Forest Stewardship Demonstration Sites

The intensive use of Pennsylvania's woodlands, particularly timber harvesting, can have a large impact on the sustainability of the forests and its resources. However, with proper planning and careful management, timber harvesting can be beneficial, helping maintain vigorous, healthy, and productive forests. Therefore, it is essential that timber harvesting be employed as part of a professionally prepared management plan that recognizes potential consequences and avoids resulting negative impacts, including erosion and sedimentation, soil compaction, and damage to residual trees.

Freeman Tree Farm (Figure A) is a forest demonstration site and the virtual tour location. Demonstration sites were created across the state in the 1990's to introduce forest landowners to forest stewardship management concepts. The demonstration site is divided into six plots (Figure B) with a different harvesting treatments applied to each plot. Typically, the plots are as follows:

1 = Control area
2 = Thinning from below
3 = Thinning from middle
4 = Thinning from above
5 = Improvement thinning
6 = Clearcut

As landowners walk past the plots, they observe and can compare the results of different harvesting treatments. In addition, plackards describe the treatment, as well as benefits and deficiencies of the treatment.

Now that you understand Penn's Woods, harvesting practices, and the principles of demonstration sites, it is time to begin the virtual tour.