Three years after controversial logging at Headwaters State Forest, a more diverse habitat is emerging. But the larger debate includes a suit challenging harvests in national forests.
Oak regeneration is often the reason given for silvicultural treatments such as clear-cutting old white pine stands. But the problem is oak regeneration is successful only where there are high numbers of oak sprouts and sufficient existing mature trees to supply mast and seed source for new sprouts. The current scientific literature also makes clear that the oak sprouts need to ALREADY EXIST because there are oaks in the canopy. You cannot plant enough oaks to ensure success. Then you need to manage the understory (fire) to ensure oak are not out-competed by other species such as beech, maple, or poplar. But, as is often the case, there is a secondary goal which is to increase deer (game) presence by creating early successional habitat (openings). Deer and oak regeneration are opposing goals. You see, oak sprouts are a favorite food of deer and they will overwhelm a planted oak population unless they are fenced out which of course isn't practical for a 50+ acre stand. "For deer and turkey, he said, “the openings are great, especially the browse, the low vegetation they can get to.” Herein lies the problem - you want oak to regenerate but you also want openings which attract deer and the deer browse the oaks that you just planted. You can have oak regeneration or you can have deer, but you can't have both.
Oak regeneration is often the reason given for silvicultural treatments such as clear-cutting old white pine stands. But the problem is oak regeneration is successful only where there are high numbers of oak sprouts and sufficient existing mature trees to supply mast and seed source for new sprouts. The current scientific literature also makes clear that the oak sprouts need to ALREADY EXIST because there are oaks in the canopy. You cannot plant enough oaks to ensure success. Then you need to manage the understory (fire) to ensure oak are not out-competed by other species such as beech, maple, or poplar. But, as is often the case, there is a secondary goal which is to increase deer (game) presence by creating early successional habitat (openings). Deer and oak regeneration are opposing goals. You see, oak sprouts are a favorite food of deer and they will overwhelm a planted oak population unless they are fenced out which of course isn't practical for a 50+ acre stand. "For deer and turkey, he said, “the openings are great, especially the browse, the low vegetation they can get to.” Herein lies the problem - you want oak to regenerate but you also want openings which attract deer and the deer browse the oaks that you just planted. You can have oak regeneration or you can have deer, but you can't have both.