Balancing Wildlife Habitat and Timber Production

By Jennifer Hunt (Content Writer) and Shane Fuller (Certified Wildlife Biologist)

It’s common for landowners to have multiple objectives on their property. While some may seem like competing interests, seasoned forestry professionals and land managers can expertly make recommendations for several objectives at once and maximize returns for their clients. Although some degree of compromise may be necessary, two interests or goals that can coexist are timber harvesting and wildlife habitat. While it may seem counterintuitive, many timber harvesting practices implemented on a property can actually have significant benefits for certain wildlife species, and foresters and Certified Wildlife Biologists at AFM can guide you through both.

Timber harvesting can create early successional habitat and support many species that depend on young forests. Birds like the Northern bobwhite, wild turkey, and Eastern meadowlark feast on the forbs and shrubs that grow in newly harvested areas, and woodcocks also feed on the invertebrates that grow in this environment. Although it is dependent on soil and climate, dense vegetation starts to fill in at roughly three years, and sapling growth takes place around three to five years, which tends to include many species that wildlife prefer. This new vegetation contributes to biodiversity and supports pollinators, small mammals, and other ground-nesting birds. Allowing more air to circulate through a stand, sunlight to reach the forest floor, reduces the risk of disease and pests, and contributes to a healthier forest overall.

When wildlife is also an objective, harvesting isn’t just about the timber, and there are several key factors to consider, including how, where, and why. After a harvest, a forester may lower planting density, which will keep the canopy open longer and encourage understory growth, and in some cases, increased tree growth. This is crucial for several of the species mentioned above, including the bobwhite quail, wild turkey, and whitetail deer. If a land management goal is to thin for wildlife habitat, it has similar results to a lower planting density but increases sunlight penetration to the forest floor, increasing and maintaining understory vegetation. A target basal area for a bobwhite habitat may be ±30-40 ft². Finally, certain harvesting techniques are more beneficial to wildlife. For instance, single-tree or group selection harvesting can maintain uneven-aged structure in a forest (which has numerous benefits on its own) and enhances the growth of desirable trees. This results in increased mast production (oak and beech, among others) and improves winter cover (softwoods for deer). Depending on the client’s objectives, foresters and land managers can use clearcuts and patch cuts strategically. Small, patchy harvests can create edge effects, which function as transitional zones to support diverse species. Targeted regeneration cuts can replicate fire, storm damage, and insect outbreaks, and support natural ecosystem cycles.

There are numerous opportunities to enhance wildlife habitat during and after a harvest. Retaining key structures, like snags (standing dead trees) and den trees, benefits woodpeckers, squirrels, and other cavity-nesting species like songbirds and some owls. Managing forest edges encourages shrubs, vines, and soft mast (blackberries, raspberries, etc.), which provide food and cover, and reduces wind/drying effects. Leaving some downed wood provides wildlife habitat, insect habitat (feeding birds), and nutrient cycling. Not only does leaving behind downed wood help provide wildlife habitat and benefits to the soil, but it also reduces removal costs for the landowner.

As with any forest management activities, having a Certified Wildlife Biologist or AFM forester on your side is key to success. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to land management, as many decisions depend on forest type, climate, existing conditions, previous management, landowner goals, etc. Foresters need to decide where to harvest, which method to use, and how to balance tradeoffs. With a professional on your side, he or she can balance timber harvesting and wildlife habitat as the two are frequently complementary. Active management regularly considers long-term thinking and ensures the forest asset is thriving. Well-managed forests can provide economic returns, ecological health, and diverse wildlife habitat all in one.