Service Forester's Handbook

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====== Silvicultural Considerations for Southern Pine Beetle Control ======
Timely and properly applied silviculture is the most effective and economical control available
for southern pine beetle. This fact should be considered in all forest management prescriptions
and decisions. Knowing which stands are the most likely candidates (or at least likely) for
SPB attack is important. Several geographically specific stand hazard rating systems for SPB 
have been developed. Check with your State Forester for one applicable for your area. A more
generalized description of high risk stands and silvicultural recommendations are presented 
below.
^                    ^Southern Coastal Plain                                         ^Piedmont                                                ^Southern Appalacians           |
|Characteristics of  |Densely stocked stands                                         |Well stocked stands                                     |Densely stocked natural stands |
|Susceptible stands  |Large proportion of Sawtimber                                  |Small sawtimber                                         |Large proportion of over-mature sawtimber |
|                    |Declining radial growth                                        |Slow radial growth during the last ten years            |Slow radial growth |
|                    |Poorly drained soils and low-lying areas                       |High percentage of clay in surface and subsurface soils |Dry, south-facing slopes |
|                    |High percentage of shortleaf and/or loblolly pine in the stand |High percentage of shortleaf pine                       |High percentage of shorleaf and/or pitch pine |
^Species Susceptibility                                                                                                                                                                   ^^^|
|Least Resistant     |Shortleaf Loblolly                                             |Shortleaf                                               |Shortleaf Pitch                               |
|Most Resistant      |Slash Longleaf                                                 |Virginia Loblolly                                       |Virginia Eastern White                        |
^Silvicultural Practices (all regions)                                                                                                                                                    ^^^|
|Maintain proper stand density at range of 80-100ft2 basal area per acre                                                                                                                  ^^^|
|Regulate age classes by eliminating over-mature stands and avoiding large unbroken stands of the same age and species                                                                    ^^^|
|Favor most resistant species after considering specific site and disease relationships                                                                                                   ^^^|
|Minimize Logging damage                                                                                                                                                                  ^^^|
|Manage species composition by encouraging hardwood on hardwood sites                                                                                                                     ^^^|
|Remove high hazard trees damaged by lightning, wind, ice, disease, or other insects or logging                                                                                           ^^^|
Service Forester's Handbook

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