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Harvard Forest Symposium Abstract 2012

  • Title: Forest management planning for woodland areas at Harvard Forest
  • Primary Author: Audrey Barker Plotkin (Harvard Forest)
  • Abstract:

    Harvard Forest owns approximately 3300 acres in Petersham and Phillipston, MA. In 2008, we completed a Land-Use Master Plan for the forest. The major land use zones are inspired by the Wildlands and Woodlands framework (Foster et al. 2010). Most of the acreage was designated for flexible research use, but about 650 acres are set aside as Wildland reserves, and about 825 acres are currently designated for Woodland management (Figure 1). Our major objective for woodland management is to provide a sustainable supply of wood for our planned biomass heat boiler while improving forest timber quality and providing research opportunities.



    We are developing a set of 10-year Forest Stewardship Plans to guide the management of these forest areas. Forest Stewardship Plans succinctly describe the forest in its landscape context, and include a property history and overview of its physical, biological and cultural features. The heart of the Plan is a detailed stand map with descriptions of the timber, wildlife, cultural and aesthetic characteristics of each stand, and specific management recommendations to be implemented over the next ten years.



    Literature Cited



    Foster, D. R., B. M. Donahue, D. B. Kittredge, K. F. Lambert, M. L. Hunter, B. R. Hall, L. C. Irland, R. J. Lilieholm, D. A. Orwig, A. W. D'Amato, E. A. Colburn, J. A. Thompson, J. N. Levitt, A. M. Ellison, W. S. Keeton, J. D. Aber, C. V. Cogbill, C. T. Driscoll, T. J. Fahey, and C. M. Hart. 2010. Wildlands and Woodlands: a vision for the New England landscape. Harvard Forest, Harvard University, Petersham, MA.

  • Research Category: Conservation and Management

  • Figures:
  • abp-symp12-stewplans.pdf