A brief introduction to general terms and concepts
related to the forestry learning objectives
The profession embracing the science, art, and practice of
creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and
associated resources for human benefit and in a
sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and
values.
SAF – The Dictionary of Forestry
Tree Physiology & Identification – 20 pts
Forest Ecology – 20 pts
Sustainable Forest Management – 40 pts
Trees: Renewable Resource – 20 pts
 Tree cookie parts: outer bark (protection),
phloem (inner bark), cambium, xylem (sapwood),
heartwood, pith (located in center)
 Growth cycle: Diameter & height growth governed by
temperature & photoperiod; roots: soil temp 32+
 Life cycle:
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Flower/cone
Seed
Seedling (less than 1” diameter & up to 3-ft tall)
Sapling (small – to 3” diameter and up to 10-ft tall; large
– 3 to 5” dbh)
Pole (small – 5 to 8” dbh; large 8 to 12” dbh)
Sawtimber (over 12” dbh)
Old age
Death & decay
CHLOROPHYLL (in sunlight)
6CO 2 16 + 12H 2 O 18  C 6 H 12 O 6 16 + 6O 2 18 + 6H 2 0 16
carbon dioxide + water  glucose + oxygen + water
[ 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O  C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2 does not account for the source of the 6O 2 ]
 Identify common species without a key
 Full common name, i.e. White Oak
 Spelling counts as per VDOF’s keys
 Identify unusual tree & shrub species with a key
 VDOF’s Common Native Trees of Virginia
 VDOF’s Common Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of
Virginia
 Source for trees/shrubs/woody vines to be identified
with and without a key at the Local, District and State
competitions
 Canopy crown classes
 Dominant/Co-dominant/Intermediate
 Understory crown classes
 Suppressed (overtopped)
 Ground layers
 Herbaceous vegetation (including grasses & ferns)
& forest regeneration
 Duff
 Soil
 Abiotic factors (nonliving parts)
 Climate: temperature, light, air & moisture
 Edaphic: soil texture, structure, depth, moisture-
holding capacity, drainage, chemical/nutrient &
topographic position
 Pyric: lightning, wild fires & prescribed burns
 Biotic factors (living parts)
 Interaction between plants
 Animals & birds
 Insects & disease
 Fungi
 Anthropogenic
 Influence of humans alone
Approximate percent Forest Acreage for Basic Timber
Types in Virginia by Physiographic Province
Physiographic
Province
White pineHemlock
LoblollyShortleaf
OakPine
OakHickory
OakGum
ElmAsh
BeechBirchMaple
Tidewater
Piedmont
Blue Ridge
Ridge and Valley
Appalachian Plateau
0
0.44
4.14
1.46
0.70
35.72
26.24
8.18
4.00
0.70
16.72
11.66
10.72
7.76
2.95
37.00
57.68
75.97
84.78
87.45
8.18
1.57
0.13
0
0
2.38
2.41
0.59
0.53
0.13
0
0
0.27
1.46
8.07
 Silviculture techniques:
 Thinning – reduce stand density/improve forest health
 Prescribed burning – controlled fire under specified
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conditions to achieve planned objectives
Single tree & group selection – uneven-aged stand
Shelterwood – even-aged or two-aged stands
Clear-cutting, with & without seed trees – two-aged
stand or an even-aged stand
Coppice – regeneration from stump sprouts or root
suckers, even-aged stand
 Silviculture systems:
 Clear-cutting – even-aged stand final harvest with
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regeneration either natural or planted/seeded
Seed tree method – even-aged or two-aged stands
with regeneration that requires little or no shade
Even-aged management – stand with one age class
Uneven-aged management – stand with three or more
ages classes
Shelterwood – even-aged or two-aged stands with
regeneration that requires partial sunlight or shade
Selection – uneven-aged stand
 Silviculture treatments:
 Planting – a reforestation method
 Weeding – release treatment in stands not past
sapling stage that eliminates or suppresses
undesirable vegetation regardless of crown position
 Pre-commercial thinning (PCT) – reduce stocking rate
 Commercial thinning – reduce stocking with revenue
 Harvesting – final cut in the rotation
 Biltmore stick  DBH – 2” class
 Merchantable height – minimum 1 log then in half-log
increments
 See National 4-H Forestry Invitational Handbook for
use of Biltmore stick & tree measurement standards
 Prism  Basal area: cross-sectional area at DBH
 Ex: 10 BAF prism – each tree “countable” represents 10 sqft of basal area per acre
 Strong linkage between site-index (SI) and BA
 Forest health & management
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Biodiversity
Forest fragmentation
Forest health
Invasive species
 2016 - Ailanthus, Autumn Olive, Garlic Mustard,
Japanese Honeysuckle, Japanese Stiltgrass, Multiflora
Rose & Oriental Bittersweet
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Air quality
Aesthetics
Fire
Global warming
Recreation
 Sustainability:
 Forest management practices & decisions
 Economic
 Social
 Ecological
 Forest policy
 Land use zoning
 Taxation
 Science & technology utilization
 Urban forestry
 Value, health & survival issues
 Forest products
 Ecosystem Services (who pays?)
 Air quality
 Water quality & quantity
 Wildlife habitat
 Recreation/health
What’s out there in the woods?
VOLUME TABLE - VIRGINIA ENVIROTHON
International 1/4 inch Log Rule - Form Class 78
# logs
DBH
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
Notes:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
1
1 1/2
2
2 1/2
3
36
48
59
66
73
56
74
92
106
120
78
105
132
153
174
106
143
180
210
241
136
184
233
274
314
171
234
296
348
401
211
290
368
434
500
251
346
441
523
605
299
414
528
626
725
347
482
616
733
850
403
560
718
854
991
462
644
826
988 1,149
521
728
934 1,119 1,304
589
826 1,063 1,274 1,485
656
921 1,186 1,428 1,670
731 1,030 1,329 1,598 1,868
3 1/2
4
4 1/2
5
--128
187
263
344
440
552
664
801
938
1,094
1,274
1,447
1,650
1,854
2,081
--137
200
285
374
480
603
723
877
1,027
1,198
1,400
1,590
1,814
2,038
2,294
----------511
647
782
949
1,114
1,306
1,518
1,727
1,974
2,224
2,494
----------542
691
840
1021
1,201
1,415
1,637
1,864
2,135
2,410
2,693
Minimum 10” DBH
Top of stump is at top of butt swell – approximately one foot above ground level.
Merchantable upper limit – 8” top diameter, a major fork, or serious defect.
Total merchantable height to the nearest full half-log with a one log minimum.
The current National 4-H Forestry Invitational Handbook is the standard for tree
measurement techniques with a Biltmore stick and volume determination.
Virginia Envirothon Plot Data
1/10 ac fixed radius plot
Tree #
Species
DBH
# Logs
FC 78 BF Volume
1
Pignut Hickory
14
1½
105
2
Pignut Hickory
16
2
180
3
White Oak
14
1
78
4
White Oak
18
1½
184
5
White Oak
16
1½
143
6
White Oak
18
1½
184
7
White Oak
16
2
180
8
9
10
# Trees/Ac = 70
Ave DBH = 16
BAF 10 prism plot data (same plot center as above)
# trees counted = 11
# trees counted = 3 (2nd prism plot location)
Site index oaks = 60
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Vol/Ac = 10,540 BF