Forests have a profound effect on the culture and economy of Vermont. This vast resource, covering nearly 80% of the state, provides stability to the landscape, clear water to our mountain streams, wildlife habitat, and diverse recreational opportunities. These forests also contribute to a "sense of place" which defines how we feet about the area in which we live, work and play. Scenic vistas of red, yellow and orange foliage provide lasting images for residents and Visitors. The trees also provide jobs to Vermonters from, tourism and in the wood products industry.
The health and availability of the forest resource is of continuing concern to Vermonters. To sustain our forest resources for future generations, we must continually monitor the forest condition and foster a stewardship ethic among the people of Vermont.
The state’s forest lands are owned mostly
by private individuals (Fig. 1). The
various activities and decisions of private
landowners are critical to the sustainability
of Vermont's forests. Stewardship of these
private lands is a prerequisite to assuring
forest resource sustainability.
Over the last twenty years there has been a significant increase in the amount of forest land under management. Much of this rise stems from a growing number of private owners responding to such programs as the Current use Tax and Stewardship programs that encourage development and implementation of management plans. Since 1980 and 1990 respectively, these two programs have successfully promoted forest stewardship activities on over 900,000 acres of Vermont forest lands.
The Vermont Forest Stewardship Program, for example, encourages private landowners to examine their land ownership goals, guests activities to improve the forest and land resource, and helps to financially support these activities. Among the most common reasons for a landowner to embark upon forest management activities through this program are to enhance wildlife habitat, to increase recreation opportunities and experiences, and to improve timber harvesting yields.
Public land, including state-owned and federal lands, provides examples of good stewardship and can provide benefits unavailable through other ownerships. For example, the Mt. Mansfield State Forest, a 37,000 acre block in central Vermont, provides land for two major ski areas, three campgrounds and a day use area, protected habitat for peregrine falcons and many rare plants, many miles of cross country and snowmobile trails, a large segment of the Long Trail, a research site for intensive monitoring of forest health, and a continuous supply of wood products.
As part of its continuing effort to sustain Vermont’s forests, the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation is moving toward a new approach to managing forest land called ecosystem management. This approach steps back from the individual tree or forest stand to focus upon the forest landscape. Ecosystem management gives more explicit consideration to the impacts of land use and forest management activities upon ecological functions. The Department is currently developing new strategies to out these concepts.
Monitoring changes in forest health
allows forest managers to take actions
to prevent or control potential threats
to forest health. The Department of
Forests, Parks and Recreation annually
examines and measures trees and other
vegetation on more than 145 permanent
long-term study plots. Changes in forest
insect populations and disease incidence
are measured at more than zoo additional
forest pest monitoring sites. The Department
also conducts statewide surveys annually to
detect damages to forests.
Sugar maples, as the dominant tree species in the state, can be used as a key indicator of forest health in Vermont. Since 1988, when tree health monitoring began, the percentage of sugar maples considered healthy (i.e. exhibiting low dieback) has improved and remained stable (Fig. 2). This improvement stems from a decrease in stress agents and more favorable growing conditions. Many sugar maple pests are currently at low population levels. This is true for the majority of other tree species as well (Fig- 3). As a result, most of Vermont's forests are in good condition.
Despite the low activity level of most
major forest pests, some stresses continue
to cause concern in 1994. A recent survey
confirmed that Butternut canker is present
in all Vermont counties.
Birch defoliation
was heavy for the fourth consecutive year,
with most of the damage found on white birch
trees. Several tree species, particularly red
maple and balsam fir, produced very heavy seed
crops in 1994, using trees’ energies at the
expense of leaf production. Ozone damage to
leaves of sensitive species (e.g. black cherry
and white ash) was observed throughout the state.
The Department will continue to monitor these
stressors and assess their impacts on tree and
forest health.
Harvest rates vary for individual species. The three most common species, by volume and number of trees, are sugar maple,. red maple, and spruce, The three most commonly harvested trees by volume in i993 were white pine, spruce, and sugar maple.