Forest Management Plan

TABLE OF CONTENT
I. Introduction
II. Property Description
a. Location relative to common landmark
b. Topography/aspect
c. Slope average and extremes.
d. Proximity to significant water bodies
e. Streams, wetlands, lakes on property
f. List all improvements: buildings, well, septic, etc.
g. Soil types

III. Management Objectives: Short term and long term

a. public interests

 Fire: safe fuel loading, ladder fuels, fire breaks, defensible space
 Soil stability: mass wasting prevention, topsoil erosion

b. Timber Production

 Species
 Age distribution
 Diameter
 Stand structure
 Trees per acre (spacing)

c. Other objectives

 Grazing
 Wildlife
 Aesthetics
 Conversion to other use (residential, commercial, etc.)
 Accessibility (roads)

IV. Management Activities to Achieve Aforementioned Objectives

a. Timeline of activities (Include year and season for activities)

b. Timber harvest cycle and type
c. Pre commercial thinning
d. Vegetation Control
e. Noxious weed control
f. Fire protection/prevention
g. Road maintenance

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 h. Wildlife enhancement (food, shelter)
i. Soil stabilization/ enhancement

V. Maps

a. Aerial photo with property lines and stand boundaries

b. Copy of the soils map
c. Plat map if applicable.

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Introduction

The Magat Watershed occupies an area of approximately 234,824 hectares and

is located in portions of Nueva Viscaya, Quirino, and Isabela provinces in Northern
Philippines.It provides water to the Magat multi-purpose dam for various uses such as
hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, flood control, domestic water supply and
other water uses. In terms of capacity, the Magat dam could store 1.08 billion cubic
meter of water that could irrigate 950 hectares of farmlands and generate 360
megawatts of power. The Magat River is the main tributary for the Magat Dam but it
also receives water from the Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, and Marang Rivers.

WS-I watershed, meaning that waters are used as sources of water supply for
drinking, culinary or food processing by users desiring maximum protection for their
water supplies. WS-I waters are those within essentially natural and undeveloped
watersheds with no permitted point source (wastewater) discharges. Of the total land
area, 30% are declared alienable and disposable, with 70% classified as forestlands.
Forested portions of the Magat watershed are under the control of four institutions. The
Lower Magat Forest Reserve (24,241 hectares) is under co-management of the local
government unit of Nueva Viscaya and the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR). The 60,431 hectare Imungan-Cabanglasan Sub watershed is under
the DENR.

The Dupax watershed (424.8 hectares) is also managed by DENR while the 439-
ha Barobbob Watershed was devolved to the LGU. The 1998 Landsat TM Imageries
revealed that majority of the land cover are grasslands. Despite large portions of the
area under cultivation, the biodiversity and endemicity of wildlife are still considered high
in portions of the watershed. Given these situations—sedimentation of the Magat Dam
is a serious problem. The sedimentation problem was aggravated by the 1990
earthquake.

Sediment volume increased from 7.4 million cubic meters to 213 million from
1982 to 2000. Forty one percent of the area is suffering from slight erosion and 27%,
with severe erosion. The watershed population as of May 2001 was 483,411 with Nueva
Viscaya accounting for 76% of the total population. The lands within the current
watershed boundary have been subjected to a variety of land use practices in the past.

The most intensive of these were probably concentrated around the former
mountain farm community. The more gentle slopes commonly found adjacent to
streams were cleared and cropped, with adjacent steeper or more rocky areas cleared
and used for pasture. There has also been a long history of timber harvesting in the
watershed, which is evidenced by the approximately 90 miles of roads and trails that are
still evident. This document lays out a strategic plan for the management of forested
lands within the Magat Watershed. This plan outlines a broad management strategy that
will guide management activities in accordance with the terms of a working forest
conservation easement. A detailed forest management plan will be required to guide
site-specific forest management practices within the watershed.

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 III. General Forest Description

Soils – The Magat Watershed occupies a primarily north-facing valley and occurs at
elevations ranging from about 3200 feet near the reservoir to over 6200 feet.
The watershed contains clay loam and sandy loam soils. Soil types of a large portion of
Nueva Vizcaya are Guimbalaon clay loam and Annam clay loam. Rock formation is
mostly igneous rock and few scattered sedimentary rocks. There are four major sets of
fault lines in the watershed. The earthquake that occurred in 1990, with intensity 7
resulted in landslides and siltation of the Magat river and its tributaries. The soil map
units are shown in Figure 3, and the major soil properties are presented in Appendix I.

Forest Communities – During the summer of 2002, DENR personnel sampled the
vegetation within the watershed. They identified and modeled the potential locations of
9, naturally occurring forest communities in the watershed (Fig. 4, Table 1). The
naturally occurring forest communities are described in greater detail in Appendix II.

Table 1. Estimated areas of potential forest cover types within the Magat
Watershed. Cover type Area (has) Percent of Watershed
Modeled types:
Slope
Current Land Use <18% 18-30% 30-50% >50%
Old Growth Forest Old Growth Old Growth Old Growth Old Growth
Forest Forest Forest Forest
Mossy Forest Old Growth Old Growth Old Growth Old Growth
Forest Forest Forest Forest
Residual Forest Old Growth Old Growth Old Growth Old Growth
Forest Forest Forest Forest
Sub-marginal Forest Old Growth Old Growth Old Growth Old Growth
Forest Forest Forest Forest
Pine Forest Old Growth Old Growth Old Growth Old Growth
Forest Forest Forest Forest
Reproduction Brush Agro-forestry Agro-forestry Manmade Forest Manmade Forest
Other Plantation Other Plantation Other Plantation Other Plantation Other Plantation
Grass Land Agricultural Agricultural Manmade Forest Manmade Forest
Land Land
Agricultural Land Agricultural Agricultural Manmade Forest Manmade Forest
Land Land

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In December, 2001, forestry interns working through the Japan International
Cooperation Agency performed a reconnaissance survey of the timber resources in the
watershed. The results from this inventory indicated that there are a number of
productive forest stands within the watershed, and that there are currently areas that
contain large volumes of valuable timber that would support commercial operations.
There are also significant opportunities to increase both the volume and value of the
timber throughout the watershed through the application of sound forest management
practices.

Access Roads – According to the Master Plan Study Watershed Management in Upper
Magat and Cagayan River Basin the Road are classified into 3 categories from the
functional view point: i) national road traversing inter-provinces ii.) Secondary-national
or provincial road running within a province; and iii) municipal or barangay road
connecting villages in local area.
On the basis of physical conditions, these are classified into asphalt roads,
concrete roads, and gravel roads and earth roads.
Two national roads run in the Study Area. One is Route 5 and the other is route
4. Route 5 with asphalt pavement starts from Manila, and runs from southwest to
northeast in Nueva Vizcaya province within the study area. This route, being one of the
trunk roads of the country, is in fairly good condition and is playing an important role in
the country’s economy.
Route 4, branching off from Route 5 at Bagabag town of Nueva Vizcaya
province, runs northwest to Ifugao province towards Mountain province. Sections of the
road between bagabag and lagawe have concrete surface in fair condition. Some
sections between lagawe and banaue, however, has graveled or earthen surface. Due
to steep topography, the alignment of these sections is winding and steep, and also
slope failures/landslides or their traces are occasionally observe along the road.
The provincial roads in the study area are generally surfaced with concrete or
gravel, and asphalt-paved provincial roads are very limited. All weather type provincial
roads run along the towns of Bagabag, Solano, Bayombong, Bambang, Aritao, Dupax
del Norte and Dupax del Sur, etc, in the province of Nueva Vizcaya; around Lamut and
Lagawe in Ifugao Province; Diffun to Nagtipunan in Quirino; and most of the provincial
roads in Isabela province within the study area in the cordillera Central Mountain areas
such as Mayoyao in Ifugao, Santa Fe and Kayapa in Nueva Vizcaya, however, the
condition of the provincial road is rough because certain sections are unsealed, and are
unlikely to be passable by vehicles during the wet season. In Quirino province, the
provincial road traversing the Sierra Madre Mountains from Abbag in Quirino to Aurora
province is disconnected at the Cagayan River, where a bridge is under construction.
The current service condition of barangay roads varies widely in each
municipality and barangay within the study area. In the case of Ifugao province, 91
barangays out of 149 within the study area have all-weather roads, however about 30%
are quite impassable by vehicle.

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 In the Upper Cagayan river basin, particularly in the Casecnan Watershed, the
road is surfaced with either gravel or earth. This is maintained as an all- weather road
and it provides accessibility from Carranglan, Nueva Ecija province to Casecnan dams
giving the local or indigenous people or indigenous people ease in transporting their
products out from the area to the lowland.

In Public transport between Metro Manila and Aparri town located at estuary of
the Cagayan River, long-or-middle distance buses using route 5 run some round trips a
day including night trips. For inter-town transportation, jeepneys, mini busses, and
tricycles (motor cycle combination) are widely used in the study area. There is no rail
way with in the study area.
An airport exists in the study area and it is located at Lantap, Bagabag, Nueva
Vizcaya. A private company serves as a propeller airliner three round trips a week
between Bagabag and Manila.
Water transportation is not significant in the study area except in Abbag, Maddela
Quirino nd in Jones, Isabela where a small barge is used to ferry people and vehicles in
crossing the Cagayan Riuver.

There are approximately 90 miles of roads and trails within the Magat Watershed
(Fig._)). The majority of these roads were constructed during past timber harvesting
operations. These roads can be separated into either improved (about 30 miles) or
unimproved (about 60 miles) based on their present condition. For the most part,
improved roads have moderate grades, are cleared of vegetation and downed trees,
and can be used by SUV’s or other 4x4 vehicles. Most of these roads have not been
graveled, and have limited traffic ability during wet conditions. In areas lower in the
watershed, near the reservoir, bridges and culverts have been installed where these
roads intersect perennial streams. However, there are frequent occurrences higher in
the landscape where the roads ford perennial streams. Unimproved roads comprise a
wide range of conditions. In some cases they were old skid trails and landings that were
never constructed to high standards, in other cases they were haul roads or access
roads that are no longer maintained. Their single common denominator is that they are
not currently accessible to vehicular traffic. In most cases the road grade is still evident,
though the amount of work required to make these roads usable varies greatly.

Fauna and flora

Fauna: Biological diversity of the Philippines is considered high and endemicity of

wildlife is as high as 67% of the total 561 birds species, 177 species are considered
endemic to the Philippines. According to the IUCN red list, 86 species of birds are
considered as threatened species are near-threatened. There is a record of 180
mammalian species inhabiting the Philippines, and 110 species of which are endemic.
Most mammalian species occur only in lowland forest, montane forest, and mossy
forest. Bat species are distributed widely in lowlands and decreases with increase in
elevation. Small animals other than bat, on the other hand, show a steady increase in
diversity with increasing elevation. Therefore, it is necessary that protected areas

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include the full elevation gradient so that many important wildlife species can be
secured effectively.

Flora: It is known that approximately79 families and 298 plant species exist in the
Cagayan Valley. Some endangered tree species grow in Nueva Vizcaya and that
includes Kalantas (Toona calantas). It is said that there are still unknown plant species
within the area particularly in the tropical pristine forests. Unidentified species could be
as many as 300. In Ifugao, dipterocarp species cover approximately 34% of the forest
land, and Benguet (Pinus kesiya) is relatively abundant in Asipulo, Banaue, Hungduan
and Tinoc. Dominant species of natural forest in Quirino are, Dao (Dracontomelon dao),
Dungon (Heretiera silvatica), Mayapis (Shorea Palosapis), and White lauan (Shorea
contorta).

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III. Management Objectives: Short term and long term

Forest Management Objectives

The primary forest management goal is to create and maintain a vigorous,

healthy, and diverse forest that will ensure the production of high quality drinking
water and production for power energy in the nearby multipurpose dams which
critical to national development from the Magat Watershed land area.

Other objectives for the management of this forest will also be pursued, but only in a
manner that is consistent with the primary objective stated above. These other
objectives include:

• The preservation and protection of biodiversity and of rare and unique plant and
animal species.

• The protection of the visual quality of the watershed, particularly as it is viewed from
the surrounding area.

• The generation of income through the sale of timber and non-timber forest products.

• The development of a forestry education resource for the surrounding community.

These management objectives are designed to protect the current high quality of the
Water rather than altering water yield. While it is possible to manage a forest in a
manner that increases water yield, most research suggests that to increase yield
significantly would require large and continuous reductions in forest cover. Given the
steepness of the topography in the Waynesville Watershed, it is believed that such
disturbances would lead to reductions in water quality and fail some of the secondary
objectives outlined above. If it is determined that the current water needs for the town
are not being met, then it would be more effective to employ water conservation
measures rather than to implement large-scale manipulation of the watershed forest.
The greatest threats to water quality in this watershed occur in the form of natural
and anthropogenic disturbances that might cause significant increases in sedimentation,
water nutrient levels, or water temperature.

In the Magat Watershed, these impacts might occur following either (i) large-scale
disturbances that caused significant amounts of tree mortality and/or reductions in forest
cover across large land areas within the watershed, or (ii) smaller scale disturbances
that caused reductions in forest cover and/or soil disturbances in areas adjacent to
streams and waterways.

Large scale disturbances that might cause significant forest mortality include insect and
disease outbreaks, wind and ice storms, wildfire, and air pollution. Small-scale
disturbances that might negatively impact streams are most commonly associated with

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heavy equipment operation that might be associated road construction and some timber
harvesting activities.

The forest management objectives for this property can best be achieved through the
promotion of vigorous, naturally occurring forest communities throughout the watershed.
These communities most often contain healthy individuals of species that are best
adapted to conditions within the watershed and are best able to resist and recover from
damaging agents or events. The watershed can be further protected by structuring the
forest in such a way that there is a balance of age classes represented across the
landscape. In summary, the best forest condition for this watershed is one that is made
up of diverse, naturally occurring forest types, which are maintained in a Magat
Watershed Supplemental Document 1: vigorous and healthy condition such that they
are actively accumulating both nutrients and biomass.

IV. Management Activities to Achieve Aforementioned Objectives

Forest Management:

Silvicultural treatments: In order to achieve the forest management objectives outlined

for this property, a number of classical silvicultural treatments will be applied. These can
be separated into (i) regeneration treatments, which are designed to replace mature
trees in a stand with a new crop of trees, and (ii) intermediate stand treatments, which
are designed to influence the growth, composition, and condition of the trees currently
present in a stand. Table 2 outlines the preferred regeneration treatments that will be
employed in the watershed, and a brief description of the silvicultural objectives of each.
Regeneration treatments will primarily rely on natural forms of regeneration to provide
the next crop of trees.
Intermediate stand treatments will be employed in stands that are growing satisfactorily,
and are not in need of regeneration. These treatments will be applied in order to
enhance the health and condition of existing stands by removing less desirable stems.
Intermediate stand treatments will be prescribed in order to accomplish the following:

• Improve stand vigor by thinning stands that are overstocked.

• Improve stand health by removing trees that are infected with insects or disease.
• Improve stand condition by removing poorly formed or damaged trees.
• Increase species diversity by removing more common species that are competing with
less common species.

Table 2. Identification and objectives of preferred regeneration treatments.

Regeneration treatment Silvicultural objectives

Even-aged methods: • Creation of a truly even-aged stand.
• Maximize diversity and density of regeneration.
 Patch clearcutting – patch • Promote regeneration of the most intolerant
sizes ranging from 1 to 10 species in

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acres. Trees greater than 2
inches dbh felled. the stand.

Two-aged methods: • Development of a two-storied stand.

• Slight reduction in competition for regeneration.
 Shelterwood • Promote regeneration of both moderately
tolerant and
intolerant species in the stand.
Uneven-aged methods: • Develop or maintain a classically uneven-aged
stand
 Single tree selection or Smallgroup that mirrors conditions that would develop
selection (openings less following
t han 0.5 acre) canopy gap disturbances.
• Continuously maintain a high percentage of
mature
trees in the stand.
• Promote regeneration of the more tolerant
species in
the stand.

 Large-group selection Same as small-group except:

(openings 0.5 to 1 acre) • Increase the diversity of regeneration.
• Promote greater development of understory
vegetation.
• Promote regeneration of some less tolerant
species in
the stand.

The forest will be managed on roughly a 20-year cycle. This means that each
stand within the watershed will be evaluated for treatment approximately every 20
years. The specific treatment to be prescribed for each stand will be based on the
condition of the stand at that time, which will be evaluated in the context of the overall
goals and condition of the watershed. Based on these analyses, the treatment for each
stand might be to either, (i) do nothing, (ii) perform an intermediate stand treatment, or
(iii) perform a regeneration treatment. A series of compartments will be delineated that
will guide which areas will be considered for treatment during each year.

Harvests of forest products from the watershed, when conducted, will be carefully
planned to assure a continuing, renewable and long-term source of forest products
consistent with the conservation easement goals and objectives. Harvest projections by
species or species group, over the period of the forest management plan, and over
reasonable horizons beyond the plan, will be sufficiently detailed to demonstrate
sustainable forest management.

Forest area available for treatment must be determined, and current scientific
methods and site-specific information used to project harvest volumes. Area regulation
or other suitable methods can be employed to ensure that variability in harvest volumes

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is consistent with the conservation easement goals, silvicultural requirements for
maintaining a diverse forest, and principles of sustainable forestry.

Published yield tables will be utilized to provide the initial estimate of harvest
volume potential. Such yield tables exist for broad regions and must be carefully
interpreted and adjusted for local conditions. Where they exist, variable-density yield
tables should be utilized. To the degree feasible, computerized stand growth models will
be employed to customize projections of timber growth and harvest. Over time, growth
data from stands under similar treatment, including but not limited to stands on this
parcel will be utilized to ensure that growth and harvest projections are correct. Riparian
zone management: This plan recognizes the fundamental importance of managing
riparian zones in order to protect water quality and other ecological values.

As such, riparian zones will be managed to achieve the following:

• Maintain adequate filter strips to protect against sedimentation.

• Develop and maintain riparian forests comprised of naturally occurring species that are
resistant to disturbance, healthy, and vigorously growing.
• Develop and maintain adequate canopy cover to moderate water temperatures and
provide litter inputs to streams.
• Recruit large, old trees that will provide coarse woody debris to streams upon their
death. The maintenance of such forests will sometimes necessitate carefully planned
forest management activities, including timber harvesting. Forest management
activities in riparian areas will adhere to the following guidelines:
• As a general rule, no timber will be felled within 25 feet of intermittent or perennial
streams. The only exceptions will be for documented instances where timber cutting is
required to protect forest health or water quality. Any trees cut within this 25-foot buffer
will be directionally felled so as not to fall into the stream.
• As a general rule, no harvesting equipment will be allowed to operate within 50 feet of
intermittent or perennial streams. The only exceptions are for approved stream
crossings or documented cases where there is no prudent alternative, and where such
alternative would not be expected to negatively impact water quality. Any trees felled
within this 50-foot buffer will be directionally felled so as not to fall into the stream.

Rare and endangered species: This plan recognizes the importance of protecting rare
and endangered species within the watershed. An initial examination of the watershed
indicates that these occur almost exclusively in rugged, high elevation areas, and in the
aquatic communities of some streams.

These are areas where forest management activities would already be greatly restricted
due to (i) riparian management constraints, (ii) Protection of the watershed as park, (iii)
low forest productivity potential, or (iv) limited access and equipment operability. The
following strategies will be employed to protect and enhance rare and endangered
species within the watershed:

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• All state and federal laws regarding timber-harvesting restrictions will be followed
when threatened and endangered species are encountered.
• The overall biodiversity within the watershed will be maintained or enhanced by
maintaining a complex of vigorous, diverse, naturally occurring, forest communities
across the landscape.
• All practical steps will be taken to preclude the use or spread of invasive, exotic
species.

Special areas: The areas within the watershed where active forest management is to be
precluded, or that will encompass other special or unique uses. This plan recognizes
that there will be no active forest management within this area.

Conservation logging practices: In addition to meeting or exceeding all additional care

will be employed in the planning and execution of all timber harvesting operations in
order to minimize their negative impacts on soils, vegetation, and other site properties.
Timber harvests will be planned in consideration of the silvicultural objectives, current
stand condition, soil properties, topography, season, weather, and harvesting
technology. Particular emphasis will be placed on employing only skilled operators to
perform all harvesting within the watershed. In addition, equipment configurations will be
constantly reviewed to ensure that equipment is being used that best matches
silvicultural objectives and site conditions.

Forest roads: The current road network provides important access into the watershed
for monitoring forest condition, fire protection, law enforcement patrolling, and other
necessary uses. These roads also have the potential to provide access to a significant
portion of the property for forest management activities, including timber harvesting.
Forest roads and trails, whether used for skidding logs or for truck hauling, can be sites
of significant soil erosion and sedimentation, and thus must be managed carefully. The
following guidelines will apply to the use of forest roads within the property:

• All roads and trails used during forest management activities will be constructed,
utilized, and maintained in a manner to meet or exceed criteria outlined in current
Philippines Forest Practices Guidelines.
• As a rule, every effort will be made to utilize existing roads and trails in all forest
management activities rather than constructing new roads. The only exception is when
additional road construction is required to achieve the goals of this plan.

Broad Silviculture strategies for each stand type:

Figure 4 shows the most recent estimate of the distribution of potential forest cover
types within the watershed. Forest cover types are not distributed randomly across the
landscape, but instead are distributed in response to soil and topographic factors. Not
all forest types will be managed with the same intensity.

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 Certain cover types will be managed more actively than others, particularly where (i)
such management is needed to protect water quality, (ii) productivity is highest, (iii)
operability is the least restrictive, and (iv) financial returns will be the highest. Table 3
outlines the general level of management that will be utilized in each forest cover type.

Implementation: All specific forest management activities will be conducted in

accordance with a plan written by a professional forester.

Table 3. Broad forest management strategies for potential forest cover types
within the Magat Watershed.
Management Silvicultural
Cover type Justification
level1 systems
• Low productivity
• Difficult access
• Difficult operability
Uneven- • Protect Parkway viewshed
Dipterocarps forest Minimal
aged • Protect rare communities
• Removed from reservoir and
higher order streams
• Low commercial value
• Low productivity
• Moderate to difficult access
• Difficult operability
Uneven-
Opportunistic • Protect Parkway viewshed
Molave forest aged,
• Protect rare communities
•Distant from reservoir and
higher order streams
• Low commercial value
• Moderate to high productivity
Uneven- • Moderate access
Teak plantation Active aged, • Moderate operability
•Moderate to high commercial
value
• High productivity
Uneven- • Moderate access
Gmelina plantation Active aged, • Moderate operability
• Moderate to high commercial
value
• Low productivity
• Moderate access
• Moderate to difficult operability
Ipil-ipil plantation Opportunistic even-aged
• Removed from reservoir and
higher order streams
• Low commercial value

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 Cover type Management Silvicultural
Justification
level1 systems
• Moderate to high
productivity
•Moderate
Active Uneven-aged,
Mahogany plantation accessibility
Even-aged
•Moderate operability
•Moderate to high
commercial value
• Moderate to high
productivity
• Moderate
accessibility
• Moderate operability
Pine plantation Active Uneven-aged,
• Adjacent to
Even-aged
perennial streams
and reservoir
• Moderate to high
commercial
value
1Minimal implies that little if any active management will occur. Opportunistic implies that limited
management will occur, and that management treatments will generally only be prescribed where need and/or
opportunities present themselves. Active implies that more frequent and intensive management activities will
occur.

Specific Management Activities

Job # 2008-138 Activity Year Responsible Party
Tract # 27
Apply for Present Use Valuation 2009 Stakeholder
Wildfire Home Protection 2008 Stakeholder
Wildlife Unit 1
Mow Field for Wildlife 2008 Stakeholder
Plant warm season grasses 2008 Stakeholder
Crossings Unit 1
Conduct general stream crossing maintenance 2008 Stakeholder
Conduct general stream crossing maintenance 2011 Stakeholder
Conduct general stream crossing maintenance 2014 Stakeholder
Road Unit 1
Develop ATV riding trails 2008 Stakeholder
Conduct trail maintenance 2011 Stakeholder
Conduct trail maintenance 2014 Stakeholder
Boundary Unit 1
Perform boundary line maintenance 2008 Stakeholder
Perform boundary line maintenance 2015 Stakeholder
Forest Management Unit 1 Selective Harvest
Conduct selective harvest 2013 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Assess hardwood site preparation 2014 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors

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 Plant log decks and main skid trails 2014 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Conduct crop tree release 2028 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Conduct selective harvest 2028 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Assess hardwood site preparation 2029 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Plant log decks and main skid trails 2029 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Conduct crop tree release 2043 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Conduct selective harvest 2043 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 2 Pine Harvest
Conduct a seed tree harvest 2013 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Assess pine site preparation 2014 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Plant Benguet pine on a 10ft x 10ft spacing 2014 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Plant log decks and main skid trails 2014 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Assess stand for pine release 2017 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Conduct commercial thinning 2028 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Conduct understory burn 2029 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Conduct a seed tree harvest 2043 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Assess pine site preparation 2044 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Plant Benguet pine on a 10ft x 10ft spacing 2044 Contractor
Forest Management Unit 3 Streamside Management Zone
Conduct single tree harvest in SMZ 2013 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Conduct single tree harvest in SMZ 2028 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Conduct single tree harvest in SMZ 2043 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors

Activity Summary:
Job: Activity Timeline Activity Year Responsible Party
2008-138
Tract # 27 Wildfire Home Protection 2008 Stakeholder
Boundary Unit 1 Perform boundary line maintenance 2008 Stakeholder
Road Unit 1 Develop ATV riding trails 2008 Stakeholder
Crossings Unit 1 Conduct general stream crossing maintenance 2008 Stakeholder
Wildlife Unit 1 Mow Field for Wildlife 2008 Stakeholder
Wildlife Unit 1 Plant warm season grasses 2008 Stakeholder

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Tract # 27 Apply for Present Use Valuation 2009 Stakeholder
Road Unit 1 Conduct trail maintenance 2011 Stakeholder
Crossings Unit 1 Conduct general stream crossing maintenance 2011 Stakeholder
Forest Management Unit 1 Conduct selective harvest 2013 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 2 Conduct a seed tree harvest 2013 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 3 Conduct single tree harvest in SMZ 2013 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 1 Assess hardwood site preparation 2014 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 1 Plant log decks and main skid trails 2014 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 2 Assess pine site preparation 2014 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 2 Plant Benguet pine on a 10ft x 10ft spacing 2014 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 2 Plant log decks and main skid trails 2014 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Road Unit 1 Conduct trail maintenance 2014 Stakeholder
Crossings Unit 1 Conduct general stream crossing maintenance 2014 Stakeholder
Boundary Unit 1 Perform boundary line maintenance 2015 Stakeholder
Forest Management Unit 2 Assess stand for pine release 2017 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 1 Conduct crop tree release 2028 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 1 Conduct selective harvest 2028 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 2 Conduct commercial thinning 2028 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 3 Conduct single tree harvest in SMZ 2028 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 1 Assess hardwood site preparation 2029 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 1 Plant log decks and main skid trails 2029 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 2 Conduct understory burn 2029 Contractor
Forest Management Unit 1 Conduct crop tree release 2043 Contractor
Forest Management Unit 1 Conduct selective harvest 2043 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 2 Conduct a seed tree harvest 2043 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 3 Conduct single tree harvest in SMZ 2043 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 2 Assess pine site preparation 2044 Timber Company and Concerned
Forestry sectors
Forest Management Unit 2 Plant Benguet pine on a 10ft x 10ft spacing 2044 Contractor

MANAGEMENT UNIT RECOMMENDATIONS:

In this section will present all of the specific management recommendations. For
forest management units this will include a silvicultural system and associated activities.

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For the other management units it will include only specific activities. For practical
implementation the boundaries of the units will often overlap stand types, road sections,
or water features.

Wildlife Unit #: 1
Acres: 12
Prescription:
Activity: Mow Field for Wildlife
Strip mowing for wildlife simply involves creating ground disturbance, to reduce litter
accumulation, and stimulate germination of seed producing plants and grasses. Mowing
should be avoided during early spring when ground nesting birds and animals such as
deer and rabbits are using the field as cover. By mowing alternating strips every year,
usually every 3rd row, the area will have reduced woody competition, and allow the field
to be mowed using normal bush hogging equipment. Doing this will improve the habitat
for wild pig and birds such as wild chicken, quail and wild duck,. The older strips of
grasses will provide cover habitat for wildlife, while the adjacent younger strips will
provide foraging habitat.
Responsible Party: Stakeholder
Time Frame: 2008

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Activity: Plant grasses
Warm grasses such as napier grass, cogon grass are very beneficial to wildlife. These
grasses grow in small clumps or bunch which provides excellent cover and foraging
habitat. Also these grasses need little water or fertilizer to thrive. This makes them great
for dry areas with low fertility. To establish warm season grasses it will be necessary to
kill the existing grass, especially tall fescue, the season before planting. Then in the
spring till the soil, plant, and lightly pack into the ground. Before doing a large scale
project try purchasing a small quantity (one or two lbs. will go a long way) of one kind of
grass each year and hand-sowing it in spring. Each seed that survives and grows will
produce a bunch grass the size of a dinner plate so they do not have to be sown a high
rates. After the grass is established regular winter burns can maintain the grass and
ensure a good regrowth the following spring.
Responsible Party: Stakeholder
Time Frame: 2008

Crossings Unit #: 1
Prescription:
Activity: Conduct general stream crossing maintenance
Regular maintenance of stream crossings can prevent problems before they occur.
Maintenance should include checking culverts for obstructions, examine bridge decking
and supports, monitor if the stream channel has moved, and replace any rocks or gravel
that may have washed away.
Responsible Party: Stakeholder
Time Frame: 2008
Activity: Conduct general stream crossing maintenance
Responsible Party: Stakeholder
Time Frame: 2011
Activity: Conduct general stream crossing maintenance
Responsible Party: Stakeholder
Time Frame: 2014

Road Unit #: 1
Prescription:
Activity: Develop ATV riding trails
Many landowners utilize their ATVs for work as well as recreation. A properly
constructed ATV trail system can reduce safety concerns and improve overall
enjoyment. All terrain vehicles are capable of high speeds, which require different safety
considerations than pedestrian or horse trails. Poorly designed trails can suffer badly
from erosion and rutting, caused by aggressive ATV tires. In order to avoid these
problems the trail surface might need to be hardened. The higher speeds reached
during riding must be compensated for with trail width. Visibility of other riders is also a
concern, which must be addressed during trail layout. For more information see So You
Want To Build an ATV Trail in the appendix.
Responsible Party: Stakeholder
Time Frame: 2008
Activity: Conduct trail maintenance

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Maintaining ATV trails can be accomplished with a minimal amount of financial cost. It is
normally only necessary to clear large trees and low hanging branches that have
blocked the trail. This can be done with a bush axe or chainsaw. It is some times
necessary to rebuild the trail surface if heavy rutting or erosion has taken place. A
shovel and mattock or pick can be used to maintain waterbars. Bush-hogging can
improve a trail if there is available clearance to accept a tractor. Constant light
maintenance with can help avoid a large trail clearing job if left unattended.
Responsible Party: Stakeholder
Time Frame: 2011
Activity: Conduct trail maintenance
Responsible Party: Stakeholder
Time Frame: 2014

Boundary Unit #: 1
Prescription:
Activity: Perform boundary line maintenance
Mark your property lines with bright colored paint. Paint starts to fade as soon as 5 or 6
years after application and it can start being difficult to see. If you have a large amount
of boundary lines to paint consider breaking them into sections and painting a different
section each year. The more often the lines are painted the less expensive they are to
maintain. Well-marked lines will also make future timber sales much easier to set-up
and implement. If all of your corners are marked we will be able to assist you. If corners
are missing you will need a surveyor to locate the corners before the lines can be
marked. We usually need a surveyor to relocate boundary lines on client’s property
several times each year because the lines had been marked at some point in the past
but not maintained. The cost of having your boundary lines marked can range from 15
cents per foot for repainting to a dollar or more per foot for surveying and painting.
Responsible Party: Stakeholder
Time Frame: 2008
Activity: Perform boundary line maintenance
Responsible Party: Stakeholder
Time Frame: 2015

Forest Management Unit #: 1

Acres: 15
Silviculture System: Patch Harvest
This silvicultural system is useful in areas of high aesthetic value, rugged or irregular
terrain. Small areas of 5 to 10 acres will be harvested at one time, and approximately 25
percent of the total management unit can be cut every 15 to 20 years. This will result in
a mosaic of age classes across the management unit. The large variety of vertical and
horizontal diversity greatly increases the available wildlife forage and habitat. The larger
openings of this silvicultural system make it possible to artificially regenerate a stand. It
may be necessary to hire a contractor and cut down residual trees after the harvest is
complete to help regeneration.
The skid trail system will need to be laid out prior to harvest. It will be necessary to
reuse loading decks to harvest other patches in this management unit. We sometimes

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recommend the sale be negotiated rather than sealed bid, dependent on the difficulty of
the logging. Timing of the timber sale may depend on current timber market prices.
Prescription:
Activity: Conduct selective harvest
Several selective ranging in size from 5 to 10 acres will be harvested in this
management unit.
Responsible Party: Casey&Company Forestry, PLLC
Time Frame: 2013
Activity: Assess hardwood site preparation
Assess need for site preparation after harvest is completed. Site preparation will depend
on the stand type and logging contractor. If the logger cuts the tract cleanly nothing will
need to be done. If a large number of stems are left after the harvest you will need to
hire a contractor to come in and cut down the remaining stems that are greater than 2
inches in diameter at breast height. Cost sharing funds are normally available to help
offset this cost.
Responsible Party: Casey&Company Forestry, PLLC
Time Frame: 2014

Activity: Plant log decks and main skid trails

Planting log decks and main skid roads aids in the recovery of your disturbed forest land
and provides forage for wildlife. During harvesting activities a logger will need to create
one or more open areas to serve as a loading area, or log deck. These areas are used
to load your timber onto trucks headed to the mill. Once the logging is complete these
log decks as well as the skid trails leading into your land will still remain as open un-
used forest land. Seed mixtures that include wildlife friendly species like red fescue,
orchard grass, Korean lespedeza, Indian grass, clover, or deer tongue can provide two
important outcomes. First, the plants will help stabilize the surface from erosion and
accelerate the recovery of these areas. Second, it will provide forage for wildlife
particularly deer, song birds, and turkeys. The soil on log decks and skid trails can be
very compacted and will usually require some sort of seed bed preparation such as
chisel plowing. Applying 17-17-17 fertilizer at a rate of 300lbs per acre, and pelletized
lime at a rate of 2 tons per acre will help insure the seed mixture has plenty of nutrients.
Annual maintenance will be required to sustain the wildlife benefit of these areas
including mowing, fertilization, liming, and sometimes re-seeding.
Responsible Party: Casey&Company Forestry, PLLC
Time Frame: 2014

Activity: Conduct crop tree release

Crop tree management is a system designed to increase the growth rate of your most
valuable trees, which in turn increases the financial return from your forestry investment.
Crop tree management accomplishes this by identifying the highest quality or “crop”
trees and removing the competing trees to give the crop trees more room to grow and
more resources to utilize. Crop tree selection criteria can include timber, wildlife,
aesthetic, and water quality. When looking at pure timber production you will focus on
the trees with the highest monetary value. When looking at wildlife habitat improvement
you will be looking for trees that produce hard mast and trees with cavities or den trees.

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Most landowners combine their selection criteria with the primary focus on timber
production while leaving the better hard mast producing and den trees, and in areas
along road and trails picking crop trees for fall color, spring blossoms and unique trees
such as those unusual shapes or attractive bark patterns. This is also a good
opportunity to create snags. Snags are dead or dying trees used by wildlife for roosting,
foraging, perching, and territorial displays. You can create snags by girdling trees. To do
this use a chainsaw to cut completely through the bark in two rings about 12 inches
apart. Refer to page 4 in Crop Tree Management North Carolina found in the appendix
for more information on selection criteria for crop trees.
The aftermath of crop tree release is messy. You should not plan on using an area that
has been released for several years. Crop tree management is an intermediate stand
treatment and it will not produce any income, just increased growth of the remaining
trees. We will be glad to assist you with this project at whatever level you need.
Additional information on crop tree management can be found in the appendix. After the
crop tree release is done, sit back and let the trees grow for 30 to 40 years more and
you will be ready to harvest again.
Responsible Party: Contractor
Time Frame: 2028
Activity: Conduct patch harvest
Responsible Party: Casey&Company Forestry, PLLC
Time Frame: 2028
Activity: Assess hardwood site preparation
Responsible Party: Casey&Company Forestry, PLLC

Time Frame: 2029

Activity: Plant log decks and main skid trails
Responsible Party: Casey&Company Forestry, PLLC
Time Frame: 2029
Activity: Conduct crop tree release
Responsible Party: Contractor
Time Frame: 2043
Activity: Conduct patch harvest
Responsible Party: Casey&Company Forestry, PLLC
Time Frame: 2043

Forest Management Unit #: 2

Acres: 26
Silviculture System: Converting Virginia Pine Stand to Loblolly Pine
• Conduct a sealed bid timber sale with a clearcut harvest. Timing of the timber sale
may depend on current timber market prices.
• Assess need for site preparation after harvest is completed. It will at least be
necessary to burn the site before planting to reduce the amount of Virginia pine present
in the seedbed.
• If there is a large amount of Virginia pine regeneration present it may be necessary to
hire a contractor to spray the harvested areas with herbicide. This will kill the Virginia
pine seedlings and increase the survival and vigor of the seedlings that will be planted.

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• Plant with genetically improved loblolly pine seedlings during the spring.
• Check seedling survival the following winter and replant as necessary.
• Three to five years after planting release the loblolly pine seedlings from competing
Virginia pine and other seedlings by brush sawing or herbicide application.
• Commercial thinning at age 20 to 25 if possible.
• Clearcut harvest at age 35 to 40.
Prescription:
Activity: Conduct a clearcut harvest
Conduct a sealed bid timber sale with a clearcut harvest. Timing of the timber sale may
depend on current timber market prices.
Responsible Party: Casey&Company Forestry, PLLC
Time Frame: 2013
Activity: Assess pine site preparation
Assess need for site preparation after harvest is completed. Site preparation will depend
on the stand type and logging contractor. Burning and raking the site with a bulldozer
are two typical site preparation techniques.
Responsible Party: Casey&Company Forestry, PLLC
Time Frame: 2014

Activity: Plant loblolly pine on a 10ft x 10ft spacing

In the spring after harvest or site preparation, hand plant loblolly pine improved
seedlings on a 10 foot by 10 foot basis.
Responsible Party: Contractor
Time Frame: Spring 2014

Activity: Plant log decks and main skid trails

Planting log decks and main skid roads aids in the recovery of your disturbed forest land
and provides forage for wildlife. During harvesting activities a logger will need to create
one or more open areas to serve as a loading area, or log deck. These areas are used
to load your timber onto trucks headed to the mill. Once the logging is complete these
log decks as well as the skid trails leading into your land will still remain as open un-
used forest land. Seed mixtures that include wildlife friendly species like red fescue,
orchard grass, Korean lespedeza, Indian grass, clover, or deer tongue can provide two
important outcomes. First, the plants will help stabilize the surface from erosion and
accelerate the recovery of these areas. Second, it will provide forage for wildlife
particularly deer, song birds, and turkeys. The soil on log decks and skid trails can be
very compacted and will usually require some sort of seed bed preparation such as
chisel plowing. Applying 17-17-17 fertilizer at a rate of 300lbs per acre, and pelletized
lime at a rate of 2 tons per acre will help insure the seed mixture has plenty of nutrients.
Annual maintenance will be required to sustain the wildlife benefit of these areas
including mowing, fertilization, liming, and sometimes re-seeding.
Responsible Party: Casey&Company Forestry, PLLC
Time Frame: 2014
Activity: Assess stand for pine release
Three years after planting assess stand to see if pine seedlings need release from
competing hardwood sprouts and seedlings.

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 Responsible Party: Casey&Company Forestry, PLLC
Time Frame: 2017

Activity: Conduct commercial thinning

Commercial thinning at age 15 to 25 if possible. At the current time it is difficult to get
thinning done, but in 20 to 24 years who knows?
Responsible Party: Casey&Company Forestry, PLLC
Time Frame: 2028
Activity: Conduct understory burn
Begin understory burning when trees are 20 to 25 feet tall.
Responsible Party: Contractor
Time Frame: Winter 2029
Activity: Conduct a clearcut harvest
Responsible Party: Casey&Company Forestry, PLLC
Time Frame: 2043
Activity: Assess pine site preparation
Responsible Party: Casey&Company Forestry, PLLC
Time Frame: 2044
Activity: Plant loblolly pine on a 10ft x 10ft spacing
Responsible Party: Contractor
Time Frame: Spring 2044

Forest Management Unit #: 3

Acres: 7
Silviculture System: Streamside Management Zone
The primary purpose of this management unit is to protect water quality. This is
accomplished be leaving a forested buffer around all water. This is further described in
the North Carolina Best Management Practices Manual. Harvesting within this area
varies based on state and local regulations.
• Harvesting in this unit will take place when adjacent units are being harvested.
• Trees larger than 16 inches in diameter at breast height will be marked to be cut.
• If any skid trails or roads are constructed within this management unit they will need to
be permanently stabilized with a vegetative cover after logging has been completed.
Prescription:
Activity: Conduct single tree harvest in SMZ
A single tree harvest is the method used to remove trees from the stream side
management zones. Stream side management zones are maintained and managed
primarily to protect water quality, but this doesn’t mean you can’t harvest trees out of it.
In some areas there are rules that specify what may be done in a SMZ. More
information about rules for specific areas can be found at
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/forest/ordinance/index.html. Any harvesting in a SMZ
needs to be done in conjunction with harvests in adjoining areas. We’ve found most
landowners want at least some of the high value trees cut out of the SMZ’s. SMZ’s can
be important as wildlife corridors and they also provide important mature forest
attributes such as the presence of hard mast producing trees such as beeches and

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oaks. You will want to retain some of the mast producing trees such as beeches and
oaks for wildlife use.
Responsible Party: Casey&Company Forestry, PLLC
Time Frame: 2013
Activity: Conduct single tree harvest in SMZ
Responsible Party: Casey&Company Forestry, PLLC
Time Frame: 2028
Activity: Conduct single tree harvest in SMZ
Responsible Party: Casey&Company Forestry, PLLC
Time Frame: 2043

APPENDIX I
Major soils in mgat Watershed, and their properties
Moved to Appendix 1 of the Magat Watershed Forest Stewardship Plan
Supplemental Document 1: Strategic Forest Management Plan Page 12 of 16

APPENDIX II
Description of Potential Forest Communities in the Magat Watershed based on
2002 DENR survey

Pine plantations
In addition to the communities described above, there are a number of white pine
plantations that were planted to stabilize areas around the reservoir.

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