The Jones Center at Ichauway - Transition

Treatment: actively facilitate change to encourage adaptive responses

Desired Future Conditions

  • Residual longleaf pine BA 6.9 m2 ha-1
  • Multi-aged structure
  • Longleaf pine dominated overstory
  • Longleaf pine regeneration
  • Other species include southern red oak, sand post oak, turkey oak
  • Grass-dominated (C4) groundcover; wiregrass is desired
  • Low levels of insects and disease that would impact the timber resource
  • System capable of frequent low-intensity fire with irregularity (1-2 yrs, variable-season); avoid catastrophic fire
  • Large tree componen
  • High water yield
Conceptual diagram of the Resistance – Resilience – Transition (RRT) framework applied to the ASCC Network, positioned vertically along a spectrum of ecological persistence to change (i.e., adaptation). The y-axis presents the degree of alignment with current conditions relative to the future range of acceptable outcomes (i.e., desired future conditions). Graphic by Kailey Marcinkowski, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science.

Management Goals

  • Increase dominance of longleaf pine in the stand
  • Increase plant diversity and fuel continuity through understory restoration
  • Range of timber products through time (sawtimber to pulp)
  • Maintain or increase high-quality RCW forage and nesting habitat 
  • Maintain or expand/enhance quail habitat
  • Carbon accumulation
  • High aesthetic & cultural value 
  • Increase water yield

Strategies & approaches

Sparsely populated mixed conifer forest with grassy understory.
Transition Treatment. Photo Credit: Joshua Puhlick.
  • Reduce longleaf pine basal area to 30  ft2 ac-1
  • Cut other pines unless needed to maintain fuel continuity
  • Retain most upland and xeric oaks (~ 5  ft2 ac-1)
  • Cut or girdle and herbicide mesic oaks and fleshy-fruited hardwoods
  • Plant drought-tolerant, fire-facilitating oaks (turkey oak)
  • Prescribe burn every 2 years

Check Out Other Treatments

Resistance

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Resilience

Site Leads & Partners

Joshua Puhlick (The Jones Center at Ichauway) is the site lead for The Jones Center at Ichauway ASCC site. Key collaborators include Steven Brantley, Scott Taylor, Brandon Rutledge, and Scott Smith (The Jones Center at Ichauway). 

Joshua Puhlick
Site Lead

Ecological Silviculture
The Jones Center at Ichauway
3988 Jones Center Drive
Newton, GA 39870-8522
Phone: 229-734-4706
joshua.puhlick@jonesctr.org