The Decline of the Clearcut: 26 Years of Change in Silvicultural Practices and Implications in Minnesota

Abstract

Silvicultural decisions and forest-management practices in Minnesota represent the collaboration and partnership between forest managers from multiple organizations and forest researchers. To better understand current practices, trends, needs, and opportunities, Minnesota has invested in the collection of quantitative data on the application of silvicultural systems and forest-management activities in 1991, 1996, 2008, and 2017. Drawing on those data, the goal of our study is to summarize 26 years of data to characterize and quantify trends in forest-management practices. During this period of time, timberland ownership (acres) has increased, whereas harvested volume has decreased (cords). Across state, federal, county, forest industry, and tribal forest lands, which collectively represent the majority of timberlands in Minnesota, the clearcut system decreased from 91% of the harvested area in 1991 to 72 percent in 2017. In contrast, the proportion of total harvested area as part of shelterwood, seed tree, selection, and thinning treatments all more than doubled from 1991 to 2017. Factors influencing the changes relate to forest health and diseases, shifts in ownership structure, and shifts in organizational policy and/or goals. The factors identified mirror many of the trends forest managers are experiencing in other regions, nationally and internationally.

Timing and extent of forest disturbance in the Laurentian Mixed Forest

“…Forest health is a significant concern of many in the region and the results from this study suggest the concern is warranted. Forest and natural resource managers are adapting silvicultural practices to promote resistance and resilience (Windmuller-Campione et al, 2020). Annual estimates of disturbance across all ownerships provide managers with important insights into forest health beyond what they know from their own agency or corporate inventories.…”

“…The LMF, like the rest of the northern United States, is confronting unprecedented forest health challenges (Shifley and Moser, 2016). Forest and natural resource managers in the region recognize the threat to forest health and are increasingly focusing on silvicultural practices that promote resistance and resilience (Windmuller-Campione et al, 2020). An improved understanding of forest disturbance will benefit forest and natural resources professionals as they seek to manage the forest in a manner that promotes forest health and ensures sustainability of the resource.…”

Laws, Markets, and Local Politics Drive Outcomes of Minnesota’s County Managed Forests

“…Unlike state and federal land managers, (Tipple and Wellman 1991;Koontz 2007), county forests generally lack specialized staff focused on wildlife or water resources. This may mean they are less effective at protecting these resources, although a recent study finds that counties are making similar silvicultural choices to neighboring state and federal lands, which may result in similar wildlife and water quality benefits (Windmuller-Campione et al 2020). At the same time, the lack of resource specialists reduces personnel costs -counties employ fewer staff per acre than state or federal agencies.…”

Analyzing Spatial–Temporal Characteristics and Influencing Mechanisms of Landscape Changes in the Context of Comprehensive Urban Expansion Using Remote Sensing

“…In this vein, Minnesota, with its diverse land use types and distinctive landscape patterns, presents an illustrative case study. The state boasts extensive agricultural lands and forested areas characterized by robust connectivity [16,17], juxtaposed against a fragmented landscape dissected by a dense network of water bodies [18]. However, the rapid pace of urbanization and urban sprawl over recent decades has placed the landscape patterns and ecological integrity of Minnesota under considerable strain.…”