Roadside Forest Management: Tree-by-Tree

[Peter Smallidge]

Roadside trees present special considerations for management given their crown may have an imbalance of sunlight and thus crown architecture, and because if the tree fails the consequences may impact transportation or public utility
rights-of way.  

Each year, severe weather results in extended power outages and billions of dollars in property, infrastructure, and 

interior forest damage. Developing healthy, storm resistant forests requires adaptive management that integrates silvicultural and arboricultural practices from the forest edge to the interior that preserves aesthetic appeal and biodiversity. In rural woodlands, these principles apply along paths, trails and skid/haul roads used by owners for management and access. “STORMWISE” promotes the positive potential of proactive forest management to create a forest of stout, wind-firm trees that are less susceptible to branch breakage and uprooting during severe weather, two of the principal causes of utility line damage.

two publications that were mentioned in the webinar

Ward et al 2016 Manage roadside trees.PREPRINT.USFS Central Hardwoo...

Ward_et_al.Native.short.tree.list.2016Sept.pdf

The website for the project is www.stormwise.uconn.edu ;

Webinar Description

Roadside Forest Management: Tree-By-Tree.  Each year, severe weather results in extended power outages and billions of dollars in property, infrastructure, and interior forest damage. Developing healthy, storm resistant forests requires adaptive management that integrates silvicultural and arboricultural practices from the forest edge to the interior that preserves aesthetic appeal and biodiversity. In rural woodlands, these principles apply along paths, trails and skid/haul roads used by owners for management and access. “STORMWISE” promotes the positive potential of proactive forest management to create a forest of stout, wind-firm trees that are less susceptible to branch breakage and uprooting during severe weather, two of the principal causes of utility line damage. 

Presented by Dr. Jeff Ward Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and Tom Worthley University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension.

Watch the archived webinar here

========================================================