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Dead Wood on the land<br /> http://mylandplan.org/content/forest-renewal?utm_source=TaskForestHealth&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=2014MLPUsers

Comment by Alicia Rose on September 26, 2014 at 7:26pm: Snags and Decaying Debris:
The presence of dead standing and decaying trees is actually a good sign—it shows you have a mix of ages on your land, and it provides animal habitat, nutrient cycling and stable soils.
When assessing your woods, count the number of snags and the number of live trees, and calculate the percentage of standing trees that are snags.
If fewer than 5 percent of standing trees are snags Your forest is not as healthy as it could be. You may want to plan—and plant—for a more mixed-age stand.
If 5 to 10 percent of standing trees are snags Usually indicates fair forest health.
If more than 10 percent of standing trees are snags Means you have a healthy, sustainable forest.
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Now count the number of dead logs and downed branches that are more than 4 inches in diameter and more than 39 inches long. This is considered “coarse woody debris.”
If fewer than 5 percent of your forest floor debris is coarse woody debris May be an indication of poor forest health.
If 5 to 15 percent is coarse woody debris Indicates fair health.
If more than 15 percent is coarse woody debris It is a sign of a healthy forest
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Regeneration:
Using a tape measure and string, divide your land into 9 equal-sized sections. Now check each section for seedlings that are at least 12 inches tall (if it’s a conifer) or 39 inches tall (if it’s a deciduous tree). Make sure the seedlings are healthy—that means no apparent damage on the leaves or stems.
Mark down the number of sections that have at least one healthy seedling. Then divide that number by the total number of sections and multiply by 100.
If less than 33 percent of the sections have at least one healthy seedling Your regeneration may be insufficient and your forest may not be healthy.
If 33 to 66 percent of the sections have at least one healthy seedling Is a sign of fair forest health.
If more than 66 percent of the sections have at least one healthy seedling It is a sign that regeneration is underway and your woods are healthy.
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