Working Forests and Conservation

Working forests are lands managed to provide renewable forest products while maintaining the forest’s ecological functions. While the word conservation may conjure images of leaving a forest untouched, active management helps forests maintain their health and resilience. In this blog, we share the benefits of working forests, from increasing biodiversity to protecting soil health and water quality.

Working forests often have a high degree of biodiversity depending on the forest conditions and habitat opportunities present. For instance, mixed-age and mixed-class forests may have a range of tree ages and species, which can support a wide array of wildlife. Certain silvicultural activities, like creating an edge habitat, maintaining riparian buffers and vegetation, and planting mast-producing trees, can provide food sources and habitat. During harvest planning, foresters can mark and save snags (dead standing trees) and leave downed woody material to further support that effort. These provide nesting, roosting, and foraging opportunities for some wildlife species. Eventually, downed wood decomposes and adds nutrients back into the soil, nurturing the soil, trees, and many other living organisms.

Another benefit of working forests that are actively managed is the health and resilience that often come from being under the watchful eye of a forester, land manager, or Certified Wildlife Biologist. Forests often face a variety of pressures from many angles, including invasive species, pests, diseases, wildfire, drought, and changing climate conditions. Certain management activities, like thinnings and herbicidal treatments, can reduce competition for native species, helping to improve forest structure. Your AFM forester will manage your forest based on its specific conditions, taking into account forest composition, soil health, climate, evidence of pests and diseases, and more. They can write a forest management plan that targets specific objectives and goals.

The management process is dedicated to conservation, as harvesting without replanting strips this important resource. Throughout the entire management process, foresters follow Best Management Practices (BMPs) and any other local and state regulations to protect streams, wetlands, and other sensitive areas. We plan road construction and maintenance and harvest areas carefully to minimize disturbances to surrounding areas, and we work to maintain wildlife habitat and connectivity, which can sometimes take the shape of an edge habitat. This provides a transitional area from open spaces to other heavily forested areas that are not being harvested. Our foresters also ensure protection of culturally or ecologically significant features on a property, whether that’s historical tribal significance or endangered species.

Working forests are only successful when they’re committed to conservation and sustainability. Trees are a renewable resource, and forests continue to provide clean water, wildlife habitat, carbon storage, recreation opportunities, and other benefits to the ecosystem. The goal is not to simply harvest or preserve trees, but to manage forests responsibly.