Managing Southern Pine Plantations for Wildlife

Abstract

This paper reviews available information on how intensive management of pine plantations affects wildlife in the southeastern United States. Practices discussed and evaluated in this paper include harvesting, site preparation, planting, thinning, burning, and fertilizing. Management of special habitat features (e.g., standing dead trees and down woody material) is also discussed. When size, shape, and spatial distribution of clearcuts are considered, and frequent thinning and burning are practiced after pine canopy closure, intensively managed plantations furnish suitable habitat for many early-succession wildlife species - including key game species such as deer, quail, and rabbits. However, intensive even-aged pine silviculture is detrimental to those species requiring hardwoods, snags and cavity trees, and large down woody material. Habitat requirements of these species can best be met through retention and management of riparian zones or patches of upland hardwoods interspersed within plantations.

Citation

Thill, Ronald E. 1990. Managing Southern Pine Plantations for Wildlife. In: Proceedings of XlXth IUFRO World Congress; 1990 August 5-11; Montreal, Canada. Montreal, Canada: Canadian International Union of Forestry Research Organizations: Vol. 1, 58-68