The Jones Center at Ichauway - Resilience

Treatment: allow some change in current conditions, but encourage eventual return to original conditions

Desired Future Conditions

Residual BA: longleaf pine = 11.5 m2 ha-1
Maintain overstory species diversity: longleaf pine, southern red oak, post oak
Oak component (southern red oak and post oak) to facilitate fire
Large tree component
Longleaf pine regeneration
Diverse understory of warm-season grasses
Frequent low-intensity fire (1-2 yr)
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

Diversity of tree species in the overstory
High timber value (growth on high-value pines)
Maintain or enhance RCW foraging and nesting habitat
Maintain or expand quail habitat
Maintain hard mast component for wildlife habitat
Reduce insect and disease outbreaks
Reduce risk of mortality from wildfire and drought
Long-term carbon accumulation
Increase water yield

Strategies & approaches

Forested area with grassy understory. — Resilience Treatment. Photo Credit: Joshua Puhlick.

Reduce longleaf pine basal area to 50 ft2 ac-1
Cut other pines unless needed to maintain fuel continuity
Retain most upland and xeric oaks
Cut or girdle and herbicide mesic oaks and fleshy-fruited hardwoods
Prescribe burn every 2 years

Check Out Other Treatments

Resistance

Back to Forest Main Page

Transition

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).