| A unit of Lasting Forests
evolving since March 30, 1999 |
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A Total Forest Management Plan
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The mountainous western part of Virginia is in the Humid Temperate Domain (2) where the presence of both tropical and polar air masses cause large seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation.
Western Virginia is in the Hot Continental Division (22). It lies south of the Warm Continental, south of the 720 degree F. warmest-month isotherm. The Eastern Deciduous Forest Province (211) in Virginia contains the mixed Mesophytic Section (2211) and Appalachian Oak Section (2214). Elevations are from about 1000 to 2500 feet with a few higher peaks. The climate is of cool winters and hot summers with precipitation from 35 to 60 inches annually. The maximum precipitation is in the summer.
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| 2 = Continental Shelf - shallow sloping submarine plain of sedimentation 3 = Coastal Plain - low, hilly to nearly flat terraced plains on soft sediments 4 = Piedmont Province - gentle to rough, hilly terrain on belted crystalline rocks becomming more hilly toward mountains 5 = BlueRidge Province - mountains of crystalline rock 3,000 to 6,000 feet high, mostly rounded rock strata 6 = Valley and Ridge Province - long mountain ridges and valleys eroded on strong and weak folded rock strata 8 = Appalachian Plateaus - gently steep-sided plateaus on sandstone bedrock, 3,000 to 5,000 feet high on east side, declining gradually to the west. 11 = Interior Low Plateaus - low plateaus on stratified rocks. |
Forest land is managed primarily by forest cover type based on the majority (or dominance) of trees in a stand. Types in Virginia (as designated by the Society of American Foresters (SAF) are listed elsewhere. Many of these types and type groups are dominated by shade-tolerant species and thus lend themselves to uneven-, mixed- or all-age management.
In uneven-aged management, the usual harvests are of selected mature and immature trees singly or in small groups (called "group selection" harvest). Regeneration occurs continually creating an uneven-aged and uneven-sized stand. Single-tree selection leads to mixed species stands with high proportions of shade-tolerant species. Group-selection can be used to maintain great tree species richness, that is a high proportion of less shade-tolerant species.
A few forest types are shade intolerant and thus lend themselves best to even-aged silvicultural systems. Under rational even-aged management, the goal is likely to be to regenerate and culture stands that are about the same age which when harvested will yield a suitable rate of return on land, labor, and money investment. The silvicultural objective is to have all desired trees receive the same amount of direct sunlight during regeneration and growth of the stand. Even-aged management is typically achieved by clear-cutting the stand at rotation age, then regenerating the stand through direct seeding, through planting, or through resprouting (coppice). Seed trees or shelterwood may also be counted upon to provide natural regeneration. These trees are then cut after the new stand is established.
Silvicultural practice varies from a let-grow policy to intensive noncommercial and commercial thinnings before harvest. Intensity depends on species, proportions, stand condition, site quality, markets, prices, taxes, and objectives for other resources (e.g., wildlife, watershed, and esthetics.)
References
Bailey, R.G. 1978. Description of the Ecoregions of the United States. 77 pp. USDA For. Serv., Ogden, UT.
Hack, J.T. 1982. Landforms of the United States, USDI, Geological Survey, Washington, DC (19p. leaflet)
Ohmann, L.F. 1979. Northeastern and North Central forest types and their management, p.22-31 in Management of North Central and Northeastern Forests for Nongame birds: Workshop Proceedings, USDA Forests Service, Gen. Tech Rpt. NC-51, St. Paul, Mn 268pp.
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Last revision July 1, 2004.