A Managed Forest
A healthy forest is productive and growing, but it doesn't happen by itself. It is important to manage our forests for them to reach their full potential.
This is an example of a properly managed loblolly pine plantation. Eighteen years ago, improved loblolly pine seedlings were planted. Recently, a first thinning was done. The trees are now evenly spaced and have plenty of room to grow. Competing hardwood trees and lower quality pines have been removed. This stand will be ready for final harvest in 10-15 years.
This is what happens when we don't reforest. This stand was harvested over ten years ago and was not reforested. Now the stand is overstocked (has too many trees per acre) in some places, like the clump of pines seen above, while other areas are understocked (too few trees per acre). In areas that are overstocked, trees compete with each other, resulting in slow growth and mortality. As you can see, the trees look spindly, have shown very little diameter growth, and many of them are dying as they compete for scarce resources of nutrients and sunlight.
Here is another area of the stand shown above. This area was understocked, and undesirable species have become established. Instead of vigorous, growing pines, we have a tangled mess of privet and sweetgum. Privet is an invasive shrub which shades out other species, and sweetgum is a low value species. This area will look like this for decades, producing no merchantable timber or wildlife value.
Here is an example of a stand that has been allowed to become overmature. This hardwood stand was ready for final harvest over twenty years ago, and growth has dropped off sharply. What's even worse, mature trees are beginning to succumb to blowdown, disease, and old age. This mature, veneer quality red oak would have been worth a lot of money, but through mismanagement it is rotting away on the forest floor.
Proper forest management is essential to realize the full potential of your timberland. Various goals of wildlife, aesthetics, and income can be balanced, but a management plan by a professional forester is essential.