MANAGEMENT OF WETLAND FORESTS TO BE STUDIED AND INTERIM GUIDELINES CREATED

The Governor's Science Working Group (SWG) has published a report, which recommends, among other things, creating Interim Guidelines for determining the sustainability of wetland forest tracts.

Louisiana SAF can assist in this endeavor by creating some practical criteria or guidelines that foresters can use to determine the sustainability of a particular tract in the field.  A management plan for the tract could then be written based on the research and science that currently exists.  In addition, LASAF can determine what further research needs to be done in order to determine sound management practices in the wetland forests of the southern coastal plain.

A committee has been formed, chaired by Steve Templin, past State Chair of LASAF.  The committee has been directed to draft a set of criteria or guidelines that field foresters can use to determine if a wetland forest tract can be sustainably managed and regenerated, and if so, what type of regeneration is recommended.  The guidelines must be credible and backed by scientific studies or land management experience.  If further research is needed, this committee should recommend the type and environs for the necessary studies.  The committee will  also produce definitions of terms for all users of forested wetlands in order to reduce the conflicts associated with multiple viewpoints.

Various subcommittees have been created to work on a variety of issues:

DefinitionsPolicy  Stakeholders

BMPsCriteriaProcess

A letter has been sent to all stakeholders informing them of the formation of this committee and requesting their future input.  When a draft of the guidelines is produced, they will be invited to review them and provide relevant information to assist in formulating the final version.

Committee members have toured several wetland sites where harvesting had been started.   Definitions of terms are being collected.  Draft direction on wetland forest management activities has been written.  Soil types and hydrological processes have been evaluated and compared to site specific information.  Criteria for delineating sustainable sites has been developed and is being reviewed internally by the Committee.  The final Draft should be completed by the fourth quarter of 2009 and sent to stakeholders for comments.

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