Overstory Removal

Woodland Owners’ View

There are a lot of red spruce and other species under the bigger trees. They probably came in after cutting some of the bigger trees in the past. Since the tall trees are ready to be cut and sent to a mill, and there are a lot of saplings underneath, it’s time to take the top off.

Logger’s View

This would be a tough one for a man with a chainsaw. Luckily, mechanized equipment is built for this sort of work.

Forester’s View

There is a well-established understory of advanced regeneration, mostly red spruce, probably started after a previous partial harvest. Since the overstory trees are at or near financial maturity, recommend removing the overstory to fully release the next age class.

Woodland Owners’ View

Still a lot of little trees crowded in there so it would be difficult to walk through the area easily. The forest owner could take out some of the little trees so that the remaining trees will grow faster. In the long term, nature will do it eventually.

Forester’s View

Though there was some inevitable damage to understory trees during the logging operation, there are still more than enough stems to fully occupy the site. Perhaps this landowner will pay for some non-commercial thinning, to improve growth of the next stand. Natural competition will eventually do the same thing, but it will take a lot longer.

Wildlife Outcome

Mourning warblers like to nest near the ground in dense vegetation. Snowshoe hare also like this low cover, which means that lynx and other cats may also be in the vicinity.

Equipment Used

Feller buncher and grapple skidders.