A Checklist for Managing Degraded Stands

This checklist for managing degraded stands in the southern Appalachians is taken verbatim from McGee (1982):

1. Identify or delineate the stand.
2. Use a site visit or inventory data to get a general feel for the stand.
   1. Observe variations in stem distribution.
   2. Observe variation in land types and/or apparent site quality.
   3. Study how the stand or area relates to adjacent or nearby stands or areas.
   4. Try to determine why the stand is degraded.
3. Collect data necessary to develop a profile of the stand.
   1. Basal area of manageable trees (include acceptable plus desirable growing stock).
   2. Basal area and numbers per acre of culls and undesirable trees.
   3. Determine age of manageable trees (using increment cores and/or estimates)
   4. Observe occurrence and distribution of advance regeneration.
4. Collect data needed to describe the site.
   1. Establish site index from height-age curves if possible.
   2. Identify and delineate the land types included in the area.
5. Rate the stand for
   1. Regeneration
   2. Intermediate management
   3. Postponement of action.
6. Using the rating system, establish treatment priorities between stands or areas. In many cases, large acreages of degraded stands may need the same treatment, but owner constraints may limit the acreage that can be treated at one time. Hence, the acreage must be partitioned and priorities established.
7. Consider appropriate options or actions, keeping in mind that costs are a major constraint and that economy should be the watchword.
8. For stands to be regenerated:
   1. Harvest and utilization should be as complete and thorough as practical.
   2. Recommendations for conversion to loblolly, shortleaf or white pine or for natural hardwood regeneration should be based on the owners objectives, site capability, and stand condition. Do not discount the possible advantages of a mixed planted pine-natural hardwood stand.
   3. Site preparation should be geared to owners expectation from the new stand and his ability to pay for it. In general, the more intensive the preparation, the better the new stand will be. When site preparation funds are limited, expend them where they will pay the greatest return. Highest priority should be given to the control of vegetation that will interfere most with the new stand. The order of treatment might be (1) control large culls, (2) control intermediate trees of undesirable species, (3) fell and leave unmerchantable intermediate stems of desirable species, and (4) control smaller poles and saplings.
9. For stands that are to receive intermediate treatment:
   1. Identify the residual stand. Identify management goals for the residual stand.
   2. Harvest as much of the nonresidual stand as practical. Avoid logging damage to residuals.
   3. Control undesirable stems that cannot be harvested. Large culls should definitely be controlled at this time. Undesirable intermediate trees may or may not need to be controlled, depending upon the size and distribution of the desirable residual trees.
   4. Make definite plans for future treatment. If the residual stand is very sparse and made up mostly of small sawtimber and larger intermediate trees, a final harvest may be projected in 10-20 years. If the residual stand is made up of numerous poles and intermediate trees, the next harvest is likely to be 20-40 years in the future.
10. For stands where action is to be postponed (no management):
    1. Make plans for future treatment.
    2. Reconfirm priorities between the stand and the other stands where action is to be proposed.
11. Do not forget multiple-use values. Adapt prescriptions to fit the owners objectives.