I've got at least 300 acres of 17 year old loblolly's that we would like to have thinned late winter in Bibb County. We would also like to get the timber certified. We are looking for a forester that will cut with wildlife habitat management in mind vs just a random cutting. i believe I've seen some of you experts mention that there is a difference between a forester and a wildlife forester. you can responded here with recommendations or pm me if interested.

Question, what is "certified" timber? Never heard that, experts answer please. I may have some and not know it.

My pops wanted me to ask that. Supposedly a state certified forester can some how certify the timber and raise it's value? I haven't heard of it either

Same here

Maybe he meant get tree farm certification? http://www.forestry.alabama.gov/tree_farm.aspx

Forest certification through SFI (sustainable forestry initiative), or FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). These are both certification entities that ensure that the end product was produced by sustainable forestry practices. The programs are designed to ensure the end product user that the chain of custody from the stump to the mill to the end user was through sustainable forestry practices. Given good competition for your timber, I don't know that it helps get better stumpage prices and the majority manage sustainably without these programs.

Thanks woods. Still looking for a wildlife forester

Only in very rare circumstances will it raise the stumpage price on your timber. Not very many markets in Alabama for FSC, SFI, or Tree Farm wood where the mills are willing to pay more. As far as a "wildlife forester"... you may be referring to someone who has a forestry degree and wildlife degree, but most all foresters worth their salt have experience with timber management and wildlife habitat management. Don't necessarily need a "wildlife" person to handle a timber sale you want to benefit wildlife habitat.

I think if you found a forester that was "certifiable" and also had access to a good wood stretcher this may trump having just certified timber.

I would do an every 3rd row thinning for the first thinning. If you have an inhouse chip crew in your area, that's what I'd do. Otherwise, I'd use a regular logger. Burning a few years after your thinning would give you some wildlife benefits. Your 2nd thinning will open the woods up even more and allow more sunlight to get to the ground. Burning would also benefit during this time, as well. If you have anymore questions, feel free to pm me.

Your not going to see a price increase for certified wood. They might tell you that but they'd pay you that regardless.

Are you wanting to be a treasure forest?

Signs are pretty, but that and a dollar will get you a coke. Check around and go and look at some of the thinning jobs that a few loggers have done, and get a few prices. I like to thin down to a 80 to 90 basal area with the first thinning. You should be able to get a few loads of 5" top Chip-N-Saw out of the thinning, we are thinning a 16 year old tract now that has had a number of loads that come out of the truck rows. I don't like a high production logger on a thinning. Don't chip it, you won't get much if anything for your stumpage. I don't know what a "wildlife forester" could do for you, maybe mark out a few food plots to clearcut other than charge you a fee.

Get Nighthunter out there! (Or whoever covers that district). They can help you a lot, for free!

Like others I don't see any $$ difference in certified wood vs non-certified wood and I don't know what a "wildlife forester" is but there are Registered Foresters and Certified Wildlife Biologists. There are some that are both and that may be what you mean. That is the route I chose.

This is Timber woods managed by a Forester. It is even a little lower than most Foresters will recommend - 70-80 basal area:



This is Wildlife woods managed by a Wildlife biologist at a similar age. VERY low basal area:



Better figure out which way you want to go. I give a full powerpoint presentation on the subject so I don't necessarily agree with this:



or this:



I am often called in after the "forester" has made their recommendations on wildlife management. One dedicates his or her education, $$ and career to Forestry and one to Wildlife.. There IS a difference. Foresters know how to grow trees, wildlife bios are supposed to know how to grow and manage the stuff under the trees, as well as how the wildlife use it and the trees affect it AKA wildlife habitat. Wildlife habitat management is MUCH more complicated than growing trees and most Foresters know very little about it in my experience and IMHO .



I often do 5th row thinnings for either wildlife or Forestry and also do 3rd or 2nd row thinnings for wildlife. It depends on what you do with the residual rows and the QUALITY of the beginning stand. If it is uniform any type of row thinning will work. If it is limby and forked, you better lean on the 5th row thinning to get it right.

Burning ALWAYS benefits the stand for timber AND wildlife if it is done right.



The chip crew I have running right now is generating more per acre than any roundwood crew could possibly get on that site with the same stumpage prices as roundwood.

Ditto what Gobbler says about foresters vs. wildlife biologists. Sure there is some overlap but a forester is not a wildlife biologist and vice versa. That is the reason I got a degree in forestry and another one in wildlife science.

Great looking stands of timber

As a registered forester who has a wildlife biologist as a client, I must say that wildlife biology is the most unprotected profession that I know of. The general public thinks that they know more about wildlife than they do timber management. I do believe that good timber management will produce good wildlife habitat, but if your objective is wildlife first, a professional like Gobbler who is trained in both disciplines can take your place to a whole new level, based on your objectives. The best advice I can give a landowner who has defined their objective is to define who they can trust and be able to discern who's advise is pertinent to their decision and who's advise is not backed by science and understanding of the big picture.

Dammit man!....That top pic is purty.

Yea but it is terrible wildlife habitat
Now THIS is purty

Pine.