Forest Analysis Techniques: Assessing balsam fir tipping potential

Introduction

How might one assess a forest for its potential as a source of branch tips for wreath making?

Manufacture and sale of Christmas wreaths is a growing business in northeastern North America. The primary product used in wreath manufacturing is balsam fir (Abies balsamea) branch tips. While other tree species are used occasionally in wreath making, balsam fir is preferred, given its aromatic, dense, deep green foliage.

Branch tips are harvested in late fall from young, full-crowned trees once needles have set. Balsam fir stands occur commonly in northeastern forests, on most sites. Mature trees produce abundant seed most years, and seedlings establish readily and grow quickly following disturbances such as timber harvests. Ideal tipping stands will be those that are young, with non-merchantable-sized trees that are relatively open-grown with large crowns. More information can be found at the University of Maine website, http://umaine.edu/publications/7011e/.

Location

A small 1,400 hectare (ha) woodlot in the Acadian-New England forest region of North America

Time to complete the lab

3 hours

Prerequisites

Students should have a basic working knowledge of GIS data, including the geodatabase, and ArcGIS software in particular. Familiarity with forest inventory data and terminology is also helpful, but not essential.

Data used in this lab

Feature classes and rasters for a forest woodlot (personal geodatabase)

Geographic coordinate system: NAD 1983 CSRS New Brunswick Stereographic

Datum: NAD83

Projection: New Brunswick Double Stereographic Grid (unless otherwise stated)