NRCS wildlife friendly-habitat management

Wells Vt.  June 24, 2017

On a wet grey morning Vermont Fish and Wildlife biologists Travis Hart and Andrea Shortsleeve greeted a small group of Vermonters for a field tour of Tim Cronin’s 90-acre property in Wells, Vt.  The tour showcased the Natural Resources Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentives Program for wildlife friendly-habitat management.

Cronin dreamed of owning a large track of land with both open fields and woodland.  Ten years ago, when his children were grown, he purchased the Well’s property and moved there full-time. The land was a mix of open fields, invasive plants at the forests edge, abandoned farmland overgrown with a low-quality woodland and forest that had most of the old growth hardwood harvested prior to his purchase. 

Three years before, Cronin hired a license forester.  The forester used the existing forest structure (diversity and quality of existing plants) to determine the land use recommendations for a forest management plan.  He also contacted VT F & W for help on implementing the plan.  Hart noted that NRCS funding is available for forest management plans.  

Cronin received EQUIP for reimbursement funding to implement the plan.  The VT F&W biologist working with Cronin also contracts with NRCS to assist EQUIP landowners.  The biologist walked the property with him to discuss his goals, the forest management plan, wildlife habitat, and possible land management practices that could be used.  Based on the discussion the biologist drew up a map of work to be done.   

The tour began at Cronin's neighbor’s property where he pointed out a thick growth of Honeysuckle, an invasive plant.  The same plant that once covered much of his property especially near the edge of the forest. His forest management plan included control of invasive plants.  He broke off a branch and showed us the hollow stem, to identify it as Asian Honeysuckle.  To control the Honeysuckle, he pulled most of the smaller plants out by hand.  The larger woodier plants he cut down and glyphosate was applied remain stump to kill the plant.  EQUIP currently requires herbicides are only applied by individuals licensed to use them. 

We then walked to an area planned to be patch cut.  It was a stand of pine trees designated as a low quality pre-commercial forest.  Hart explained what he meant by low quality: the thick stand of pine trees were out competing each other; there was little foliage on the top of the trees; they were excluding other species of trees and plants; the trees were a poor quality for timber; and the forest did not support birds and other wildlife.  Hart explained it was better to take down a low quality forest to encourage better things to grow.  The invasive plant control was an essential prerequisite prior to Cronin taking down trees for a patch cut. Otherwise, the invasive plants would take over once the open area.

Cronin explained; when he does the 2.8 acres patch cut, he will remove 90% of the canopy trees.  Four snags of the largest dead trees will be left standing, and four of the largest logs will be left on the ground.  The biomass will retain moisture and slowly release nutrients in the soil.  The sunshine will encourage new forest growth, provide a good wildlife habitat and future timber.  A healthy mature oak will be left standing.  It provides acorns for future trees, food and a good roost for birds.

Cronin led us to another 10-acre area patch cut two years ago.  He said it had been predominantly pine, thick and dark with very little undergrowth.  Now it was flush with new growth and the start of a young healthy forest.  There were a few mature healthy maple and cherry trees still standing.  They provide seeds for new trees, food and roosts for birds.

As we walked the logging roads to the next stand on his property, Cronin pointed out the importance of water-bars to prevent erosion during heavy rains.  This stand was managed for forest birds.  It had more tree and plant diversity.  Hart explained; birds like nesting and feeding in different areas.  Small groups of trees were removed to provide small areas where sunlight could penetrate the canopy and under growth could flourish providing structural diversity to the forest. 

The tour ended at Cronin’s cabin.  Hart ended by saying the NRCS created EQUIP to give landowners the means to start wildlife friendly management practices on their property. EQUIP funding is limited, and the application process is competitive. Funds are provided on a cost share rate per acre – whether you do the work yourself or hire it out.  Work must be done in a timely matter within 3-5 years or risk loss of funding. The finished work must be certified by a forester or biologist for reimbursement.  It is up to the landowner to continue with long term care of the property.  www.nrcs.usda.gov for more information.