• Vaillancourt, Cassie L.
  School of Forest Resources, University of Maine
  

The forest management planning process explores alternative management scenarios and exposes certain tradeoffs in order to find an appropriate balance between landowner objectives.  Three alternative management scenarios were developed for the Demeritt Forest and were analyzed to determine which scenario best meets the landowner objectives.  Recommendations were made as to how to alter and improve the best scenario and remediate any concerns.

            Tools such as Landscape Management System (LMS), Microsoft Access, and Microsoft Excel were used to develop, analyze, and evaluate a no harvest, a more intensive, and a moderate scenario.  A score sheet was created to aid in the comparison of each scenario and to help determine which scenario best meets the landowner objectives.

None of the scenarios met all criteria for each objective, and there were benefits and disadvantages to each scenario.   It was determined that the more intensive scenario offered the best alternative to meet the landowner objectives.  In order to better meet the objectives, it was recommended that the intensive scenario be altered slightly.  Overstory removals should be modified to more vigorously remove the midstory, and the amount of clearcut harvests should be increased.  These actions will create a higher percentage of size class B stands.  Furthermore, the substantial area of the forest dominated by large trees should be reduced to lower susceptibility to wind damage, the amount of fir throughout the forest should be decreased to reduce susceptibility to spruce budworm damage, and white pine regeneration and growth should be promoted to maintain the valuable white pine resource.   Implementation of these changes will improve the results of the intensive scenario and better meet the landowner objectives.