Mid State Forest Management Projects

 This forest management project, located at the first state forest in Massachusetts, is primarily focused on mitigating ongoing forest health concerns in plantations here, that are - in turn – jeopardizing public safety and DCR assets as trees die and branches and boles fall.  In all but the 15 acre Scots pine plantation, prior management had occurred at various times, creating a patchwork of conditions.  However, as the plantations age, and due to infestation by red pine scale and other stressors, the vigor of the trees and stands have declined; with mortality more than doubling over the past two decades.  Different treatments in the shelterwood system, and group selection, will be applied based on stand conditions and tailored to site- and micro-site conditions within the stands.  This will continue the process of regeneration and development of naturally regenerated stands comprising native species, and creating a more diverse forest at the property, which is currently more than 30% red pine by live tree biomass.  Recreational hiking and snowmobile trails will be protected during harvesting to the extent possible. 

These forest management projects are proposed for Lawton State Forest, which – when under prior private ownership by the Lawton family – was the first Tree Farm in Massachusetts and the second in the United States.  The North project is proposed in an area of even-aged red pine, white pine, and Norway spruce plantations, with naturally seeded native species between; several prior treatments have occurred over the life of these stands.  Treatments in the shelterwood system will be applied to these stands, with the treatment type and intensity tailored to local site and microsite conditions, including the presence of advance regeneration.  Variable-retention thinning may be applied in areas where the vigor of trees does not warrant removal and their vigor can be sustained; these will help to increase the presence of native species and natural forests on this property.  The South project is planned in an even-aged white pine-oak-hemlock stand; where a group selection treatment will help to diversify species and age class composition of the forest, increasing its resiliency to stressors and disturbance.  Additionally, a collaborative study with UMass Amherst Department of Environmental Conservation faculty is proposed for the South project.  This study will investigate the relationships between forest management practices, forest structure and growth, and ways to enhance carbon stocks and flux; and, consistent with DCR’s mission and UMass’s roots as a land grant university, will translate this research into outreach to the public, landowners, and forest managers.