Management Considerations
When upland areas are managed intensively for pine production,
managers typically use an even-aged management strategy for
regeneration of pine stands. Even-aged silvicultural activities
include two basic methods: 1) leaving seed trees for natural
regeneration, and 2) harvest cuts with some form of site preparation
for artificial regeneration through seedling planting.
Regeneration/Management
To create high quality bear habitat, harvest should maximize
forest age and type diversity. Harvest shape should maximize edge
habitat by using irregularly shaped cuts where feasible based on site
topography. To create maximum between-stand diversity, there should
be at least 7 years difference in age classes between adjacent
regeneration areas. High between-stand diversity will help ensure a
constant supply of soft mast within a relatively small
area.
Even-aged pine stands should be thinned as soon as
economically feasible (typically by 15 years). This practice will
produce a more vigorous pine stand as well as allow sunlight to
penetrate to the forest floor and encourage soft mast production and
growth of vigorous herbaceous vegetation.
Special Considerations
Fire in the upland pine ecosystem is a natural occurrence. Burning
in pine stands should be conducted on a 3 to 5 year rotation
depending on site condition. If adult female bears are known to be in
the area, use caution when burning in winter during the first 5 years
after initial harvest. Burning during this time period may disturb
bears denning in this thick, early successional cover. Poor soils and
dry sites should be burned less often. Planted pine stands should be
burned as soon as practical (7 to 10 years after establishment) and
after intermediate thinnings. Contact your state forestry agency
about timing of burns, the possibility for technical or financial
assistance, and liability issues surrounding this practice. Hardwood
areas and Streamside Management Zones (SMZs) should always be
protected from fire.