring work and an action program
for accomplishing same; (*4) serve .as -a base for annual monthly
work plans and allotment of funds. It will’ provide the orderly
base for marketing and harvesting timber instead' of being pushed
by the purchasers. It will be revised as necessary each yoar for
the succeeding 5-year period.;

Unit to • Consider - ordinarily, a ma jor .working circle? with a summary
for the Forest.

J. • ' ' OUTLINE. FOR PREPARING FLAN

- - - i, in’ ■ . 1 ■■■-. . . .

* , . , . I : * ,

1 • Name of Forest and* Unit

2. Basic Source Data, :. ■

r sf’’ Area by types . . *. ; '*

b. Volume by species

c. Approved cutting budget

d. Average cut past five years.

e. -List of established , ope rators or prospective pur- ► »•

chasers' with’ annual cut of each. Show location of
each by reference number of map,

f. Prepare one-inch-to-the-mile base map. of- Unit to sh'ow’.AVT

Unit„..boundaries and . data’ palle d • for. in:.., outline • - . 'r ’

*-• " •' f. ^ ’ 1’ . * • • » ■ *** *• **

. 1 • * * i ’■ ,'?• f' * •’

3. Salos Program - delinoate each proposed advertised sawtimber-.-

sale on the map by a green line. Consecutively number each'- ■ • •
sale area in green. Then make a list with the following . ..••/. p ■

headings : - ' .

a. Map reference number

b. Name of proposed sale

c. Total volumes by. major species

d. - Percent to be cut

e. Volumes to bo cut by major species- A"

f : Volume • to 'bo cut each year .and -number year’s sale
‘”’1 will be for. A . , ■

g. Bate sale, should be made - month- ' and year-

•t • •

— 8 —

* ■ m • ' .i j ■ v, . * * . « . . f •

h. Name- of: prospective purchaser or purchasers.

T ■ i . d Invert to.'ry and .pre-sale work -

(1) Area to cruise

(2) ....Date to-. cruise . (preferable two years in advance)

(3) “Percent of intensity of cruise.

(4) Man-days to cruise (including compilations,

preparation 2 -inch- to- the -mile type and sale
map ) • •

(5) Date of road location by competent engineer

' or locator (including staking center location,

written specifications and cost estimate for'

. " .. ■ ■-» j all 1 main and branch roads* Show all such

..'proposed roads on the map in red - solid

. •>-••, line for main and dashed line for branch.

Should be done at least one year in advance:
of making sale).

• •- ('6:) Estimated number. miles of road to locate.

(7) Estimated numbor of man- days to* Ideate roads.

(8) Date for examining area and preparing pro-
sale report and .appraisal. (Should be done
as soon as all inventory data are available).

(9) Number man days to examino aroa and prepare
pre-sale and appraisal report.

(10) ’Remarks.

The list should bo at least triple spaced. There will then bo
spade to make pencil progress entries aftor pach job is accomplished
or to make revisions from year to year. Each year the list to be
brought up to date by adding an additional year.

If there is' more than one majj.or working circle for the Forest, -a
Forest summary should be made each year with headings about as
follows: .J

Item > ; •' -:..1948j 1949 : 1950 ; 1951 { 1952

1. Area to cruise (acres)

2. Man-days to cruise

3. Miles of road to locate

4. Man-days to locate roads

5. Man-days to examine area and prepare appraisal.

4. Mechanics - preferably prepare on letter-size sheets but it will
be acceptable to prepare on atlas .size shoots and file with map
in Timber Atlas Control Record binder. Copies should be made,
for the Ranger ,- Supervisor and Rogional Forester,

* ******* * * *

I boliovo the R-3 outlino is comploto enough .in itsolf that little
further consideration of the composition of harvesting plans in
general is morited. Some consideration should'be given, howevor,
to the need for harvesting plans and' their utility in management.

*4 ' • * «

A harvesting plan is an immediate unit action program. It
diffors from the cutting budget in this manno'r and also in its
consideration of other factors besides tho allowable cut.

Certainly with a well-prepared meaningful harvesting plan in his
hands no forest managor will bo caught unprepared in his handling
of tho sales program.

I should mention hero that tho R-3 outlino was not meant to be
sot up for a model. Some such plan is necessary, however, for
tho disposal of forest products and no doubt has boon carried in
the hoads of most forest managers in tho past. Tho writ ton-
pi an is a business-like program to obtain tho gonoral objectives
sot up in the management plan.

Tho needs for harvesting plans will vary'. For tho intonsivo
management and woll-roaded working circles of the e as torn
regions, an annual salos plan alono will probably suffioo as at
loast part of the problems of the harvesting plan are already
solved. Who tho r the detail shown. in the outlino above is nee do d
for most western working circles is beyond my ability to say.

I merely recommend, the plan for consideration by all attending
this mooting,

' . MANAGEMENT PLAN REVISION

Current Accumulation of Rovisi on Data

•••.», 1 ’ *

It is generally agreed that tho collection of revision data in
the past has not been entirely satisfactory. For one reason,
the intensity of the field data collection was too burdens omo,
as in the case of cutover surveys. Another reason was unsatis¬
factory collection and recording of drain - especially for sales;

A detailed report of past practices cannot bo made With the- data
I have available. Such a report might havo considerable guidance
value in plotting now courses, I am sure, howovor, that ,‘oach
Region is aware of the shortcomings of its own plans and pro¬
cedures. It appears that much has boon required but little has
boon doiio.- I will hazard a guess that tho reason has boon tho
same in most oases. The systems required made adoquato collec¬
tion of data economically impossible- of aohievoment.

In brief, what are .needed to keep plans alive and to maintain
them as working tools a roj.

1, Fiold work for gathering records of change that is both
-practical and economical and consisting of:

. Current sampling. data as gathered on various surveys
within the working circle*

Basic rec-ourco data from permanent working plots,
mortality strips, Forest Survey. plots and mapa,;otc.

' ' Pertinent considerations includes

Net growth and mortality

Chock of cutting cycle against growth on residual
stands.

Success in restocking. with desirable species since the
' previous cut. 1

Ifegree of progress toward the balanced growing stock
of a regulated stand. •

2. Record keeping which combines' brevity with necessary com¬
pleteness (Control Records),

Pertinent considerations include:

Correction of area and estimates to take into account
land acquire d sb’y purchase or exchange . . .

Correction of area and estimates to take into account
changes of typo and losses as from firo, wind, insects,
diseases,, etc,

Set up of cutting control records so information record¬
ed can be. used in revisions with a minimum of effort
and confusion.

■ * 5 * ■ i.

Control records have been covered in the firs t .part of .this paper
so the remainder of this discussion will be .limited' to- the collec¬
tion of field data, •

Proposed Practices

• <

Region 5 ' •'

* ■ ■ \ :

The Region 5 system of continuous inventory has already
been mentioned in this paper1 and by now should have boon
, thoroughly covered in topic 12,. In. addition to the • inven¬
tory system mortality is cruised on a 1-acre plot that
. included the growth inventory plot*. 'These, together with'
Survey data, are expected to provide estimates of actual
net growth --and mortality . "

Region 4

Region 4 oxpects to roly on permanent sample plots (tut not
randomly selected) and mortality strips for the same in¬
formation.

Permanent plots and strips provide for measurement data to
guide management practice. They promote intorost in the
job for the forester on the ground. No doubt thoy have a
prominent place in our work in western regions.

Rogion 9

Region 9 is thinking in terms of keeping revision data in
the form of a correction map and a cutting progress map
which no doubt will have boon explained by this time by
Mr, Sump. The Region expects to prepare now maps from
aerial photography about every 10-20 yoars, depending on
conditions .

CONCLUSIONS

It would be useless for me to attempt to inject any recommendations
concerning methods of obtaining fiold data to keep plans alive,
through the media of this paper. The subjoct is best covorod in the
discussions at this meeting. Cortainly the short resume' of pro¬
posed practices given above points to the need for leadership and
guidance in the matter by the Washington Office and research. Wo
will need some "trial and orror** to meet Rogional conditions, but
it should bo minimized by as much Sorvico-wido guidance as possiblo.

TOPIC 25 - THE VALUE AMD USE OF TIMBER MANAGEMENT PLANS

~~A3 A PUBLIC' RELATIONS TOOL

We try to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number. We believe
that our intentions are good, that our objectives are high, and that our
skill is considerable in making and applying management plans. We firmly
believe that we are working for the good of the people. Nevertheless, these
same people may have little knowledge of our intentions, objectives, and
skills. Lacking this knowledge they may be critical, suspicious and hard to
get along with. Cur high ideals get us nowhere unless we can convince
others that we have their interest at heart.

From years of our own publicity, as well as from newspapers, novels, stories,
and Hollywood’s films, the public has learned about forest fires. Planting
is also understood to some extent. Beyond that there is little understand¬
ing or appreciation of what a forester can possibly be doing when he is not
fighting fires or planting trees. It is a common experience to drive a
Forest Service car to a gas station and be asked about the fire situation or
about a planting job. It is a rare day that a layman asks us about any of
the other important jobs connected with growing, managing, harvesting and
marketing crops of timber.

Up to now the Forest Service has been the custodian of a storehouse of tim¬
ber and other natural resources. That, at least, has been true in the West.
Witness the experience with the word "preserves" as applied to national
forests. It has been a long, hard job to convince people that the forests
were for use and even harder to get multiple use understood. While there
was an abundance of timber outside the national forests to keep the lumber
industry humming, feiv cared very much whether the national forests we re
preserves or managed or unmanaged* Indeed, during the depressed thirties,
a policy of holding back national forest timber was adopted because it

seemed to be in the public interest, __

The timber outside the national forests is running low. More and more
dependence will be placed upon national forest timber in the future. In a
wood-hungry nation this can lead to pressure for overcutting and abandonment
of sustained yield management. It may even lead to demands that national
forest land be turned over to private owners. When there is not enough
timber to go around, our management plans will be front page news in many
communities. Up to now we have been permitted to make plans in the quiet of
our ivory towers; tomorrow we may feel like we are making them on Main
Street. Angry citizens may shake their fists in our faces and tell us that
our allowable cut will take the food from their children. Making management
plans when there is not enough wood to go around will be serious business.

It will be a serious business on which people will need to be fully informed.

There is ample experience that more than technical soundness is essential to
the success of a management plan. Our own experience in Region One with the
plan for the Kootenai Sustained Yield' Unit is an example. This plan has
been the subject of a heated local controversy. The technical soundness of
the plan has not been questioned. Its effect upon people and communities
has been the main point at issue. The fact that we have distributed 2,000
copies of the proposed agreement and have in other ways tried to get the
plan understood has, in our opinion, been the one thing that has enabled us
thus far to weather and even perhaps to advance against the storm of
criticism.

-1-

At this point it would be appropriate to change the topic heading to read:
I'How to Use Good Public Relations Tools in Preparing Management Plans.'1
Several suggestions are submitted for discussion:

1. Write every management plan so it would not embarrass the Service if it
were published in a newspaper in the working circle. This does not imply
that every plan will be or should be published. It means that our plans are
public property open to inspection just like other public business. Sooner
or later they will be read to some extent by people outside the Service.
Simplicity and under standability are prime requirements. Professional
writing that makes prominent use of formulas * statistical lingo and techni¬
cal words and phrases is offensive to the lay reader and is not a credit to
the Service. God-like pronouncements of policies affecting the lives of
people are also offensive.

2. Make the plan available to interested people. This may mean providing
for the distribution of the plan itself or preparing an abridged or special
edition for public consumption. It might be good business to include in
every management plan a special statement for public distribution.

3. Use statements* phrases or words that will not offend the people
affected by the management plan. Such terms as "submarginal land*" "under¬
privileged people," "low standard of living*" "selfish interest*" etc.*
should be avoided. It is all right to present facts and figures objectively.
Let them speak for themselves. Name calling is a poor technique that is

not used in skillful public relations work. Try to put yourself in the place
of the people affected by the plan. Write with sympathy and understanding.

Be firm, if necessary* but do not run down the other fellow's motives*
standard of living* or intelligence. Do not talk down or belittle. Remember
that the people living under what appear to be adverse circumstances in our
working circles often display an independence* an integrity* and a strength
of character equal or surpassing that found in prosperous urban centers.

Some of our best citizens live in the hills and valleys of our working
circles.

A. Provide for discussion of the plan with local people. A management plan
job is not complete until the plan has been made known to and discussed with
the people affected. They may or they may not accept it and we in turn may
or may not accept all their suggestions. Nevertheless* discussion with the
people affected should become a regular part of the procedure of putting a
plan to work. Critics can embarrass us no end if they can say with any
justification whatsoever that we have not taken the people in the working
circle into our confidence. Ivory tower plans will not stand up. If we can
say that a plan has been discussed with a large number of the people affected
and accepted by them we have one of the best answers to critics with an ax or
two to grind.

5. Develop publicity that will dramatize management plans. Foresters really
ha.ve an intensely interesting subject. We plan for the future in terns of
decades; cutting cycles of 30* 40* 50 or 60 years; and rotations of a century
or more. We are men of good will* today* tomorrow and for all time. For¬
esters are trained to skillfully plan for the future. Our profession is
outstanding in this field. It is high time that we developed ways and means
to make laymen see the future through our eyes and help us plan for it.

Someone with imagination and skill with words once described the activities
of a community of ants and created a fine piece of literature. The work of
the raindrop has been dramatized in a recent film. A storm is the center of

-2

interest in a stimulating book. If ants, raindrops and storms can be drama¬
tised and made real to us, a management plan is not without possibilities.
Management plans affect the lives of people from the cradle to the grave.
Therefore, they operate in the center of the stage with human actors living
life itself. Foresters should be the first to dramatize the fact that there
is more to a management plan than trees.

Someday the citizens of Rock Creek will sit comfortably in front of their
television screens and review the management plan that the Forest Service is
proposing for their working circle. There will be a pleasant voice to tell
the story. There will be animated maps, charts and graphs to catch their
eyes. There will be scenes taken on the ground to show the processes of
management. There will be interviews with leading citizens and reports of
discussion meetings. If, after 30 minutes or so of combined entertainment
and education, the citizens feel that the Forest Service has demonstrated
its integrity, that the plan is understood, and that they have had a part in
its development, the plan will probably be a success.

• - i

./• .• i

’ •

( , *- .

. ; 1 ■ ■ ' 1 .

■» i

■

3888

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOREST SERVICE
WASHINGTON

SUPERVI SION

Meetings April 4, 1949

(Management Plan Conference)

PERSONNEL

Training

(T.M, Conference - Hot Springs, Arkansas)

TOPIC 26 - HOW TO TRAIN MANAGEMENT PLANNERS *

Warren T, Murphy
Inspector, Branch of A,M»&I,
Chief’s Office

The scheduling of a discussion of the process of training timber management
planners as the last item on your agenda before the consideration of committee
reports places this important subject in a well timed place on the program.

You arc dawn to the point in your deliberations where, after a thorough
examination of the subject, you are asking yourselves what should be done about
it all in terms of converting your conclusions into action in the field.
Adequate training of the personnel entrusted with the task of preparing timber
resource management plans is certainly one cf the essentials of an action
program aimed at bringing about better management planning. All of you have
borne witness over the years to the basic necessity for training personnel by
the efforts that each of you have put forth to train men in your region and at
your station in the techniques of better planning for the management of timber
resources on the national forests.

To a very considerable extent the preparation of adcquo.te management plans, where
such have been prepared by field men, have reflected a good job of personnel
training by forest supervisors and timber management men from the regional
offices often ably assisted by members of the experiment station staffs,

I am certain that the individual experiences of each of/have been such that
it is unnecessary to devote any time to a revie^r of the reasons for training
technical personnel. We do not question the necessity for training as an integral
part of the job of any supervisor. This then brings us to the point of asking
ourselves "How to train in such a manner as to get the greatest return for our
investment of time and money?"

titvaem

* To be presented at the Management Plan Conference, Hot Springs, Arkansas,
March 28 - April 8, 1949

■

■ lS

3888

- 2 -

First, let me say, I do not have any pat formula or bag of -tricks to unwrap at
this conference that will give you an exact answer to this question. The best
that i can do is to examine with you some of the principles, approaches, and
guides that can aid you in arriving at the answer to the question in your
particular case. Let us consider some of these aspects of the task of training
foresters to do a better job in your field of work,

1, The Approach to Training

This is very important. It has to do with our attitudes toward training,
the priority given to training as an essential part of the whole general
field of supervision, and the recognition of the impact of the organizational
structure on the training process,

a. Attitudes toward training.

The Forest Service philosophy, objectives and policy in regard to
training of personnel is set forth in Section 85 of Chapter E of the
of the Forest Service Manual (Vol, I) and in the booklet "Employee
Training Program - With a Discussion of Policy and Method" by Peter
Koplingor , June 1940, I recommend your review of these writings
before you embark upon any training activities. Of particular
significance arc Pp, 1-8 and 10-12 of the June, 1940 booklet,

I will not attempt to repeat all of the objectives and suggestions
that arc in these references. You will find them well worth study.

It is essential that the continuing nature of training be recognized.
There is too often a tendency to set up a "training program" which
is generally nothing else than a "one shot" effort. While such
efforts do produce some results, often they are rather like a blanket
or shot gun approach which does not got to the heart of individual
cases and needs.

Closely akin to the "campaign" or sporadic "program" approach to
training is the inclination of some folks to make "training" a
"selling" job. The idea of "selling" something in the guise of
training personnel, especially when it is announced that you are out
to "sell" a procedure, a plan or a program builds up a resistance
and throws training as a ligitimate and integral part of supervision
into disrepute.

Absolute sincerity and personal belief on the part of trainers in the
training process and in the subject matter being taught must
characterize training efforts. If this attitude is not cultivated,
the training effort will fall in prestige and be regarded as a time
wasting frill.

' . • " ■ •

3888

- 3 -

If a certain course of training action is decided upon it should
be carried through and not be the very first item lopped from the
overall program when there is a chill in the financial wind. If
curtailment of a planned training effort becomes necessary, give
the project high priority when it becomes financially possible to
rosume full operations. If there is material doubt concerning the
possibility of carrying through a course of action in training, it
may be best to settle for a less expensive approach which can be
carried out. All of our people are very busy and working under full
work loads. They do not like to be called upon to participate in
a program that has an air of ’’dispensability" about it*

b, Recognition of organizational structure in approaching the training
task. Possibly '1 had better call this the "teamwork” approach*

By this I make reference to the absolute necessity of enlisting
the full cooperation and active support of the field technician* s
immediate supervisor (usually the forest supervisor) in any training
you may give to ’the technician who will prepare the resource
management plan.

■While the title of the topic I am discussing has to do with training
management planners (who will often be forest staff men) I might add
that it could very well be enlarged to include forest supervisors in
its scope.

Those of you, who while in a regional office, are not division chiefs,
must be especially alert to the impact of organizational arrangement
and lines of authority upon the action you may take to accomplish the
desired training. I emphasize this point because the reaction of an
immediate line supervisor can have a very vital part in determining
the success or failure of your training efforts.

Ideally the best approach to training is through the technician’s
immediate work supervisor. However, where the line supervisor is not
in a position to give the type of training desired, it becomes
necessary to devise substitute methods. Where the line supervisor is
not aware of the new principles, philosophies , and techniques involved
he may destroy your training efforts without consciously doing so*
On-the-job training given by the work supervisor in his ordinary day-
to-day working relationships with the technicians, whether the
supervisor or technician is aware of it or not, is very persuasive.
Get this day-to-day and on-the-job instruction to supplement, not
obstruct, any specialized training you may give.

3888

•m 4 —

Therefore, I suggest that before any training of staff men takes
place, you bring the supervisors in for some training or at least
work with thorn on the ground in developing an understanding of what
you are doing. It pays dividends in long term results* It will
develop team work in resource planning. You, of course, will wish
to study each training situation that you face and' vrork out this
particular phase to fit the needs of the situation,

c. Use of the Regional Training Officer.

Call this man into your deliberations early in the development of
your training plans. He can be of considerable help to you in
developing attitudes, training approaches and situation analyses.

2. Training Must be Carried on in Accordance with a Definite Plan if it is
to bo Successful.

This may seem to many of you to be an obvious fact. Nevertheless, it is
an approach that is not universally observed. However, it is an approach
that must bo followed if we are going to get the greatest return from our
training efforts. I am not advocating extensive and detailed written
plans that constitute an undue burden of paper work, but rather concise
plans that give assurance that the training process being applied has been
logically and thoughtfully developed. There is nothing new about this
process that ^ am describing, but I believe that it will bo worth our while
to consider the essential steps of such a plan.

a. Analysis of training needs.

This will involve analysis of your technicians as a group and as
individuals. In the final step it is necessary to carry the
analysis down to each individual who will be expected to prepare
resource management plans.

Performance as indicated by inspection, plans that have been prepared
and by your general knowledge of an individual’s knowledge and back¬
ground give you a starting point here. TThen analyzing the training
needs of the individual, it is best to have him participate in the
analysis.

b. Consider the training needs in relation to existing organization,

job performance, personnel arid related situations.

Identify pitfalls and special situations that may modify your
conclusions and plans.

3888

- 5 -

c. Develop a training plan to meet the needs with due consideration
for the axiom that ^The situation dictates the 'decision”* ~

Be sure to;

(1) Give recognition to the essential four steps in a training
process* You are familiar with these, I am sure.

First; Stimulate interest and cooperation of the trainee.

Second: Instruct by telling, demonstrating or illustrating
the correct way.

Third: Trainee tries the job for himself with aid of the

instructor.

Fourth; Test and check of trainee* s ability to do job.
Follow-up on training,

(See U,S,F,S, "Fire Guard Training Handbook’1 - Pp, 28,)

Even though a conference or seminar approach is adopted as
the training device with a merging of steps two and three,
it is very important that the plan developed give full
consideration to the points raised in the first and fourth
steps with the second step incorporated in the conference
outline,

(2) H hko Provision for the Development or Availability of
Sati sfactory Instructional Material,

A clear cut understanding of what is to be taught is necessary.
This may require the actual preparation of a manual in advance
of any training process*

(3) Make a selection of training devices that are suitable to the
situation that confronts you,

(4) Sot up time objectives in the form of schedules for completion
of training.

3, Training Devices and Methods,

In speaking of training plans, I mentioned the selection of training methods
as a part of the plan. It is likely that more than one method will bo used.
The most important arc briefly reviewed below;

'■*

/*. \ v!

3888

- 6 -

a, Of greatest importance and most universal application is "on-the-job”
training. Yet bccauscvcf its universality, ' the most is net made of
the possibilities of this means of training, A basic requirement
here is the cooperation of the technicians supervisor, plus the
availability of adequate and correct subject matter material for
reference and guidance.

Many ordinary work situations can be converted into opportunities
for training.

At this point current monthly work plans must bo integrated with the
training plan if "on-the-job" training plans are to be converted
into action,

b, "Inspection" as practiced in the Forest Service is a useful training
method. It ties in closely with "on-the-job" training. The method
deserves wider use,

c. Group training. At the level of professional men to be reached in
connection with management plan preparation training group training
can usually best be handled in the form of conferences or seminars,

A well prepared and competent conference leader is required to
assure the success of this method. It is very desirable here to
create a sense of genuine participation in the development of
conclusions coming out of such conferences.

There are several variants of the group meeting technique ranging
from the straight class room presentation to the conference - working
committee approach. The technique used should be tailored to the
group being reached,

d. Training details. This is a procedure used where rather individual¬
ized training is contemplated. Tie should not use a training detail
primarily to find out what a man can do in a new job, but as an
honest training device. The detail may be to another forest or to
the regional office or the experiment station,

e« Special project assignment, or working clinics.

This involves bringing several trainees together on a work assignment
under a competent leader. The group would have a job to do such as
preparing a management plan for a specific area. It would be an
actual job and not a theoretical situation,

f. Transfers to special work assignments.

3888

- 7 -

g. Field demonstrations* This would involve group visits to national
forests and experiment stations to see the developments and use of
actual management plans,

h. Visual aids.

Y/c arc told by visual aid experts that a field of work such as
management plan preparation is not well suited to the use of movies
and film strips* Charts and "blow-ups" for use in conferences, lectures
and demonstrations are about the extent of visual aids required hero.

i. Supplementary reading. To the extent that there are suitable refer¬
ences available these should be circulated for use and study by the
management planners.

j. Inter-forest visits and visits to experiment stations and areas on
an individual basis.

k. Participation in professional meetings - professional writings.

4, Training Follow-up. This is often the woakost link in our training process
but a vital step that must be observed* It is tied in with "inspection",
stimulation of employees through various devices such as reports, short
studies, details, refresher training and c'onf erenccs.

’O' - J 1 ' ’ x

5, Joint Regional and Experiment Station Training Efforts, I just desire to

place added emphasis on the necessity for close collaboration by the members
of the several forest experiment stations and of the regional offices in
training efforts of the type under discussion. Much good joint training work
has been done in the past. We anticipate more in the future.

You will probably realize as you road this paper and attempt to relate it
to my discussion at the Hot Springs Conference that it is but the outline of
my remarks. there. I am certain that a full verbatim report would be unduly
boring and lengthy. Also you will see that I have not attempted to treat
with detail all of the intricacies of training technique. Rather, I have
attempted to present the whole problem in its broader phases. The details
and exact procedures that you should fellow in your region or station can
best be developed back home in consultation with your division chief and
personnel training officer. Your training officer stands ready to assist you
all that he can in meeting the specific training problems that you face.

Do not hesitate to call upon him.

)

3888

— 8

As one of the two non- timber management men on this program, I have appreciated
the opportunity of meeting with you and discussing some of the phases of your
problems. You have a challenging and yet rewarding task facing you in bringing
about the development of more effective timber resource management plans,

17c 11 planned and executed personnel training can be a useful aid to you in
meeting this challenge that lies ahead of you.

S Portland, Oregon

PLANS

Timber Management March 24, 1949

MANAGEMENT PUN CONFERENCE - TOPIC 29
CRITICISM OF "TIMBER :-iANAGE?1ENT PLANS ON THE NATIONAL FORESTS" ~

1. INTRODUCTION

In the preparation of this paper the writer has attempted to incorporate the
suggestions not only of his two assistants but of a number of. other people who
were good enough to review Mr. Gross's preliminary draft and to furnish their
comments. It is realized that any criticism prepared in advance of this meeting
will prove incomplete since much of the discussion prior to the time this paper
is read will have a direct bearing on any revision of Mr. Gross 's paper.

2. GENERAL COMMENTS

All probably will agree that in preparing "Timber Management Plans on the National
Forests" Mr. Gross did an excellent job. However , the paper should be reviewed
critically from the standpoint of its usefulness in management plan preparation.
Obviously the first question to consider is: Does the paper in its present form
fulfill its purpose? In other words, will it aid the management planner in the
preparation of plans, and will it serve to speed up and improve our accomplish¬
ment in the management planning field? In general the answers to the above are
yes, but there appears to be a rather widespread belief that in spite of its
statements to the effect that management plans should be concise, the actual
products which will be produced when it is used as a guide will prove to be
extremely lengthy and involved. This feeling is partly due to the fact that all
through the paper statements such as "the plan should include ....," appear .

In other words, there is likely to be some confusion as to whether the paper is
merely a philosophical discussion of management plan preparation or whether it is,
in fact, instructions which the planner should follow.

Another factor which will tend to continue to make plans lengthy and involved is
the manual requirement that management plans be approved by the Chief's office.
There seems to be rather general agreement that such approval is not only
unnecessary but results in an extravagant waste of time and money. It has been
pointed out that management plans are about the only form of plan which still
must be approved by the Chief's office, and there is a general belief that much
greater progress would be made in management planning if this requirement were
removed, or at least modified. So long as plans must be submitted for review,'
they necessarily must contain much detailed information solely for the purpose
of informing the reviewer and making it possible for him to intelligently judge
the merits of the plan.

In line with the above, the following general recommendations seem in order:

(1) That additional emphasis be placed on the fact that the paper ;or pamphlet is
intended and is to be used as a guide only. This can be accomplished partly in
the revision of the paper itself and partly by -strong clear statements in the
manual 3 (2) That this group strongly recommend a modification of the present
requirement that all management plans be formally approved by the Chief's office.

Approval of a limited number of plans on a sampling basis might be a substitute
for the present requirement,

3. SPECIFIC COMMENTS

• s «

In the following, in most ’instances, no effort is made to recommend specific
revisions, but rather the purpose is to raise, questions which may lead to a dis¬
cussion and a final recommendation for change.

Title Page; Can the title be improved? For example, would it be more meaningful'
if the title read "Discussion of Timber Management Planning for the National
Forests"? Actually the paper contains considerable discussion of the science of
management. Is that proper? .

Table of Contents-; It has been suggested that organization of the material would,
be better if it followed the following broad outline:

A. Management Plan Outline

B. Management Plan Surveys

C. Management Plan Discussion

i . i .

D. Regulation Formulas

E. References

Quite likely the present organization of material is satisfactory and to revise
the paper in this respect would be an unwarranted task.

Page 1. Line 1: Comment has been made -that describing local conditions serves no
real purpose of the management plan and is only necessary for the benefit of a.
reviewer. If. future policy does not require approval of all plans by the Chief’s
office, regional instructions can limit such descriptions to a minimum.

Page 1. Lines- 4 to 6: If this definition of a management plan is. followed .
literally, the plan must necessarily be extremely long and complete. In actual
practice in National Forest administration most of the policies and practices
followed in the growing, improving, harvesting, and reproducing of timber stands
are covered completely by manual and Timber Management Handbook instructions.

To repeat all such material in individual plans seems entirely unnecessary and
would result in endless duplication. It is suggested that this sentence be
changed to read somewhat as follows: . "A National Forest management plan is an
action program for putting approved f orest and regional management practices into
effect on a particular working circle."

Page 1, Line 8: It is suggested that the word "instructions*" might be misleading.
This sentence might better read: "This discussion has been prepared . . .. •

• • • • •• • • u * * • 1 * • '* * \TI sHS

Page -1. Lines 9 and IQ: In line with the discussion under "General Comments", the

following might, be, added to ..this sentence: "and the planner should bear in mind
that regional instructions are his guide, as to content of the plan."

Page 1, Rest of Paaes It is a rather unanimous opinion of all who have reviewed
the paper that the summary and the final paragraph on this page should be deleted.

Page 3. Paragraph Numbered 4? Throughout the paper the objective of stability of
community and of employment seems to have been emphasized to the partial exclusion
of other objectives. It is suggested that the phrase at the end of the sentence
reading "of stability of the community and of employ ment"' be changed to read "of
management".

Page 3: It has been suggested that the minimum requirements as listed on this page
should be expanded to include (l) specific provision for future revision of the
plan, including such record keeping as is necessary, and (2) provision for correla¬
tion of timber management planning with other land uses. Both of these matters
are important.

Page 5: The definition as given for a working circle probably should be revised.
The guiding principle in the definition as written seems to be that the working
circle must contribute to the support of a dependent community or communities.

This is certainly true for Coop. Unit Working Circles, but entirely too much
emphasis appears to have been given to this factor, and it is suggested that all
of line 12 be omitted. A new sentence could be inserted as the second sentence
of the paragraph, somewhat as follows: "It should be a logical unit subject to
practicable and efficient management and administration."

Page 5» Last Paragraph: The last half of the last sentence is questionable and is
suggested for deletion or change. Many communities benefited by National Forest
working circles are not dependent thereon; therefore, practicable management rather
than community dependency should be the paramount consideration in determining the
size of working circles.

Page 6: All of this page should be considered for possible revision in line with
the thought expressed above. The last paragraph on this page seems to be partic¬
ularly inappropriate.

Page 9: There appears to be a widespread f*eeling that the compartment is not a
useful working circle subdivision and that its use should be abandoned. If working
circles are properly laid out further subdivision, especially for inventory pur¬
poses, seems unnecessary and merely leads to a great deal of additional work. It
is recommended that the compartment idea be largely abandoned and that subdivisions
of working circles be made only when they serve some definite and useful purpose.

Page 11: Considerable confusion appears to exist as to the intent of the write-up
under "Timber, by Ownerships". A literal interpretation would Indicate that both
the map and statistical records should show all the data listed. Obviously, maps
would not need to show species and volumes. Some reviev/ers have gained the im¬
pression that types, sites, etc., should be shown for private as well as National
Forest land. This probably was not intended but needs clarification. Question
also has been raised as to why private lands should be shown by large and small
ownerships. Ownerships change rapidly, and this perhaps is an unnecessary detail
in many management plans. If the outline is not changed, the write-up perhaps
should make it clear that there is considerable latitude for its use and that
information included in the plan should be restricted to that which is actually
pertinent or useful. Information concerning private ownerships, except in cases
where cooperative sustained yield is involved, usually can be given in very general
terms .

Page 12, First Paragraph: Question has been raised as to why maps should show
topography. Generally topographic maps are not available; therefore, this state¬
ment perhaps should be qualified. Question has also been raised as to the use of
overlays. Generally, overlays are unsatisfactory.

-3-

Pare 13. Second Paragraph: Several questions have been raised concerning the
statements in this paragraph. The second sentence seems to infer that for uneven-
aged management no age class segregation is necessary. One reviewer points out
that there is a need to segregate virgin stands from cut stands. Another reviewer
has questioned the use of twenty years as the interval for classification of even-
aged stands , and another points out that in some situations size classes may prove
a better basis for information than age, in which case size class maps would be
used. Some change in this paragraph undoubtedly is desirable.

* Page 13. Last Paragraph: Question has been raised as to whether or not this
paragraph, as well as all of the next page and all of the "Socio - Economic" dis¬
cussion, should not be deleted. The danger here appears to be that a management
planner in preparing otherwise simple plans might devote considerable time to a
discussion of these topics and that such discussions would serve no purpose except
to clutter up the plan and make it less usable*. The subject in the last paragraph
on page 15 perhaps should be expanded or emphasized.

Page 17. Second Paragraph: Rotation is mentioned here as applying in all cases,
whereas later in the text (page 28) it is pointed out that rotation is meaningless
for uneven-aged management. Perhaps the words "or an equivalent period" should
be added to the second sentence.

Page 18, First Full Paragraph: All forest officers will not agree entirely with
this statement. To a degree, and in special circumstances, management plans can
be useful tools in the field of public relations. However, if all management
plans are written with this in mind and a conscientious effort made, an extra
and unnecessary complication will be introduced. However, all plans are subject
to public inspection and should be prepared with this in mind.

Page 18. Forest Types: The discussion here might lead many management planners
to attempt intricate breakdowns into types. This, of - course, can be controlled
by good regional instructions, but perhaps a word of caution should be included
to the effect that only useful type breakdowns should be made.

Pages 19 and 20: Material on these pages calls for the inclusion in the manage¬
ment plan of a discussion of many things that could well be covered by regional
or forest instructions. For example, silvical characteristics could be covered
merely by reference. Likewise,, methods of cutting can be handled largely by
reference and need not be covered or discussed in detail in an individual plan.
Inclusion of graphs, such as ape suggested in the sentence beginning with line 10,
hardly seems necessary. Such things as these could well be a part of regional
handbooks and inclusion as a part of the management plan merely complicates and
delays the plan's preparation. Logging methods also would seem to need little
discussion in the management plan and generally should be covered by regional
or forest instructions as to policy and practice. Somehow, in the revision of
these two pages a statement should be included cautioning the planner against
including the type of material that is already adequately covered by regional
instructions.

Pages 21. 22 and 23: The topics under "Transportation" and "Utilization Roads"
are important and in many working circles will exercise much control over the size
and boundaries of the unit. Here, again, however, our management plans are apt
to be unnecessarily involved in lengthy discussions, and the planner should be
cautioned against including anything but very pertinent material, and then only
when it is not covered by a separate transportation plan. The first full paragraph
on page 23 appears to be involved with what is ordinarily considered policy, and
this paragraph perhaps should be deleted.

-4-

Pages 24, 25 and 26: It Is difficult to criticize the write-ups under "The
Community" } "Industries", "Markets",, and "Marketing Assistance" on these pages.

The discussions are good, but there is always the danger that management planners
will fill their plans with discussions of topics such as these and thus defeat
our avowed purpose of keeping management plans simple and to the point. Dis¬
cussion of community support in any publication is good public relations; however ,
many of our working circles will be managed purely from the standpoint of greatest
general good or benefit with no specific community in mind. Perhaps the emphasis
should be placed on "community benefits" instead of "community dependence". In
the discussion of "Markets" and "Marketing Assistance" it might be well to make
clear that the discussion large lj has to do with management of the resource rather
than with management plan preparation and that ordinarily it will not be necessary
to include much discussion in a management plan on these subjects.

Page 27. Even-aged Management: In the discussion of this subject it might be well
to point out that rotation age is an average figure adopted to facilitate manage¬
ment planning. In most working circles , especially in the West., there is a wide 4
variation in site quality; therefore, the actual rotation age may vary as much as
twenty or thirty years for particular stands in the working circle.

Page 29: Region 8 has the following to say with reference to Publication 50:

"The stands in this publication were never subjected to
management prior to being measured. They are over-crowded —
subject to heavy mortality and greatly reduced growth on
individual trees. We should never It our stands reach the
condition of the stands outlined in this publication. The
choice of whether to cut or leave a tree should be based on
whether that tree is capable of earning a fair return on its
present volume , both in quantity and quality. Adherence
to a fixed rotation age will often result in cutting trees
that are still capable of growing wood at a good rate.

Rather than trying to fix a rotation age, it would be better
to designate in the cutting budget stands for harvest
cutting when such stands have reached maturity and good
silviculture and economics dictate such a cutting. A long¬
time forecast based on unmanaged stands can be of little
help. "

Here again there is chance for confusion,, especially if; regional instructions ,
are not carefully drawn. In actual practice management planners for National
Forest working circles should be guided by regional instructions rather
than by the paper under discussion.

Page 35: The first paragraph on this page seems to merit discussion and perhaps
clarification.

Page 37. Growing Stock: This is a complicated subject and np doubt could be
expanded considerably. Region 8 comments as follows:

"Determination of amount of growing stock in the early stages
of mana.ging timber is useless. It can often be misleading.

We have no way of knowing how fast the timber can be made to
grow under management. There are cases where 20,000 ft. per
acre were only growing Jfo or 300 bd. ft. per acre per year.

~5—

After the stand was reduced to 10,000 bd. ft., the rate of
growth was increased to 6%, or still 300 bd. ft. per acre per

year. An arbitrary volume of growing stock based on unmanaged
stands is dangerous and may cause us to hold more than the
. health and the vigor of species, can withstand.”

Page 45: The whole subject of "Methods of Regulation” is necessarily compli¬
cated and probably, regardless of hew/ complete the discussion, there would
always be questions raised as to application of the various methods to partic¬
ular situations. This topic deserves special consideration, and it is hoped
that discussion at this meeting will indicate what revisions, if any, are
desirable.

Page, 55, Cutting Budget; The need for both a detailed cutting budget and a
harvesting plan is questionable. Duplication, of course, should be avoided,
and if a harvesting plan is prepared for a two or three-year period, the cutting
budget probably should include nothing more than a general statement of planned
cutting.

Page 56: The last two sentences on this page appear to be' matters of policy.

The next to last sentence might be changed to read, "Regional Foresters ordinarily
will issue appropriate instructions, etc.,” and the last sentence- could well be
deleted.

Page 57* The term "unallocated" in the first sentence on this page seems to need
defining. Also, the discussion under "Size of Sales" deserves some further con¬
sideration. It Seems questionable, for example, that a paper on management
planning should express a preference for any particular size of sale. The state¬
ment "Short-term sales generally are preferred" is an example.

Page_60: The next to last paragraph under . "Timber Stand Improvement" seems to
need some clarification. If the words "timber sales" were deleted and "sale of
products (example, intermediate cuttings)" added, the intended meaning might be
more clear* The next paragraph states that a program of timber stand improvement
should be included in the management plan. Generally, it seems that actual
programs should be separate from the management plan and that the plan should
include only a general statement of policy and needs.

Page_6l: Under the topics of "Acquisition" and "Related Uses" it is important

that the planner understand that these topics can be handled largely by reference
to existing plans* Unless this is understood a lot of duplication is apt to
result.

PageJo2:. The second paragraph on this page is largely a duplication of the second
paragraph on page 39* The last paragraph on this page is questionable as a part
of a discussion of management- planning* *

Page 64: The words "allocated" and "unallocated" appearing in the next to- last
paragraph may need defining.

% ,

Page 66; Much discussion probably wall be had concerning the best type of manage¬
ment plan outline. Much depends, of course, on for whose use the outline is pre¬
pared and how it is to be used. The outline as given is not intended for blind
.following, yet the opening paragraph. contains a statement to the effect that all
points of the outline should be included. This statement should be modified to

•6-

make it clear that all points in the outline need not be included in every case,,
especially when they are adequately covered by separate plans or instructions. It
is difficult, of course, to prepare an outline which is comprehensive and yet does
not cover a lot of detail that is not necessarily a part of every plan. If the
management planner has the job of preparing a plan for a forest in private owner¬
ship for example , he would need to cover many of the topics of the outline in
much greater detail than is necessary for the ordinary National Forest working
circle. For National Forests much of the plan for management has already been
determined and is adequately covered by such things as manual insert sheets,
regional management handbooks, inventory and cutting records and separate plans
covering such things as transportation, planting, timber stand improvement,
acquisition, etc. Actually on an active working circle a pretty good plan of
management is in effect, if all of the above is available, properly organized for
use, and kept current. About all that is needed in addition is a determination
of allowable cut and a cutting budget or harvesting plan. Just how much detail
needs to be put in the so-called management plan depends, of course, on local
situations, but in every case duplication should be avoided.

Topic Assignees -

Lund
(Bryan)
( Lindh )

-7—

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Full text of "Management plan conference, Hot Springs, Arkansas, March 28-April 8, 1949"

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