Q&J Southern Forest

Experiment Station SO-329

December 1988

Status of Privately Owned Harvested Timberland

in Louisiana, 1974-84

William H. McWilliams and Paul D. Frey

SUMMARY

Nearly 3.8 million acres or 28 percent of Louisiana’s

privately owned timberland were harvested between

1974 and 1984. This total excludes timberland impacted

by thinning. Partial cutting was the most prevalent cutting practice and was most common on nonindustrial

private land. Stocking of pine exceeded 60 percent in 50

percent of the pine and mixed pine-hardwood stands

receiving final harvest cuts.

Additional keywords: Harvesting, regeneration,

site preparation, pine stocking, forest type transition.

INTRODUCTION

The Forest Inventory and Analysis Unit (Forest Survey) of the Southern Forest Experiment Station conducts

periodic inventories of Midsouth forest resources. An

important component of these surveys is the collection of

information on harvesting practices and the success of

pine regeneration following harvest. Past reports have

stressed the importance of regenerating harvested

pinelands back to pine (Birdsey et al. 1981; Boyce and

Knight 1980; McWilliams and Birdsey 1982).

Successful pine regeneration is especially important

because of expected increased demands for the Midsouth’s softwood resource, recent findings of declining

pine-type acreage, decreased cropland reversions, and

declines in the number of small pine trees (Rudis et al.

1985; van Hees 1980). This Research Note summarizes

the findings for stands harvested on privately owned

timberland since the 1974 full survey of Louisiana’s

forests.

DATA COLLECTION

Data were collected during the recent inventory of

Louisiana in 1984. Forest acreage and timber volume

data were secured by a systematic sampling method

involving a forest-nonforest classification on aerial photographs and on-the-ground measurements of trees at

sample locations. The sample locations were at intersections of a grid of lines spaced 3 miles apart. On-theground measurements included collection of data describing crop tree removals, site preparation, other stand

treatments, and the stocking of well-established, free-togrow pine seedlings (6 inches or greater in height). Sample locations were assigned a code describing any harvest that occurred after the previous measurement. Field

crews used existing plot conditions, along with judgment,

to distinguish between harvesting and other management activities such as commercial thinning, precommercial thinning, or stand improvement cuttings.

HARVESTING

In the 1 O-year period ending in 1984,3.8 million acres

of privately owned timberland were harvested in Louisiana. Harvesting was heaviest on forest industry land

where 1.5 million acres or about 40 percent of the total

forest showed some form of crop tree removal other than

thinning or improvement cuts (table 1). This harvested

acreage had undergone clearcutting, seed tree, shelterwood, pine-selection, diameter-limit, salvage, single-tree

selection, or group selection cuts. Even-age regeneration cuts including clearcuts, seed tree cuts, and shelterSouthern Forest Experiment StatlonTT-10210 U.S. Postal Services Bldg., 701 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, La. 70113

Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Serving Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mlsslsslppl, E. Oklahoma, Tennessee, E. Texas, Rterto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands

1
Table 1 .-Area of timbedand harvested1 by ownership c/ass, past forest lype, and method of harvest for private ownemhips, Loukiana, 1974-94

Ownership class

and

past forest type

Total past

timberland

Even-age regeneration cuts Partial cuts

Harvested

timberland seed-tree and Pinaselectton,

Clearcuts diameter-limit, and Other selectton

shelterwood cuts salvage cuts cuts2

Forest industry:

Pine types

Mixed pine-hardwoods

Hardwood types

-------------------- -*------------------- l-hol/‘jad&ygs __----------______ * __-_-____________-____

1,718.2 708.8 368.2 78.2 72.8 189.8

857.5 361.8 153.4 11.4 85.1 111.9

1385.7 390.5 155.0 28.2 52.1 155.2

Total

Nonindustrial private:

Pine types

Mixed pine-hardwoods

Hardwood types

Total

3,781.4 1461.1 878.8 117.8 209.8 456.9

2901.1 1,036.8 273.8 54.1 195.2 513.9

1,393.8 469.0 114.7 23.2 85.8 245.3

5448.5 796.2 207.2 29.3 111.4 448.3

9,743.2 2302.0 595.5 106.6 392.4 1207.5

Total private:

Pine types

Mixed pine-hardwoods

Hardwood types

Total

4,619.3 1,745.6 841.8 132.3 267.8 703.7

2,051 .l 830.8 268.1 34.6 170.9 357.2

6834.2 1,186.7 362.2 57.5 163.5 603.5

13504.6 3,763.l 1.272.1 224.4 602.2 1664.4

‘Excludes thinnings.

21ncludes single-tree selection and group selection.

wood cuts occurred on 21 percent of forest industry timberland. Roughly one-quarter of the total nonindustrial

private forest was impacted by harvesting, and only

7 percent received regeneration cuts.

Pine forest types were preferred for harvest and accounted for 46 percent of the cutting. The 1.7 million

acres cut in this category represented 38 percent of the

total pine acreage in Louisiana in 1974; however, only 17

percent of the total received regeneration cuts. Logging

of hardwood stands accounted for nearly one-third of the

total acreage harvested but only 17 percent of the total

area in hardwood types. Cutting in the mixed pinehardwood type made up the remaining harvested

acreage and involved more than 40 percent of the mixed

stands.

The most common logging activity was partial cutting,

which affected 2.3 million acres. Single-tree selection,

under which only a few crop trees per acre are removed,

was used on more than three-fourths of the area treated

with partial cuts. While single-tree selection affected a

large area, the contribution to total removal volume was

low compared to clearcuts. Clearcutting was the second

most prevalent logging activity on 1.3 million acres. Pineselection, diameter-limit, and salvage cuts accounted for

16 percent of the harvested acreage. Salvage cuts were

a minor 12 percent of the cutting in this category. Pineselection and diameter-limit cutting typically remove the

bulk of a forest stand, leaving trees that are undesired

because of species or merchantability. Seed tree and

shelterwood cuts were implemented on 6 percent of the

privately held harvested acreage.

Some significant contrasts appear when comparing

cutting practices by ownership class. Partial cutting occurred 70 percent of the time on nonindustrial private

land, compared to 46 percent on forest industry land.

Forest industry used regeneration cuts on 54 percent of

its harvested area while nonindustrial private owners

used them on 31 percent.

Additional differences are apparent regarding

clearcuts. On-the-ground classification of clearcuts included the distinction between complete and merchantable cuts. Merchantable clearcuts occur when

nonutilizable trees are left standing. Fifty-five percent of

the clearcutting on nonindustrial private land left nonmerchantable trees standing. These residuals can make

stand regeneration more difficult; they also tend to provide an inferior seed source for the future stand. Twothirds of the forest industry clearcuts removed all trees.

SITE PREPARATION

Eighty-five percent of all site preparation activities

were applied on clearcut lands. Forest industry prepared

65 percent of its clearcut area while the nonindustrial

private owners prepared 39 percent of their clearcut

William H. McWilliams is research forester, Southern Forest Experiment Station, USDA Forest Service, Starkville, MS. Paul D. Frey is assistant chief,

Forest Management, Louisiana Forestry Commission, Baton Rouge, LA.

2
area. This is host likely an underestimate of activity for

both ownerships because of the lag between harvesting

and site preparation. Some of the plots classified as not

being site prepared will probably be prepared in the

future.

The most preferred method of site preparation involved mechanical techniques, such as shearing and

raking, used in combination with controlled burning.

Seventy-three percent of this activity was found on forest

industry clearcuts.

REGENERATION

The extent of successful pine regeneration was determined by assessing the stocking of pine following final

harvest. Stocking percentage is calculated in relation to

‘normal” stocking standards used by Forest Survey.

These standards reflect the density of trees required for

full stocking. The following tabulation shows the density

standard in terms of trees per acre by P-inch diameter

class:

D.b.h. No. of trees D.b.h. No. of trees

Seedlings 600 1 6 7 2

2 560 16 60

4 460 20 5 1

6 340 22 4 2

6 240 2 4 36

10 155 2 6 , 31

12 115 2 6 2 7

14 90 30 2 4

The findings for acreage harvested with clearcuts indicate that 58 percent of the area in pine and mixed pinehardwoods had high stocking of pine (table 2). An additional 21 percent had medium stocking. Both ownerships

were successful at regenerating pine types. Forest industry was more successful at regenerating mixed pinehardwoods to pine following clearcut, leaving just 18

percent of such acreage in the lowest pine stocking

class. Nonindustrial private owners left 40 percent in the

lowest pine stocking class. Some of the poorly stocked

acreage was recently cut and will be adequately regenerated within a short period of time.

One opportunity for expanding the pinelands of Louisiana involves converting hardwood forest types to pine.

Forty-one percent of the hardwood type acreage receiving clearcuts had medium or high pine stocking. This

conversion was most apparent on forest industry tracts.

Regeneration following pine-selection, diameter-limit,

and salvage cuts was not as favorable as after clearcutting. Both ownerships had similar results in regenerating

to pine following this activity. Thirty-six percent of the

acreage cut in the pine and mixed pine-hardwood types

exhibited high pine stocking (table 3). Another 31 percent showed medium stocking. Roughly three-fourths of

the hardwood acreage had low stocking and will most

likely remain in this category.

The significant area impacted by other selection cuts

(single-tree and group selection) raises the issue of

shifts from pine to hardwood forest types. Some of the

acreage cut using these methods may involve unevenTable P.-Area of timberland hawested using dearcuts by ownemhip class, past forest type, and pine

s&king ciassl for private ownemhips, Louisiana, 1974-94

Ownership class

pastfoankypa

Pine stocking class

Total Low Medium High

Forest industry:

Pine types

Mixed pine-hardwoods

H-types

______ *___*~~~~~~~~~ Tho&ga&m------------------ *-

366.2 73.6 62.4 232.0

153.4 27.0 34.5 91.9

155.0 64.9 26.7 60.4

Total 676.6 165.7 126.6 364.3

Nonindustrial private:

Pine types 273.6 50.7 67.9

Mixed pine-hardwoods 114.7 46.2 22.9

Hardwood types 207.2 149.6 16.6

Total 595.5 246.5 107.4

To& private:

Pine types 641.6 124.5 130.3

Mixed pine-hardwoods 266.1 73.2 57.4

H-W 362.2 214.5 46.3

Total 1,272.l 412.2 234.0

‘Low indicates g-29 percent stocked with pine (ail size classes).

Medium indkates 30-59 percent stocked with pine (all size classes).

High indicateg 60 percent or greater stocked with pine (all size dasses).

155.0

45.6

41 .o

241.6

367.0

137.5

101.4

625.9
age management in the traditional sense. However, cut (table 4). Additional acreage shifted from mixed pinemost of the area should be considered “high graded.” hardwoods to pure hardwood types. While some

Nearly 30 percent of the acreage in pine types shifted to acreage shifted towards pine, the net effect was a shift

mixed pine-hardwood and hardwood types after being of about 120,000 acres out of the pure pine type.

Table 3.-Area of timberland harvastad using pina-&e&on, diameter-limit, and salvage cuts by

ownership class, past forest type, and pine stocking class1 forprivate ownerships, Louisiana,

1974-84

Ownership class

and

past forest type Total

Pine stocking class

Low Medium High

Forest industry:

Pine types

Mixed pine-hardwoods

Hardwood types

______-_____________Tjwlja&am____________________

72.6 5.2 27.9 39.5

65.1 47.2 20.4 17.5

52.1 35.2 11.4 5.5

Total 209.6 67.6 59.7 62.5

Nonindustrial private:

Pine types

Mixed pine-hardwoods

Hardwcod types

195.2 61.1 47.7 66.4

65.8 34.1 39.4 12.3

111.4 83.6 27.6 . . . .

Total 392.4 176.6 114.9 98.7

Total private:

Pine types

Mixed pine-hardwoods

Hardwocd types

267.6 66.3 75.6 125.9

170.9 61;3 59.6 29.6

163.5 116.6 39.2 5.5

Total 602.2 266.4 174.6

‘Low indicates O-29 percent stocked with pine (all size classes).

Medium indicates 30-59 percent stocked with pine (all size classes).

High indicates 60 percent or greater stocked with pine (all size cfasses).

161.2

Table 4.-Area of timbsrfand harvested using other sektion cuts l by ownership class, past forest type,

and present forest type for private ownarships, Louisiana, 1974-84

Ownership class

and

paat forest type Total

Pine

types

Present forest type

Mixed pine- Hardwood

hardwoods types

Forest industry:

Pine types

Mixed pine-hardwoods

Hardwood types

Total

_____________________T/wumr&am------_____________--

169.6 126.6 52.6 10.6

111.9 26.7 60.6 22.4

155.2 . . . . 14.7 140.5

456.9 155.3 126.1 173.5

Nonindustrial private:

Pine types

Mixed pine-hardwoods

Hardwood types

513.9 373.2 128.4 12.3

245.3 47.6 110.3 67.4

448.3 6.5 34.7 407.1

Total 1,207.5 427.3 273.4 506.6

Total private:

Pine types 703.7 499.6 161.0

Mixed pine-hardwoods 357.2 76.3 171.1

Hardwood types 603.5 6.5 49.4

Total 1664.4 562.6 401.5

l Includes singlstree selection and group selection (excludes thinnings).

22.9

109.6

547.6

660.3
The overall status of harvested timberland in Louisiana appears favorable. Both forest industry and the nonindustrial private owners have had success at regenerating pine and mixed pine-hardwood stands following final

harvest (including clearcuts, pine-selection, diameterlimit, and salvage cuts). Fifty percent of these stands

exhibited a high level of pine stocking and an additional

24 percent showed medium pine stocking. The 345,000

acres of timberland left in the lowest pine stocking class

after final harvest may be scheduled for future reforestation or improvements to enhance pine stocking. The recent economic downturn had major effects on investments in forestry. These effects showed up as regeneration problems on nonindustrial private lands in the

1982 surrey of Alabama (McWilliams and Birdsey 1982).

Since then, forest products output has picked up, and

it would seem that this would prompt reforestation to

continue.

Birdsey, Ft. A.; van Hees, W. W. S.; Beltz, R. C. Pine

regeneration in southwest Arkansas. Res. Pap. SO185. New Orleans, LA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station; 1981. 10 p.

Boyce, S. G.; Knight, H. A. Prospective ingrowth of

southern pine beyond 1980. Res. Pap. SE-200.

Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest

Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station;

1980. 48 ps

McWilliams, W. H.; Birdsey, R. A. Alabama survey points

to lack of regeneration, on hatvested lands. Forest

Farmer. 43(10): 18; 1982.

Rudis, V. A.; Rosson, Jr., J. F.; Kelly, J. F. Forest resources of Alabama. Resour. Bull. SO-98. New Orleans, LA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest

Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station; 1985.

55 p.

van Hees, W. W. S. Arkansas forests: trends and

prospects. Resour. Bull. SO-77. New Orleans, LA:

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,

Southern Forest Experiment Station; 1980. 32 p.

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