Timber harvest to begin at national forest

HECTOR--It's harvest season at the Finger Lakes National Forest. With a goal of promoting the development of an oak/hickory forest, timber harvest operations will improve overall forest health conditions, restore native plant communities, and diversify wildlife habitats with a range of ages, sizes, and species of trees on the landscape.
The harvest is intended to improve forest health conditions in the Finger Lakes by reducing forest densities to improve individual tree and stand vigor and to reduce the potential impact from threats such as Emerald Ash Borer," according to a statement issued by the USDA Forest Service.
"It's been a while since we've seen a timber harvest here in the Finger Lakes National Forest," said District Ranger Jodie Vanselow. "It may come as a surprise to see some stands cleared or thinned, but it will make a big long-term difference in the health of the forest, and it is a project we've developed thoughtfully over the past few years."
Nearly 250 acres will see some activity, including land in the areas of Townsend Road, Warner Corners Road, Burnt Hill Road, and Mark Smith Road, however harvesters will do what they can to minimize disruptions for those using forest land for recreation.
The statement further indicated that most of the harvest is focused in areas that were planted in the 1940s, after a long history of agricultural use. Noting that these areas were planted with tree species that are not native to New York or would not normally grow in these locations, experts indicated that the non-native species did help soils recover from the agricultural use.
Today, though, many of these areas are overcrowded, with the trees declining in health and suffering from insect infestation and disease. In other areas, overstocked hardwood stands are increasingly becoming susceptible to a range of forest health threats, such as root rot, bark diseases, and defoliators.
The Forest Service is partnering with the National Wild Turkey Federation to complete this project, agreeing to share resources and meet the shared goals of maintaining and enhancing wildlife habitat. Through this agreement, timber revenue received from harvesting will be used to achieve reforestation and habitat objectives on the ground, such as preparing sites for regeneration and planting, as well as non-native invasive plant control. This project also supports the goals of the Finger Lakes Invasive Pest Strategy initiative focused on timber harvest, timber stand improvement, and associated forest restoration work on approximately 700 acres of the Finger Lakes National Forest.
For more information on the timber harvest project, contact Matthew Lark at 607-546-4470 x 3316 or matthew.lark@usda.gov.