Effectively Establishing Large Scale low Density Stands With Confidence
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An equation for success that we live by everyday
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Road Map to Success Relentless Focus on Operational Excellence is a guiding principle for how we do work at Weyerhaeuser.
It simply means getting everything right from the beginning. • High quality • High Standards • Hard Team Work • Understanding and Application of science. 3
My Historical Context • Professional Forester with almost 40 years in land management. • Work experience includes industrial forestry for Crown Zellerbach Corporation, Cavenham Forest Industries and presently Weyerhaeuser Company. • Typically involved in planting about 25M acres per year. • Approximate acres regenerated in my work experience for our operating region roughly 1MM acres. • Disclaimer: These statements now represent a layman’s view of the evolution of regeneration in my past work experience and does not specifically state nor imply that it represents Weyerhaeuser regeneration protocols. 4
Managing Stands is an Active Process ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Site Quality (Environmental factors) Environmental Regulation (BMP) Species, genetics Site preparation Planting density Passive vs active stand management ✓ Monitoring => Stand trajectory ✓ Silvicultural Treatments: ✓ Competing vegetation control ✓ Fertilization ✓ Thinning ✓ Final Harvest Product Goal ✓ Size and quality
Stands Sensitivity Interdependent Factors to consider 5
Changes in growth pattern with stocking • There is a significant shift in the height and diameters with various initial spacing’s. • Height-diameter relationship changes for the same growth period. • Low stocking reflects an atypical distribution when compared to the traditional stocking curves.
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Changes in growth pattern with stocking
My Interpretation Graphically Stand induced mortality
Biological principles still applies.
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Key Factor to Observe when managing stands ✓ Regulatory ✓ Stand Health ✓ Growth trajectories: Exhibited Site Index ✓ Competition ✓ Crown Closure ✓ Residual BA (Thinning) ✓ Final Product market requirements
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Critical Decisions ✓Final Product Desired? Begin with the end in mind. ✓Correct Stocking Level @ Planting? ✓Site prep & planting treatments? ✓Species, seed source, family ✓Seedling type ✓Et cetera, Et cetera, Et cetera ✓Until you complete your forest management plan
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Sources of Data Available ✓Growing stands is in part an Art. But… ✓Rely on best data when it is available. ✓Scientific Data is the tool to use as an aide for operational guidance in problem solving. ✓Many of the questions raised in this presentation can be addressed by google searches.
✓Make needed adjustments as soon as possible because time is limited. ✓Do not let status quo bias keep you from seeking new options and opportunities.
Sources of Data Available What Is The “Correct” Planting Density For Loblolly Pine?... Depends On Who You Ask David B. South, Professor, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, AL
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What Really Matters ✓Take advantage of available science ✓As stated earlier (Relentless Focus) It simply means getting everything right in the beginning because your margin of error is more critical for success as you move to lower density regenerated stands.
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Risk and Opportunities • Branch sizes. • Diameter growth as function of stocking level and other treatments. • Larger Trees => Value?
Questions? No doubt there are more questions than absolute answers. Thanks for having me at your conference.
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