C6-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 19, 1994 THE FORGOTTEN RESOURCES Robert S. Hansen County Forester Towanda Most often when we talk about forest resources, two resources seem to stand out in our minds. These resources are the trees (tim ber) and wildlife. In most cases the other re sources that can be found in a for est environment are ignored. The ignoring of these other resources is generally not a conscious effort but more of just forgetfulness and not realizing that these resources are there. What are some of these forgot ten resources? One is the water re source found in the woods. The streams and rivers that may flow through your woods are generally not forgotten, especially if they flow all year round. Other water resources exist, however. There may be streams that may only flow part of the year, during the spring runoff or during heavy rains. For this reason they are im portant. Much erosion can occur during the spring runoff season or during heavy rains. It is important to protect these stream channels. A thoughtless act can increase the instability of these channels and the direct re sult can be the increase in the amount of erosion during a storm. This can lead to an increase in sedimentation of a trout stream for example. Vernal ponds (ponds that only Morton iulomss Since 1903 • Horse Barns •Offices • Riding Arenas • Shops •Garages •Equipment Storage •Warehouses •Aircraft Hangars #MORTON BUILDINGS, INC. 3368 York Rd. Gettysburg, PA 17325 717/624-3331 Call or writ* today for mot* Information exist during the spring) can be im portant water sources for wildlife and habitat for a variety of insects and amphibians. Wetlands are also a valuable source of wildlife habitat as well as serving as natur al flood control devices. Springs and seeps are.also valuable water resources. They are important wa ter sources for wildlife. Protecting these seeps is important. It doesn’t really take much activity to dam age this resource. The riparian vegetation zones found along streams, lakes, and ponds are other valuable forest re sources. These zones are valuable wildlife habitat and play an im portant role in protecting streams and lakes from erosion and sedi mentation. Riparian vegetation controls, to a large extent, the tem perature of these waters. Extreme fluctuations in water temperatures limit the variety and number of fish and insect species found in streams and lakes. Trees are also able to screen out a large propor tion of nutrients before they reach streams and ponds. Cattle should be excluded from these areas and timber should not be harvested close to these areas. More information on riparian vegetation management and care can be found in the following pub lications: “Woodlot Management, Water Quality, The Law, and You” by the Endless Mountains R C & D Council, Riparian Forest Buffers NA-PR-07-91 by the US.D.A. Forest Service, North- Excellence Since 1903 CONTACT: 1-800-447-7436 P.O. Box 126, Philllpsburg, NJ 08865 908/454-7900 Uhnok only, call 1-iO(M2B-8888 eastern Area; and Stream BAnk Fencing Extension Circular 397 by Penn State College of Agricul tural Sciences. Nongame wildlife species such as owls, song birds, and chip munks are often overlooked. They are often not as spectacular as many of the game, species, but many individuals very much enjoy seeing these animals in the woods. To these people they are just as important as a deer or grouse. Managing for game species can sometimes be detrimental to the habitat of non-game species. This is another aspect to consider dur ing forest management activities. Another resource that is often overlooked, until it is gone, is the visual resource itself. This can be a difficult resource to identify be cause we all have different tastes. What is very beautiful in the land scape to one person is not even noticed by others. Sometimes the management of the timber resource will tempor arily damage the visual resource. However, this damage can be dim ished and, keep in mind that when timber is harvested properly, the visual resource has the ability to recover relatively quickly. Other activities can essentially destroy parts of the visual re source. As an example, when you walk the woods of northeastern Pennsylvania you wil often come across old stone walls. To many individuals these walls are import ant to the charm of the Northeast Removing these stone walls can damage the visual resource. Again, this depends to a large part on your personal perspective. There may be areas with special wildflowers, unique trees or tree species, and areas with special meaning to the landowner found in the woodlot A forest landown- »•* Ul{ ' \ I* 0 J >' / \ Contracts available for hogs, finishing and sow units. For more information call 1-800-673-2580. ' St ’ Strong Glass Reinforced Flooring With V-Bar Shaped Slat For Ease Of Cleaning. Available With Two Opening Sizes: Comfy II Junior For Pre-Nursery And Comfy II Senior For Grower And Finisher. agn systems i Northeast er has the ability to protect these areas if he or she desires. What is difficult for woodland owners is that being a forest ste ward requires thought about how your actions affect not just the re source you are most interested in, but how your actions affect all of these important, but often forgot ten, forest resources. Your forest stewardship plan should address all of these resources to some ex tent and can be a helpful guide in decision making. The Stewardship Incentive Program also provides cost-share assistance in address ing 1 the management of these other resources. It is not easy being a steward, but it can be very rewarding when you see a job well done! FOREST STEWARSHIP VIP There is something new and in novative happening in the woods of southcentral Pennsylvania. It’s called the Forest Stewardship Volunteer Initiative Project, or VIP for short. The purpose of the VIP is to train volunteer woodland owners in the principles of forest steward ship so that they will not only bet ter manage their own forestlands, but motivate other woodland own ers to become actively involved in the future of Pennsylvania’s forest resources. The project is sponsored by Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, School of Forest Re sources, the Pennsylvania DER, Bureau of Forestry, and the Co verts Prograom of The Ruffed Grouse Society. Woodland owners that are sel ected to be a Stewardship VIP will be an important link in the nation wide stewardship effort to pro- /''mV, Si {jp- / '? V Northeast Agri Systems, Inc. Flywoy Business Park store hours. Mon -Fit 7.30 to aso 139 A West Airport Road Sat. 8.00 to Noon Lltitz, PA 17543 24 Hf - 7 Do >' Ropar Service Ph: (717) 569-2702 George Hurd Franklin Co. Agent Constructed from heavy gauge materials, this crate is designed to reduce crushing with sow comfort in mind. The bowed bottom bars make for a comfortable 33" crate width when the sow lays down, yet the adjustable anti-crush bars eliminate the sow from carelessly dropping on the piglets. This movement restriction does not hamper the sow as lays down, or wants to stand up, as the bars slide up and out of her way. 1 fy*Ajr | V w*. mote proper forest and wildlife management by private forest landowners. Stewardship VIPs will receive approximately 40 hours of class room and Held training in forest ecology, the concepts of biodiver sity, silviculture, wildlife science, environmental resource manage ment and other subjects related to stewardship. In exchange. VIPs agree to invest a like amount of their time relaying what they’ve learned to motivate forest land owners in their communities. What type of individuals are we looking for? First of all, you should be a forest landowner who is active or has the desire to be come more active in forest man agement. Outstanding candidates who are not currently landowners will also be considered. We are looking for concerned local resi dents who are considered by their peers to be responsible members of the community. Equally important, the appro priate participant must be interest ed in forestry, able to articulate well-informed opinions, and must have the time to contribute to wards community-sharing activi ties. If you are interested in more in formation or an application, con tact George Hurd at the Penn State Franklin County Cooperative Ex tension Office, (717) 263-9226. Deadline for selection of this year’s Stewardship VIPs is Fri day, March 25. DON'T LOOK ANY FURTHER! YOU'LL FIND IT IN LANCASTER FARMING'S CLASSIFIEDS with the MODEL 90 FARROWING CRATE GALVANIZED! 1-800-673-2580
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