Download Stewardship Leaves Winter / Spring 2016-2017

Winter/Spring
2017
FORESTS FOR THE FUTURE
Newsletter for the New Jersey Forest Stewardship Program
Contents
Forest Stewards Receive Award at Tree Farm Day.......................... 2
New Jersey Tree Farmer of the Year Award....................................... 3
Silvopasture in New Jersey.................................................................... 4
2015 Pierson Forest Steward of the Year Winners.......................... 6
NJ Invasive Species Strike Team Help to Promote Healthy
Productive Forests................................................................................... 9
Landowners Guide to Understanding the Farmland
Assessment Program as it Pertains to Woodland........................... 10
Pollinating Insects Contributions to Forest Health........................ 13
Thank you Charlie and Barbara Newlon.......................................... 14
Increasing Awareness and Restoring Shortleaf Pine
Through the Shortleaf Pine Initivae................................................... 15
Harvesting Timber Protecting Habitat for Wildlife......................... 16
New Jersey Tree Book Getting an Update....................................... 17
Chocolate Vine-Invasive........................................................................ 18
Editor’s Log Tree Feature...................................................................... 19
Calendar of Events................................................................ Back Cover
Editor Kristen Caggiano,
Articles and photos by Kristen Caggiano, unless otherwise identified. Please send questions, comments, or ideas for future articles to:
Kristen Caggiano, [email protected] or
Jon Klischies, [email protected] (Forest Stewardship Program)
Cover photo by: Nicholas Tonnelli
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New Jersey Forest Stewardship Program
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Stewardship Leaves Forests for the Future
New Jersey Forest
Stewardship Program
NJ Department of
Environmental Protection
NJ Forest Service
Mail code 501-04 PO Box 420
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420
Forest Steward Receives Award at Tree Farm Day
Robert Slater and Family
2015-2016 GEORGE PIERSON
FOREST STEWARD OF THE YEAR WINNERS
From Left: State Forester John Sacco, landowner Robert Slater
Robert Slater, with the help of his family,
owns and manages the 90-acre Stewardship
Forest known as Spook Hollow Farm. The
property is located in Columbia, New Jersey.
Robert earned this year’s award by managing
his forest in a responsible, sustainable
fashion. (Story on page 6)
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2016 New Jersey Tree Farmer of the Year
Lawrence
J. Reader
of the Diocese Camden
Lawrence J. Reader of the Diocese Camden, NJ (second from left) receives
the New Jersey Outstanding Tree Farm of the Year Award from Greg
Daly (left) of the NJ Tree Farm Program. Joined by consulting forester,
Robert Williams and State Forester, John Sacco (right). Story on Page 9.
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Silvopasture in
New Jersey
By: Kristen Caggiano
Throughout the United States, especially in the
southeast, there has been increased interest in
the benefits of agroforestry systems. Agroforestry
is the purposeful integration of tree and shrub
species into ones cropping or livestock farming
systems. One of the longest practiced forms of
agroforestry in temperate regions of the world is
silvopasture.
Silvopasture incorporates silviculture, which
is defined by US Forest Service as the art and
science of controlling the establishment, growth,
composition, health, and quality of forests and
woodlands to meet the diverse needs and values of
landowners and society. By utilizing silvicultural
research and knowledge land managers can
thoughtfully combine forest management with
the grazing of domesticated animals in a fashion
both sustainable to the forest and beneficial to the
livestock foraging beneath its canopy.
Overstory trees can remain managed for
production of firewood or quality high-value
sawlogs while simultaneously offering a wind
block, shade, and excellent forage to livestock.
By interplanting and promoting the natural
regeneration of flowering trees, shrubs, and
herbaceous plants the forest can also provide
improved habitat for pollinators. Land owners
interested in practicing responsible silvopasture are
advised to dedicate resources to the establishment
of diversified floristic habitats for pollinating
insects. Pollinators are integral for the survival
of all insect pollinated crops, they also combat
native and non-native pest populations. More
than a third of agricultural commodities grown
in our country depend on pollinators. Fruits like
apples, peaches, strawberries, and blueberries
Woodland managers Steve and Candice MacLean of The Farm at Glenwood Mountain in Vernon
incorporate silvopasture practices into their 10-year woodland management objectives
and vegetables such as pumpkins, cucumber, and
squash all rely on the survival of these insects. Within
forest Riparian Zones, often being left unmanaged,
species such as red bud, dogwood, paw paw, hazelnut,
basswood, amongst others can be retained as well as
introduced.
Within many forests, especially here in New Jersey
creation of silvopastures may require substantial
preemptive management. The objective is create
woodland conditions which are suitable for
establishment of new shrub and tree growing stock
as well as pasture grasses and other plants that are at
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least intermediately shade tolerant. To achieve
to cattle. Some of these very common New
these conditions both overstory and understory
Jersey species are even poisonous to swine
stratums need to be addressed differently as to
and may be accidentally proliferated through
allow for increased levels of sunlight to reach
certain management practices.
the forest floor. In many cases, canopy trees
that have been intensively managed under a
Agroforestry and silvopasture are certainly
FSI (Forest Stand Improvement) or single tree
increasing in recognition and popularity
selection regiment under New Jersey’s Farmland
in New Jersey and nationwide. Currently,
Assessment Program may already be at an
New Jersey Farmland Assessed woodland
appropriate stocking level. In such scenarios,
owners managing their forests under a Forest
emphasis may be placed on responsible clearing
Stewardship Plan may desire to incorporate
less ecologically valuable suppressed tree
silvopasture into their ten year objectives. The
and shrub layer species like
long awaited promulgation of
hophornbeam, witchhazel,
the Forest Stewardship Rules
or American hornbeam
will eliminate the need for
Agroforestry and
especially when such species
woodland owners to fulfill an
silvopasture are
are observed growing as
annual income requirement
dense monocultures. It is
certainly increasing per the 1964 Farmland
important to consider the
Assessment Law. Therefore,
in
recognition
thickness of a forest’s duff
more woodland owners may
layer when broadcast seeding
begin to have interest in
and
popularity
in
future forage for livestock.
illustrating active devotion
In order for these seeds to
to their woodlands through
New Jersey and
germinate it is essential for
some form of agroforestry,
nationwide.
them to make contact with
perhaps silvopasture. New
the mineral soil. Therefore,
Jersey foresters, resource
it may be necessary to rake,
managers, and land owners
use animals to “hoof in”, use
alike are acknowledging
small no-till drills, or hand plant seeds in order
silvopasture’s potential benefit to pollinators,
to meet with success. Timing your seeding to
plant diversity, and increase in land available
coincide with the natural freeze-thaw cycle of
for grazing however these benefits don’t come
later winter – early spring enables for better
without risk. It’s vital for land owners interested
sowing and also increased likelihood of pasture
in silvopasture to work collaboratively with
grass establishment. As silvopastures become
agencies like NRCS (Natural Resources
usable, land owners and managers alike
Conservation Service), NJ Forest Service, U.S.
must acknowledge that their livestock will
Forest Service, partners like NJ Audubon,
be grazing in a much less controlled system.
and the academic community to mitigate risk
While diversification of vegetative species is an
of livestock loss and decreases in ecosystem
excellent woodland management objective, it
integrity. Agencies, like NRCS, may also be
remains critical to know what vascular plants,
able to provide financial incentives, through
shrubs, and trees may be poisonous to livestock.
the Environmental Quality Incentive Program
For example the young leaves and acorns of
(EQIP) to qualifying woodland owners with
oak trees as well as mayapple, white snakeroot,
Forest Stewardship Plans for creation and
pokeweed, dock, and elderberry are poisonous
management of silvopasture operations.
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2015-2016 Pierson Forest Steward
of the Year Winners
Robert and Jennifer Slater
Robert Slater and his family own approximately 113 acres in northern Warren County, of
which 90 acres is an actively managed, working
Tree Farm. Robert is the recipient of the 2015
George Pierson Outstanding Forest Steward
of the Year award, awarded by the New Jersey
Forest Stewardship Program. Mr. Slater and his
family earned this honor by managing their forest in an outstanding fashion. Don Donnelly is
their approved consultant forester and assisted
the Slater family with the development their
Forest Stewardship Plan (FSP) and Farmland
Assessment Plan (FAP) as well as the ongoing
management activities being carried out on the property.
“We are here temporarily and it is our
responsibility to leave our forests in a
better condition than we found them.”
-Robert Slater
The family acquired Spook Hollow
Farm in 2004 however as recently
as the 1930’s much of the woodland acreage was open agricultural field. Now the property’s seven
hardwood stands are managed in a
fashion that will continue to produce high quality oak timber, some of which
Robert himself mills, kiln dries, and utilizes on
site. Mr. Slater believes, “We are here temporarily and it is our responsibility to leave our forests in a better condition than we found them.”
Evidence of these profound sentiments can be
witnessed throughout the family’s woodlot. In
addition to exciting wood utilization projects,
Robert is simultaneously controlling invasive
plants that attempt to overtake his forest’s understory, naturally and artificially establishing
native trees and vegetation in previous harvest
areas, and building better erosion control measures along access roads and trails throughout
the forest. Some of the exotic plants that Robert and Don believe are greatest threat to this
particular woodlot include multiflora rose, Japanese barberry, and autumn olive, however, they
are always on the lookout for emerging invasive
plant species attempting to get a foothold.
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According to Mr. Slater, he was initially interested in the idea of finding a mechanism that would help
him qualify for possible cost-shares
to assist with the continued management of the property. It was Don
who initially helped guide the family in the direction of a FSP in addition to a Woodland Management
Plan. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helped
offset the initial cost the plan’s development via an incentive payment
through the Environmental Quality
Incentive Program (EQIP). Robert’s
property later successfully ranked
for EQIP and some of the subsequent management activity costs
were absorbed by the program.
In order to achieve his goal of continuing growing oak for future saw
timber and wildlife habitat, Robert
knew he had to trade in some of his
previous single tree selection management approaches for a somewhat
more intensive even-aged silvicultural system. Don, staff from NJ
Division of Fish and Wildlife, Endangered and Non-Game Species
Program (ENSP), NRCS, and Mr.
Slater spent an afternoon walking
Spook Hollow Farm’s woodlot to
determine appropriate locations
to lay out three, roughly three acre
seed tree harvests. The objective
of the seed tree silviculture was
multi-tiered. First, it would open
up the canopy, removing competing intolerant vegetation enough
to foster regeneration of shade intolerant trees such as oak, sassafras,
and tulip. This would help diversify the age and crown class structural composition of the relatively
Hand hewn cedar cabin built by landowner
“Our strategy blends the
production of wood
products with improving
wildlife habitat and other
natural resources.”
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even-aged forest. The management would also
provide much needed habitat for young forest
dependent wildlife like Appalachian Cottontail,
American Woodcock, Bobcat, Golden-winged
Warbler, Wood Turtle, Eastern Box Turtle, and
Five-lined Skink, amongst many others. Adjacent to the seed tree treated stands, it was enjoyable to effortlessly amble through portions
of other park-like stands prescribed shelterwood
treatments. Robert and Don explained that
the concept was to provide some young-forest
dependent birds the necessary ground nesting
habitat they needed in the seed tree areas. The
shelterwood treatments mimic post-fledging
habitat later used by some of the same species.
It simultaneously provides foraging habitat for
other insect gleaning birds. But on the evening
I was there it was enjoyable enough simply
basking in the filtered light of the setting sun,
at the end of a long hot day, in this peaceful
mountainside forest.
From Left: Forester Don Donnelly, landowner Robert Slater
Homemade dry kiln.
As we walk back towards the home site, Robert
spoke to the importance of and enjoyment he
finds in spending time walking around the treatment sites and monitoring their rebound. Both
forester and landowner agree that in order for
the silvicultural prescriptions on this particular
property to be successful, ongoing deer management should continue to take place on the property. Currently, Robert does not hunt the land
but instead offers a select few the rights to do
so. Forester Don Donnelly states, “Our strategy
blends the production of wood products with
improving wildlife habitat and other natural resources.” It is evident that this is taking place as
we meander back to our starting point closing
our visit of Spook Hollow Farm.
By: Kristen Caggiano
Photo Credit: www.njisst.org
New Jersey’s
Invasive Species Strike
Team Mission Helps
to Promote Healthy,
Productive Forests
The Strike Team offers trainings in the field and classroom.
worldwide, allows people to identify the species of
concern as well as where they are located and likely to spread. The methodology also incorporates
consideration of what harm the species may cause
as well as what actions, if any, should be taken.
It’s vitally important for woodland owners to be
able to identify and understand the adverse effects
of non-native invasive plants. These exotic plant
species have the potential to blanket the forest
floor wreaking havoc on biological diversity, they
inhibit natural tree regeneration establishment, alter soil chemistry, and destroy critical wildlife habitat. Luckily, there is an organization dedicated to
the identification, classification and eradication of
these threats.
The New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team
(NJISST) works to prevent the spread of emerging invasive species across state using cutting edge
methodologies. The NJISST started in 2008 as The
Central Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team. With
an outpouring of community and financial support,
the 501c3 rapidly spread its reach to include approximately 100 public and private partner organizations statewide. In late December of 2016, NJ
Audubon will officially assume the responsibility of
continuing NJISST’s mission.
Forestland owners can opt to become members of
NJISST. While the team’s goals are awareness and
education, they will also assist with the eradication
of highly staged emerging species. The strike team
asks that our state’s woodland owners know the
top ten invaders, most noxious invasive plants that
may exist on their property and in their ecoregion.
This information and much more is
available through NJISST’s smartphone
app. If you own an Iphone or Android
phone, download the New Jersey Invasives application, it’s free, you will
then be ready to identify and report
stage 0-3 emerging invasive species at any time.
For more information please visit www.njisst.org.
NJISST accomplishes its mission by continuing to
work closely with public and private land stewards.
These participants are tasked with the responsibility of searching for, mapping the locations of, and
eradicating emerging invasive plant species within
their local communities. In addition, and with the
help of Rutgers University, the strike team has created on online platform for which this information
and more can be shared with the public. The team
utilizes a methodology known as Early Detection
and Rapid Response (ED/RR). ED/RR, recognized
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Download the app today!
New Jersey landscape contains invasive plants of
many kinds. Some may be herbaceous plants or
grasses while others are shrubs, trees, and vines.
Because the team only collects data on emerging
invasive species, understanding the difference between widespread and emerging invasive species is
imperative. Widespread species are common and
relatively densely populated throughout the majority of the state. In the case of widespread invasive
species, full eradication is not possible. Emerging
invasive species, while possibly locally common, are
not common statewide. Containment or eradication remains a viable management option.
2016 New Jersey Tree Farmer
of the Year Winner
Lawrence J. Reader
of the Diocese Camden
The Diocese of Camden is a long-time
owner of several forest parcel in southern
New Jersey. The largest is the Tuckahoe Road
Forest in Franklin Township, Gloucester
County which is 926 acres, 890 acres are
incorporated into the forest stewardship plan.
Acreage not part of the plan is associated with
a cemetery. The Diocese has owned the land
for over 45 years and over the last 26 years,
they have initiated an ecological approach
to the management of their forest resources.
There has been extensive reforestation of over
100 acres needed regeneration efforts thus a
more diverse forest age class and structure
has developed.
In addition to 250 acres of forest stand
improvement efforts, over 350 acres of
the forest have added fire re-introduced
to enhance wildlife habitat and to reduce
concerns for uncontrolled wildfire. Resilient
stands of young oak and pine, as well as
wetland stands of Atlantic white-cedar are
now growing and regenerating with vigor and
overall improved forest health and riparian
protection. This management approach
has also dramatically reduced concerns for
southern pine beetle infestations.
This property has been used to show many
groups such as the NJ Farm Bureau, NJ
Audubon, and various media outlets for
an example of active forest management.
Cooperation with the NJ Fish & Wildlife
Service and adjacent farmers has resulted in
a managed deer heard and the regeneration
is reflective of that as Camden Diocese is
currently in their third management period.
LANDOWNERS GUIDE TO
Understanding the Farmland Assessment Program
AS IT PERTAINS TO WOODLANDS
The New Jersey Forest
Service (NJFS) thanks you
for participating in the
Farmland Assessment
Program (FLA).
Annual Filing
NJFS reviews your annual filing which needs to
be filled out completely, accurately and specifically to be considered sufficient. As a reminder, your yearly application to the New Jersey
Forest Service must include:
• a copy of your WD-1 form
• FA-1 form (photocopies of the FA-1 form
are acceptable)
• an activity map depicting the location of the
activity referenced on the WD-1 form.
make sure that activity is scheduled to take
place in your management plan. These are the
only forms needed. The NJFS does not need
the supplemental forms, receipts, tax forms etc.
However, your tax assessor does. Proper completion of all forms is important to prevent and
eliminate the risk of insufficient annual filing.
Common Problems with the
Make sure the map indicates the location of
the activity clearly and accurately. It is used
during property inspections. If the correct
area is not properly marked, the activity may
not be observed during the inspection.
Annual Application Filing:
• Missing signatures on WD-1 form from both
applicant and NJ Approved Forester
• Incorrect or missing lot and block numbers.
Lot and blocks should match between forms
Please staple or clip your forms together in that
order. The WD-1 needs to be filled out completely and accurately (your block and lots as
well as your acreage should match between your
FA-1, WD-1 and your submitted management
plan). Make sure you report ALL activity you
did or will do in that year on the form. Also,
• Over exaggeration of activities completed
• Forms and cover page of plan does not reflect
a change of ownership, mailing address, etc.
• Inadequate/incorrect reporting on breakdown
of land use classes on FA-1 form
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Plan Preparation
and Implementation
Property Inspections
The NJ Department of Environmental Protection is required to inspect your property
at least once every three years as per N.J.A.C.
18:15-2.13. The purpose of this inspection is
ensure that Management Plans are being followed and that reported activities have been
accomplished as reported. The NJFS will send
a inspection notification letter approximately
two to three weeks prior to our visit to let inform you of a date and time. Following notification, there are often instances a request is
received to reschedule the appointment. Generally, this is not practical due to the logistics
of scheduling by proximity within a township
and grouping of consultant forester clients in
case they can meet with the state forester onsite. This facilitates conducting inspections
more efficiently and reducing travel time between inspections. Cancelling one inspection
has a domino effect on that day’s inspections
and future inspection days. We respect a landowner’s time when taking off from work so inspections are rarely cancelled by the New Jersey
Forest Service. Inspections are performed in
rain or travelable snow. The only inspections
that have been rescheduled in the past several
years were due to Hurricane Sandy and other
states of emergency. When you receive a letter for inspection two calls should be made.
The first call should be to your consultant forester. The second call should be to the inspecting forester to let them know whether or not
someone will be at the property to meet them.
Management Plans must be submitted during
the first year of filing only as part of the initial
application filing. The NJFS reviews these plans
to ensure the Plan’s contents are consistent with
the required Woodland Management Plan criteria as outlined within the Farmland Assessment rules. Proper implementation of this plan
and working with your Approved Forester is
key to maintaining compliance. Amending a
plan is often necessary and required to reflect
new goals and objectives, changes in plan prescriptions, acreage changes in woodland acres,
changes in woodland conditions or health,
changes in ownership, changes in Block and
Lots or mailing address. As a landowner you
may change your mind on how you want to
manage your forest but you need to amend
your approved plan and filing components and
receive approval BEFORE you actually implement the activity or file annually.
Common Problems with the
Management Plan Preparation:
• Missing or inadequate information
• How the income requirement
(Active Devotion) will be made
• Unclear goals and objectives
• Lack of information in stand and stock table
• Maps missing or maps missing required criteria
Property boundaries must be accurately
posted. Paint, signage or flagging to mark corners and lines are typical. Hard physical features such as roads, streams, or rock walls can
also be used to designate a boundary line and
should be referenced in the plan.
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Activities reported on the WD-1 form must
accurately correspond what is completed on
the ground. Activity must be implemented
within the woodland portion of your property. Yard trees or picking up storm damaged
branches do not constitute activity. Make sure
you use the April 2016 version of the WD-1
Form which can be found at: www.state.nj.us/
treasury/taxation/pdf/other_forms/lpt/wd1.pdf.
Common Problems with
Woodland Inspections:
• Inadequate activities completed from
plan’s activity schedule
• Activity completed that is not scheduled
or in the plan
• No activity
• Over exaggeration of activity completed
If applying herbicide to control invasive species, you MUST follow the label. The label
is the law. Consult with your forester or other
licensed pesticide control applicator for recommended formulation(s) and timing of application(s).
• Attesting to activity that clearly has not
been accomplished may subject you to
roll back taxes
Upon inspection, rotten or discolored stumps
are indications there has been activity. Observing fresh sawdust from felling and bucking,
and freshly cut seeping stumps is generally an
indication that the notice of inspection was received and there was an attempt to catch-up on
years of inactivity. Instead of risking compliance and safety and playing catch-up for past
years of inactivity, follow your activity schedule
in the plan. This will ensure a successful inspection, eliminate angst, and result in a forest that
more rewarding and enjoyable as planned.
If your plan does not prescribe a timber harvest and one has occurred, the inspection
will reveal the plan is not being followed. The
same holds true if you claim a certain harvested
volume and the inspection reveals no activity
has occurred. These and other scenarios may
be cause for non-compliance and subject your
property to roll back taxes. Your consultants
listing on the NJ Approved Foresters List could
be in jeopardy if the WD-1 Form attested to
does not accurately reflect management of the
property under the approved plan.
The NJFS hopes this information helps
you in gaining a better understanding of
the Farmland Assessment Program as it
pertains to woodlands. Thank you for being enrolled and for keeping forests as forest and keeping working forests working!
Do not pull or grind stumps. Many times
cutting the stump flush with the ground is
more effective, less intrusive and less costly. If
you remove your stumps the inspecting forester
cannot be sure the activity was completed as
reported. The pulling of stumps is not part of
the NJFS plan approval process.
If you have any questions, please
contact us at (609) 984-0827, email
[email protected] or one of our
Regional Offices: Northern (973) 7865035, Central (609) 726-1621 or Southern
(609) 625-1124.
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Pollinator Habitat Border. Photo credit – Kelly Gill, Xerces Society
Pollinating Insects’ Contributions
to Forest Health
Bumble bee on Common Milkweed. Photo credit: Kelly Gill, Xerces Society
by introducing or encouraging the growth of
specific tree and shrub species along woodland
edges. “Softening hard edges between forest and
fields, lawns and wetlands,” can be achieved by
planting. Along wetland interfaces, landowners
should consider planting willows. This wetland
dwelling species, with attractive catkin flowers,
is critical for early pollinators such as the bumblebee. As the growing season continues, species such as maple and serviceberry offer early to
mid-season food sources for insects and birds.
American holly, cherry, and chokeberry along
with spicebush and blueberry also offer food
sources for migratory songbirds returning to the
region to nest, as well as their offspring.
When it comes to forest health, creating habitat
for pollinating insects is an important yet easily
overlooked practice. How can woodland owners create habitat for important species of insects and birds that rely on plant food sources
and pollinate important native plant and tree
species in our region? Increasing food supply
and providing cover and refuge for species such
as bumblebees, honey bees, and the Monarch
Butterfly can have far reaching positive impacts
on the health of your forest’s flora and fauna.
Kelly Gill, a Xerces Society Pollinator Conservation Specialist says “Start with what you
have.” Most woodland owners can make significant contributions to pollinator habitat
13
Monarch, native bees and
other insect visitors on
swamp milkweed
Photo credit: Adam
Varenhorst
The Monarch Butterfly, according to Xerces Society,
have suffered a major population decline in recent
years. Pesticides, climate change, and herbicide resistant crops are believed to be the main causes of this
decline. Several key practices can be integrated into
Woodland Management Plans or Forest Stewardship
Plans to encourage mating, roosting and cover habitat for monarchs. Monarchs can utilize food in a wide
range of vegetative strata when feeding. In the fall,
monarchs appreciate species like goldenrod, Joe-Pye
weed and sunflower to fuel up for their long migra-
tion south to overwinter. As a flagship species, restoring habitat for the monarch butterfly creates additional
benefits for native bees, birds, and wildlife.
For landowners interested in incorporating pollinator
habitat into their woodland management objectives,
there is assistance. Xerces Society has partnered with
New Jersey NRCS field offices and is able to provide
technical guidance. Such direction may help forest
landowners connect with available EQIP incentive
payments. For more information contact your local
NRCS office.
Thank you & Best Wishes!
After 10 years of being the Editor of the
Stewardship Leaves, Charlie and Barbara Newlon
have spread their wings and moved to Maryland.
The NJ Forest Stewardship Program and the
Forest Stewards of the Garden State appreciate
all your tireless efforts in producing a very
informative ‘Leaves’ year after year. We are not
going to try to fill your big shoes but let
someone grow into their own. Thank you Charlie
for all your stories from life as child in Berkeley,
CA to almost getting knocked off a mountain
in Colorado during an airdrop for wildfire
suppression. Happy Trails Charlie and Barbara!
We welcome Kristen Caggiano as the new
‘Leaves’ editor, a forester and teacher, has
taken over the reins of editor.
Increasing Awareness and Restoring
Shortleaf Pine Through The Shortleaf
Pine Initiative (SPI)
The Shortleaf Pine Initiative (SPI)
seeks to increase awareness and restoration of the species. Shortleaf pine
once covered a vast area from eastern
Texas to Florida and up the eastern
seaboard to New Jersey. Over the
past 30 years we have lost more than 50% of these acres due
to due to insects, disease and land use changes.
The Need for More Shortleaf Pine
There has been a rapid decline due to widespread pine beetle
attacks in poorly or unmanaged stands, disease, altered fire
regimes and land use change.
Shortleaf pine has a diversity of cultural, ecological and
economic values centered on wildlife and recreation, water
quality and a high value wood products industry. (Shortleaf
pine’s wood is typically used for lumber, plywood, composites,
and pulp.) With millions of people depending on the benefits
of this imperiled species, the need to develop a range-wide
conservation strategy is more compelling than ever.
How NJ Landowners Can Help
There are currently over 400,000 acres of dominant pine
stands in the Pinelands region and various stands where
shortleaf is a component. Using Farmland Assessment and
Forest Stewardship Programs, woodland owners can integrate
shortleaf pine management into new or existing plans for pine
regeneration, forest health, monitoring, diversity and restoration, where the dominant target species can be shortleaf
pine and cohort species. Pitch pine (Pinus rigida) is abundant
in southern NJ. Shortleaf pine can be introduced in areas
where there is a lack of this species, to create connectivity
between the two populations.
Although wildfires can kill shortleaf pine outright or cause it to
sprout, Prescribed burning can create favorable surface conditions for regeneration by removing fuel loads and competition.
In 2015 the New Jersey Forest Service became part of the
Shortleaf Pine Initiative, which also consists of the USDA Forest Service, Private Consulting Foresters, Southern Group of
State Foresters, National Wild Turkey Federation, US Fish and
Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy.
Funding Available
To find out more information on shortleaf financial aid programs contact a consulting forester or one of the NJ Forest
Service Regional Offices.
Did you know the State’s biggest
Shortleaf pine is 7’ 9” in circumference?
Characteristics
Size Large tree, 80 to 100 ft. tall
ShapeCrown is small, open and pyramidal
LeavesNeedles, 3-4 inches long in clusters
of 2, 3 or 4
Twigs Stout, brittle, reddish-brown,
buds round-pointed
Cones Egg-shaped cone, 2 inches long, red to
brown in color, umbo is armed with a
small prickle, maturing in fall
Bark Reddish-brown, broken into irregular, flat
plates covered with small, thin appressed scales, often dotted with small depressions called resin ducts or blisters
· Shortleaf pine has the widest range of any
pine in the southeastern United States.
· Shortleaf pine grows in a fairly humid region, but is the least exacting of the southern pines as to temperature and moisture.
· It grows best on deep, well-drained soils
having fine sandy loam or silty loam textures.
· Shortleaf pine grows at elevations as low
as 10 ft. in southern New Jersey and up to
3,000 ft in the Appalachian Mountains.
· It is now considered a major component
of three forest cover types, shortleaf pine,
shortleaf pine-oak, and loblolly pine-shortleaf pine. NJ has all those tree species associated with the exceptions of bear oak and
longleaf pine.
· Many landowners have worked with state
and private foresters and professional
loggers to help suppress the southern pine
beetle throughout the southern half of the
state. Thinning stands to reduce densities
and make the stands more resilient to attack
are covered by cost-share programs provided you have a Forest Stewardship Plan.
For more information on the
Shortleaf Pine Restoration Plan
visit www.shortleafpine.net/
tools-and-resources/
restoration-plan.
Harvesting Timber
and Protecting Habitat
for Wildlife
Are you looking to create wildlife habitat
on your forestland?
Or simply interested in keeping your forests
healthy and diverse?
Photo by D. Kenny
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), NJ
Audubon, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, and
Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ are working
together to provide assistance to New Jersey forestland owners to plan and execute a timber harvest
that will support the enhancement of bird habitat,
specifically Golden-winged Warbler habitat. Forestland located in the focal area in New Jersey for
Golden-winged Warbler populations (including
Sussex, Warren, Morris and Passaic County) is eligible for USDA-NRCS’s Working Lands for Wildlife, a component of the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program (EQIP). (See map on next page
of eligible areas). Through the Program, NRCS and
partner conservation professionals can work with
foresters to help write forest stewardship plans, and
EQIP participants receive conservation payments
to support the habitat enhancement.
Newly created GWWA habitat Photo by Kelly Triece
The Golden-winged Warbler is a Neotropical Migrant songbird that is experiencing population declines due to loss of young forest habitat. Young
forest habitat, also known as scrub-shrub habitat, is
new or regenerating forest that is less than 20 years
old. Golden-winged Warblers require young forest
habitat that is surrounded by more mature forest
to breed. Forest landowners and land managers in
New Jersey may have a unique opportunity to create breeding habitat for Golden-winged Warbler
through timber harvesting.
16
Newly created GWWA habitat Photo by Kelly Triece
What are the benefits of
managing young forest habitat?
While the average unmanaged forest has about 17
different bird species, young forests managed with
NRCS assistance have been found to have an average of 30 different bird species! In addition to
Golden-winged Warbler, Cedar waxwing, Eastern
bluebird, Red-bellied woodpecker, Eastern wild
turkey, Wood thrush and Baltimore oriole have
been observed! And it’s not just “for the birds”!
Insects, mammals and reptiles all benefit from this
type of forest management.
Please contact the NJ NRCS Hackettstown
Field Office at 908-852-2576 ext. 3, located on
101 Bilby Road in Hackettstown NJ 07840.
NJ Big Tree Book is Getting an Update
It’s been nearly 20 years since the
last and still popular New Jersey’s
Big Trees booklet was created and
distributed.
Assistant Regional
Forester, Joe Bennett, performed a
complete inventory starting from
spring until the late fall months of
2016. The complete NJ Big Tree List
found at www.communityforestry.
nj.gov contains NJ Champion trees,
Historic trees, and 2nd place runnerups. On the other hand, the new
New Jersey’s Big Trees publication
will only feature NJ champion and
historic trees which totals 77 trees.
One of the new additions to the
upcoming NJ Big Tree booklet is that
every tree featured in the booklet has it’s own QR Tag providing
important information and sil-
vics about trees as well as their
locations. For the developing eBook
version, users will be able to open
the QR tag on their smartphone and
for the paper copy the QR codes
will be an image next to the description with every tree. We have have
found that that QR Reader App by
TapMedia Ltd. Works well but you
may prefer another reader.
The new version will be released
as an eBook as well as a print copy
for people to purchase as was done
in the days of old. The New Jersey
Forest Service really hopes you
enjoy its most recent version of the
NJ Big Tree booklet and please be
sure to purchase a paper copy when
available and supplies last. Follow our
website for availability.
Champion Ginkgo Tree in Oradell, NJ
NEW JERSEY INVASIVE SPECIES STRIKE TEAM
Chocolate vine (fiveleaf akebia)
Family Name:
Lardizabalaceae - Lardizabala family
Native Range: Asia
Latin Name: Akebia quinata
NJ Status: Emerging Stage 1 – Rare
(may be locally common). Highly
threatening to native communities.
Description:
• Deciduous (evergreen in warmer climates)
• Twining woody-stemmed vine or
groundcover
• Grows 20-40’ in one year
Commercially Available: Yes
Leaves:
• Alternate, smooth edges
• Palmately compound leaves
• 5 (occasionally fewer) oval stalked leaflets
Flowers:
• Purplish-brown flowers
• Emerge from leaf axils in clusters
• 1” across
• May smell of sweet chocolate
• Blooms in May
Fruit:
• Large, soft
• Sausage-shaped pods 2” - 4” in length
• Pulp is whitish with many tiny black seeds
• Ripens in September
Habitat:
• Forest, forest edge, garden
• Prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils
• Tolerates many soil types
• Full sun to partial shade
Look-alike:
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
• Native to northeastern US
• Deciduous vine with tendrils
• Palmately compound leaves, 3 - 5 leaflets
• Toothed leaf edges
• Bluish berries
• Greenish white flowers
Photos from top:
Infestation by Steve Manning
Leaves by James H. Miller
Bottom Left: Fruit by Leslie J. Mehrhoff
Bottom Right: Flowers by Nancy Dagley
WWW.NJISST.ORG
Editor’s Log |
Article by Kristen Caggiano
Tree Feature
Flowering Dogwood, Cornus
florida, an indicator of healthy
fertile forests. An robust food
source and aesthetically pleasing
and native tree in all seasons.
Other common names include:
White dogwood, cornel
• Our state Memorial Tree.
• Flowering dogwood is an understory
tree species common in the Piedmont
uplands and uplands along the
Delaware River. It is also commonly
observed in the understory of mature
oak forests
in the inner coastal plain
• The flowering dogwood is an
extremely important component
in the nutrient cycle in a forest,
particularly the calcium cycle
• Seeds, fruits, flowers, leaves and bark
provide an abundant food source
to multitudes of woodland wildlife
including, deer, bear,
wild turkeys, various songbirds,
and snails
• Flowering Dogwoods do not tolerate
full sun or drought conditions.
This can make them highly susceptible
to disease
Native Americans Uses:
• Aromatic bark and roots used
as remedy for malaria
• Red dye was extracted from the roots
• Root bark was used as a pain reliever
• Flower infusions used as a fever reducer
Colonists and Pioneers Uses:
• Made tea from dogwood bark to ease
symptoms of cold and fever
• Shock resistant wood used for mallet
heads, pulleys, spindles and wheel hubs
• Various fine wood inlays
Current Uses:
• Shock resistant wood used for tools
handles, sometimes golf club heads
• Fruit and bark can be used as
a natural dye
• Artistic wood inlays
Characteristics
Size
20 - 40 feet tall
Leaves
Opposite, simple, clustered towards the end of
branches, ½-3 inches wide, sharp pointed round
at base. Dark green above, lighter beneath, turning
reddish-purple in the fall
Twigs
Dark red to purple tinged with green. Pith is white
and buds are covered by persistent bases of leaf
stalks. Winter twigs from end branches look like stag
horns. Flower buds appearing in fall, biscuit shaped,
flattened with four large scales
Flowers
Hemaphroditic; flowers are arranged in dense, flat heads,
showy and white. Blooms early spring before leaves
Fruit
Red drupe, 1/3 inch long, borne in clusters, ripening
early fall
Bark
Red-brown to ash-gray, breaking into small
rectangular blocks with age
Wood
Shock resistant, very little heartwood (reddishbrown), mostly sapwood (pale pink), making it
susceptible to insect attack. Finishes well
Hardiness Zones
Zones 5-9, growing best in coarse well-drained soils
with a PH of 6-7. Enjoys temperature consistent
woodland soils
Photos from top:
Flowers by Chris Evans
Fruit by David J. Moorhead
Bark by Chris Evans
Flowering Dogwood tree by T. Davis Sydnor
2017
Calendar of Events
NJ Forestry Association Annual Meeting
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
March 18, 2017
Rutgers Cook Campus Student Center
507 Beil Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Tax Day
April 17, 2017
NJ Envirothon
May 13, 2017 - Saturday
Schooley’s Mountain Park, Washington Twp., NJ
Contact: Richard Belcher, [email protected]
Tree Farm Day
June 1, 2017 - Friday
To be determined
Contact: Dennis Galway, [email protected]
Farmland Assessment deadline August 1st, 2017
Backyard Forestry
in 90 Minutes
Free Program
Sponsored by: Rutgers Cooperative
Extension, New Jersey Forest Services,
New Jersey Forestry Association
Held Monthly every Thursday
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
At Forest Resource Education Center (FREC)
495 Don Connor Blvd Jackson, NJ 08527
Contact: Lori Jenssen, [email protected]
To register visit:
www.njforestry.org/mybackyard
Upcoming Topics:
March 9, 2017
Wildflowers & Seed Collection
April 13, 2017
Selecting & Maintaining
Hand Tools
May 11, 2017
Champion Trees &
Forestry Measurements
Wild Expo
September 9-10, 2017 - Saturday & Sunday
Colliers Mill WMA, Jackson Township
Contact: Michelle Smith, [email protected]
June 8, 2017
Attracting Butterflies and Moths
Fall Forestry Festival
October 7, 2017 - Saturday
FREC Jackson, NJ
Contact: Rick Dutko, [email protected]
August 10, 2017
Brush Piles for Wildlife Habitat
Woodland Stewards Training
October 19-22, 2017 - Thursday-Sunday
Camp Linwood MacDonald, Sandyston, NJ
Contact: Lori Jenssen, [email protected]
July 13, 2017
Oaks of New Jersey
September 14, 2017
Native Plants in the
Home Landscape
October 12, 2017
Raingardens and Other
Alternatives to Lawns
November 9, 2017
Bringing Nature Home
December 14, 2017
Decorating with Native Greens