Variable plot sampling with a Cruising Prism

Use both a prism and an angle gauge to count the number of trees.  Record the BAF. Count three plots with each.  Average the three plots (record average to three decimal places) and multiply by the BAF to get the basal area per acre.  Viewing the tree bole at breast height (DBH = 4.5 feet above the ground) the tree is counted in the plot of the prism displaced bole touches the tree bole above or below the prism.  If the displaced image doesn’t touch the tree bole the tree is not counted in the plot.

Prisms:  It doesn’t matter how far you hold the prism from your eye.  However, as you rotate in a circle to sample the forest, the prism should remain over the same point.  Mark the center of the plot with a stake.

Prisms must be held with the thick edge perpendicular to the ground.  The prism will offset an image of the tree trunk. If this offset image intersects with the actual trunk viewed outside the prism, the tree is counted.

Trees where the offset image does not intersect the tree are ignored and borderline trees (offset image barely touches the tree) are counted as half a tree or you can count every other borderline tree.

Forestry Key Points

1F        Identify common trees without a key and identify specific or unusual species of trees or shrubs through the use of a key.

2F        Understand forest ecology concepts and factors affecting them, including the relationship between soil and forest types, tree communities, regeneration, competition, and succession.

3F        Understand the cause and effect relationship of factors affecting tree growth and forest development (climate, insects, microorganisms, wildlife, etc.).

4 F       Understand how wildlife habitat relates to forest communities, forest species, forest age and structure, snags and den trees, availability of food, and riparian zones.

5F        Understand how the following issues are affected by forest health and management: biological diversity, forest fragmentation, air quality, aesthetics, fire, global warming, and recreation.

6F        Understand basic forest management concepts and tools (Clinometer, Diameter Tape, Logger’s Tape, Prism, and Merritt Hypsometer) such as how various silvicultural practices are utilized, the use of tree measuring devices, and the best use of management practices.

7F        Apply silviculutral concepts and methods to develop general management recommendations and goals for a particular situation.

8F        Identify the complex factors that influence forest management decisions (e.g., economic, social, and ecological).

9F        Understand the value of trees in urban/suburban settings and the factors affecting their health and survival.

10F      Describe specific adaptations of wildlife to their environment and their role in the ecosystem.

Suggested Core Activities/Test Material

Students should identify common trees and shrubs in their local area without a plant key, and identify specific or unusual species of trees and shrubs using a key.  Using plant  presses, students will collect samples, and create plant identification collections for future study. 1F

Students sould conduct tree ring reaserch by using tree trunk slices to determine tree age, growing conditions, insect damage, and weather conditions. 3F

Students should use a clinometer, increment borer, diameter tape, and  other forestry management tools to measure trees in their local area.  Using a variety of volume tables, the students will be able to calculate the volume of lumber for each tree. 6F

Students should download the PDF file “Forest Health” from eco- links written by the Temperate Forest Foundation.  Team members can present their research on how the following issues are affected by forest health and management: biological diversity, forest fragmentation, air quality, aesthetics, fire, global warming, and recreation. 5F

Using the Penn State “virtual forest tour” on their computer, students will understand how forest practices and policy affect sustainability.  Students will compare a mixed eastern hardwood forest in Pennsylvania to a douglas fir forest in Oregon. 2F. 3F, 6F, 7F, 8F 

Students shoiuld create a presentation display showing the value of trees in an urban setting, and the factors affecting their health and survival. 9F

Students should make a map of their local area forest or park, including wildlife inventories, tracks, habitat, food sources, and specific  wildlife adaptations. 4F, 10F

Top Resources

A complete glossary of forestry terms can be accessed at:

      http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/

library/documents/glossary/ Natural Resource Skills

Tree Identification

http://gaia.flemingc.on.ca/

~dhendry/nrstrid.htm (1F)

Dendrology at Virginia Tech, Dept of forestry.  Good maps, identification and quizzes for Canada and the US.

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/

dendrology/map/zonemap.htm (1F)

Canadian Forestry Association

http://www.canadianforestry.com/  (All)

Penn State virtual forest

http://www.virtualforest.psu.edu/  (2F 3F 6F 7F 8F)

University of Arizona tree ring research.  Students can participate in tree ring exercises.

http://tree.ltrr.arizona.edu/

dendrochronology.html (3F)

Canadian Forest Service

http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/cfs-scf/ (All)

Temperate Forest Foundation-Silviculture practices, management, and eco-links.

http://www.forestinfo.org/ (All)

Canadian Pulp and Paper Association

http://www.cppa.org/english/ (All)

Private Forest Management Team. This site includes many forest management areas including measuring, harvesting, growth, yield, pests and disease, wildlife, and many others.

http://www.pfmt.org/default.htm (All)

Auburn University- Instructions and care of the increment borer.

http://www.pfmt.org/inventories/

increment_borer.htm (6F)

·        Canada Sustainable Forest Association

http://sfms.com/home.htm  (All)

Tree measurement volume tables

      http://www.pfmt.org/ (6F)

Canada measurement volume tables

http://nfi.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/terms/

procedures_e.html#volumespecs (6F)

Idaho Forest Products Commission-Forest health and conditions, biodiversity, and management implications.

http://www.idahoforests.org/health.htm

(3F 5F 7F 8F)

Canada Forest Health

http://www.atl.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca:8080/

cfsnet/index-e.html (3F 5F 7F 8F)

Canada Wildlife

http://www.ec.gc.ca/wild_e.html (3F 4F 10F)

Urban forestry

www.americanforests.org/resources/

urbanforests/  (9F)

Forestry Extended Studies

Students should be able to recommend harvesting methods for even and uneven age stands.  They will list the benefits of shelterwood, seed tree, and clearcut methods.

http://www.forestinfo.org/Discover/reforest.htm  (2F 6F 7F)

Students should be able to list and diagram the different characteristics of the following forest types:  Savanna, open, dense, understory, and complex.

http://www.idahoforests.org/health2a.htm  (2F 5F 7F 8F)

Students should be able to map, label and define the major forest regions of California.

www.springerlink.com/index/P5PT410483K44NP3.pdf  (2F 3F 5F 7F 8F)

On-line Sample Tests

The Canon Envirothon web site contains sample tests for each of the Envirothon topics and a list of issues.  Many state and provincial Envirothon Web sites also contain sample tests.

http://www.envirothon.org/competition/tests.php

http://wps.prenhall.com/esm_wright_envisci_8/0,8543,1052446-,00.html

Energy and Solid Waste

Students should create an educational display showing the benefits of forestry biomass resources for creating energy. The display will include pictures and descriptions of nine short rotation hardwood trees recommended for biomass use.

http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/biomass.html

Students should discuss the effects of increased paper recycling on timber harvests in North America.

http://www.yale.edu/pswp/#inceeffect

Students should outline the importance of the forest products industries in Canada and the United States and make a graph comparing the net electricity use of the major manufacturing industries to the forest products industry.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.

renewables/at_a_glance/wood/contents.htm

Students should compare the energy efficiency between wood fuel and fossil fuel by analyzing the net energy output between oil burning stoves and wood burning stoves.

http://www.energyadvocate.com/fw13.htm

Wood fuel provides 7% of the world’s energy, but 77% of this energy is consumed by developing countries.  Students should make a chart showing the importance of wood energy in the world, and compare the energy uses of the United States and Canada to world use.

http://www.fao.org/forestry/site/14011/en

Students should research the amounts of wood residue and solid waste wood that is available for recovery.  They will analyze the two main sources, forest residue and primary timber processing, and make a graph of their data.

http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/

pubs/viewpub.jsp?index=7113

Students should create a power point presentation comparing paper recycling facts in the United States, and Canada. http://www.paperrecycles.org/

http://www.recycle.

nrcan.gc.ca/background_e.htm

Students should study the controversy over the forest management practices in the Wao Kele o Puna rain forest in Hawaii, where the drilling of geothermal wells for electricity production has been proposed.  The students will divide into two groups, and debate the issues.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/

articles/mi_m1016/is_n7-8_v97/ai_11012471

Students should create an educational display showing the reduced energy costs associated with trees planted for energy conservation in our cities.

http://www.americanforests.org/

graytogreen/energy/

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

Georgia Pacific Forestry Education in Nature

http://www.gp.com/EducationalinNature/subjects.html

Canada Renewable Energy Forestry

http://www2.nrcan.gc.ca/es/oerd/english/

view.asp?x=700&mid=33

BLM National Energy Initiatives

http://www.blm.gov/energy/

New Brunswick Natural Resources Forestry and Energy

http://www.gnb.ca/0079/index-e.asp

U.S. Dept. of Energy

http://www.eere.energy.gov/

Ecology at About.com

http://ecology.about.com/science/ecology/

Forestry at About.com

http://forestry.about.com/

Discovery.com Wildfires

http://www.discovery.com/area/science/wildfires/

Silvics of North America

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/

silvics_manual/table_of_contents.htm

Climate Information

http://www.noaa.gov

Basics of Tree ID

http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/forsite/Idtree.htm
SelecTree California
http://selectree.calpoly.edu/

CalPhotos - Plants
http://dlp.CS.Berkeley.EDU/photos/flora/

Manual of California Vegetation
http://www.ice.ucdavis.edu/cnps/site.html

California Native Plant Society
http://www.cnps.org/programs/plantscience.htm

Online Biology Book
http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/

bio181/BIOBK/BioBookTOC.html

Tree Physiology

http://www.dsisd.k12.mi.us/mff/

Environment/TreePhys.htm

 

ICE Environmental Conservation Hotlinks
http://ice.ucdavis.edu/echo/

habitats_and_ecosystems.html#habitats

California Environmental Resources Evaluation System
http://ceres.ca.gov/education/students/nat_sci.html

California Natural Resource Conservation Service Homepage
http://www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/

Agencies/Organizations

USDA Forest Service
http://www.fs.fed.us/

USGS Biological Resource Division, National Biological Information Infrastructure

http://biology.usgs.gov 

Sierra Nevada Science Report

http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/

publications/documents/other/sierra

Environmental Protect Agency Water Quality Programs
http://www.epa.gov

US Fish and Wildlife Service
http://www.fws.gov

California Biodiversity Council
http://www.ceres.ca.gov/biodiversity

California Department of Conservation Land Use Planning Information Network
http://ceres.ca.gov

California Department of Fish and Game
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

http://www.fire.ca.gov

Society of American Foresters

http://www.safnet.org

Insects and Diseases of Forest Trees

http://www.forestpests.org
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/nr/fid/index/htm

http://www.bugwood.org/

http://www.forestpathology.org 

USDA Forest Service Western Forest Insects and Diseases
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/nr/fid/wid.htm

Map Information
http://www.usgs.gov/
http://nationalatlas.gov/

Federal Laws Related to the USDA Forest Service
http://www.healthyforests.gov/

http://www.epa.gov/epahome/laws.htm

California Environmental Law Information

http://ceres.ca.gov/elaw  

USDA Forest Service History Website
http://www.lib.duke.edu/forest/

Research/usfscoll/collections/

Miscellaneous forestry sites

http://forestryindex.net/

http://www.worldforestry.org/

http://www.americanforests.org/

http://www.forestryimages.org/

Urban Forestry

http://www.ufei.org/