Division of Forestry Strategic Direction
Statewide Forest Strategy 2010
Statewide Forest Assessment 2010
Forest Sustainability Framework
Statewide Forest Plan 2004
A4. Trend: There is limited oak regeneration in southern Wisconsin.
Comment #: 1
Need a strong effort to control deer, research ways to regenerate oak.
Comment #: 2
The patchwork layout in SW Wis privdes a lot of edge. This favors oak regeneration. Maybe its better to have less density in oak stands as it might reduce damage from oak wilt.
Comment #: 3
We must balance the decrease in red oak with the intense management needed to regenerate it. The clearcuts the chemicals etc.
Comment #: 4
What about oak wilt?
Comment #: 5
Rethink management techniques oak is valuable!
Comment #: 6
Oak grows so much more slowly that other species, it should be promoted in reforestation.
Comment #: 7
Reducing the deer herd would also help.
Comment #: 8
I am glad the oaks are increasing in southern WI. You write "acreage increased slightly" in line 1, and in the last line you write "continued decline in oak-hickory acres and red oak species in southern WI" . This seems contradictory! Wherever it increases - it is good. Let people heat their homes with good hardwood and use less oil, gas, even electricity, to protect the environment. We used wood until increasing age made it too hard for my late husband and me to add wood during nught when necessary and hose stayed more comfortable then.
Comment #: 9
What landownership contribute the most to decreasing oak and which one promote oak and why?
Comment #: 10
Steps should be taken to reverse this trend
Comment #: 11
This should not be a part of the NH/AL forest plan.
Comment #: 12
Whats wrong with maple, basswood and ash regenerations?
Comment #: 13
Some of this loss is due to agricultural practices and the selling off of farm woodlots.
Comment #: 14
Note:
Comment #: 15
Seems like a "natural" trend
Comment #: 16
I like oak and hickory and try for more in my woodlot.
Comment #: 17
Is oak wilt a contributing factor as well?
Comment #: 18
Provide trees (oak) at favorable prices and guideline for stand
Comment #: 19
same as A3
Comment #: 20
Oaks grow slow and WI taxes are insane on land and trees of no use for 40-60 years. The State of Ark is 55 cents a acre for wooded land
Comment #: 21
See commentss on A1
Comment #: 22
Good luck, sprtman want deer, which are probably the greatest negative factor preventing northern red oak regeneration
Comment #: 23
should devote major effert to reverse trend - - if financial resources can be obtained to accomplish task
Comment #: 24
Fooed bearing trees should be added where possible
Comment #: 25
Oak is a valuble species because of it value as lumber and food source for acorns
Comment #: 26
It is important to encourage regeneration in Southern Wisconsin
Comment #: 27
Grazing and land value have an impact.
Comment #: 28
This issue should receive top priority
Comment #: 29
If oak-hickory is wanted then the farmers are going to have to graze their cattle in the woods again. I doubt that will happen.
Comment #: 30
Most of the good oak sites were result of extreme site disturbance in pre-settlement days. More natural succession is occuring.
Comment #: 31
We need to promot understory plantings and regeneration to replenish supply.
Comment #: 32
Grazing is most important
Comment #: 33
Red oak from southern WI from Stevens Point south are full of frost cracks and shake and not very good grade.
Comment #: 34
UW is assessing also
Comment #: 35
Are these in areas that used to be barrens or savanna? Then how about some prescribed burning?
Comment #: 36
On my 480 ac, regernation of cedar, hemlock and white pine does not occur, I believe, due to excessive deer population and their spring grazing.
Comment #: 37
Turkeys are such good acorn hunters, this could impact oak regeneration!
Comment #: 38
Deer and turkey are main cause of oak regenerating!
Comment #: 39
This seems to be true in our woodland, but I have been planting red oaks. The storm we had in June 1998 wiped out about 50 percent of our oaks and more than 50% of our white and red pine. I'm planting a lot of white ash also
Comment #: 40
Demonstrates need to reduce/control deer herd
Comment #: 41
Deer population makes oak regeneration impossible - may also be true for others which I am not familiar with
Comment #: 42
deer control
Comment #: 43
Foresters should encourage oak regeneration practices vs the easy out "let it go to maple".
Comment #: 44
Better control of the deer herd may help
Comment #: 45
I have been managing 200 acres in central WI for 35 yrs for oak. I have had fair to good regeneration of red oak and w. oak - my biggest enemy is to many deer but have developed a system that works in this senario.
Comment #: 46
Virtually impossible to regenerate mature stands of red oak and planting costs. Prohibit establishment of seedling stands which require 80+ years for payback.
Comment #: 47
Don't live there - don't know.
Comment #: 48
My experience is that deer are responsible for lack of oak regeneration. Historically, I think deer, rabbits, etc. kept red oak down (browsing) for various time periods. (plus or minus 10) years. Then, a hard winter would decimate browser populations. Before these browser populations recover the red oak grew out of reach (deer) or tough bark (rabbits). These days there is no break in browser populations, oak/maple then tends to maple.
Comment #: 49
Plenty of pin and block oak on my tree farm in Adams County sand country.
Comment #: 50
Deer are eating seedlings!
Comment #: 51
Again, offer the landowners these tree species at cost. It's a plan worth considering or many landowners such as ourselves would be willing to help out.
Comment #: 52
See comments on A1.
Comment #: 53
All oak in town of Almon that I had. 1974 are gone. (Died).
Comment #: 54
Clearcutting oak is a proven silvicultural tool to regenerate red oak. Maybe we should be using clearcutting more depending upon the situation.
Comment #: 55
Added cost share programs could be used to encourage oak plantings.
Comment #: 56
The decline of red oak on "good sites" in So. WI is a natural consequence of long term successional trend in the absence of most disturbance, esp. fire. Maple-basswood-ash is the more likely stable forest type in SW WI unless we are willing to use a lot more fire and convince recreational landowners that they want more disturbance - can the DNR sell this? Then stop worrying about it.
Comment #: 57
The demand for red oak for furniture, etc., is alarming, to the point that other hard wood species are being sought out as replacements. A portion of public lands with oak forests should be preserved.
Comment #: 58
More private landowners need forestry advice before selling timber to loggers. This oak resource is not being regenerated at the same rate it is being harvested. More private landowners need management plans and the incentives to carry out the plans.
Comment #: 59
Manage for biodiversity, putting highest priority first on the currently-rarest native species. Be sure to encourage a return of the pine barrews in northern Wis.
Comment #: 60
This is a private property rights issue in many respects. The state has little to plan for on private property with the exception of educating landowners to be better stewards.
Comment #: 61
Oak and hickory communities need to be continued, esp. in S. Wisc.
Comment #: 62
Mature oak stands require a very selective cutting and thinning to maintain a second growth. Canopy distances for sunlight to enter is very important. Too much light is not good resulting in sucker limbs forming; canopies too close are not good resulting in putting the oak tree in a stress environment.
Comment #: 63
Most of my clear cut was planted to oak, ash, walnut.
Comment #: 64
The introduction of turkeys will finish this ecosystem change.
Comment #: 65
There is less oak in most of the State.
Comment #: 66
Landowners like ? Aged mgmt - Anti clear cut showing up!
Comment #: 67
Read "disagree" to mean "strongly disagree" in Section A.
Comment #: 68
Deer browsing is also a factor.
Comment #: 69
Oak blight has had a negative impact on my land. Maybe you have to let it run its course?
Comment #: 70
This ties in with the fact that no one wants to see a clear cut - that should be an issue!
Comment #: 71
Redundant or could be combined with Issue A3.
Comment #: 72
An issue I believe is the relative lack of forest areas in Southern Wisconsin below the tension zone. We should focus on regeneration of forest areas in Southern Wisconsin vs. North of tension zone.
Comment #: 73
Couldn't this decreased regeneration be the result of oak wilt blight/cutting them down? What is the outlook of getting blight resistant oaks; or control of disease?
Comment #: 74
This should be packaged with the ? problems and woodlot development (building) trends to show how these forces working together are changing - permanently - the landscape.
Comment #: 75
Important for wildlife to help oak and hickory.
Comment #: 76
We should do what we can to educate new and current landowners and encourage oak regeneration.
Comment #: 77
Due to more home building and increased city expansion
Comment #: 78
This is one of my biggest cencerns, because of the need for wildlife feed and the large demand for oak in the timber industry
Comment #: 79
These species should not be logged
Comment #: 80
This is up to land owners as to what he wants
Comment #: 81
The state cannot control how private landowners manage their forest (except mfl, fcl) The state has a responsibility to the public to manage some of the public land for these species. By using the Kotar Habitat Typing Guide, areas suitable for the regeneration of these species can be identified and be managed more intesively for them.
Comment #: 82
Big deal- let the oak come from locals that do a better job of regernation (I.E. ARK, etc.) Let the market determine the future species, for it's the future landowner WHO HAS THE NEED TO PAY TAXES AND MORTGAGES TO KEEP THAT LAND. That really counts.
Comment #: 83
I consider our southern oak forest to be the most valuable habitat - it is very important to wildlife where I live - I'd hate to think that someday it could disappear.
Comment #: 84
Changes in species and changes in demand seen like a key planning issue for industry, DNR, extension service, education is a key element.
Comment #: 85
Forestry industry will adapt to the changes
Comment #: 86
This could become a very expensive undertaking.
Comment #: 87
I support a plan, but I have to see what it is.
Comment #: 88
I am having a problem with too much soft maplegrowth
Comment #: 89
Too much population and value of land has increased
Comment #: 90
lack of fire and exotic species
Comment #: 91
Refine harvest techniques to promote red oak regen. Restore fire to promote the burr oak/savanah types.
Comment #: 92
Why can't oak and hickory selectively harvested be replaced with oak and hickory seedlings? This trend should be offset either by requiring harvesters of trees to replace them three fold with seedlings of the type cut or provided for by requiring or inducing landowners to accomplish this purpose.
Comment #: 93
I have seen good oak regeneration on sandy sites, but massive die off from disease
Comment #: 94
Kill more deer and plant more oak.
Comment #: 95
Most of this is caused by greedy loggers overcutting forest for their pocket
Comment #: 96
I have had success planting red oak only where derr have not been a problem and grasses have been controlled by herbicide
Comment #: 97
As with many of these "trends" information on how to manage for one species or another is more important than numbers of/for trends.
Comment #: 98
Here again I think MFL causes pressure to overact. Little support for small selecting cuts, maybe woodlot owner coops could bring some economy of scale to smaller cuts. I find that I can get oak regeneration in small areas of logged oak (1-2 acres) that I intensely hard work, hand spray to thin maple/basswood, eliminate prickly ash and multifard(?) rose, herbicide all stubs. Also I find that I have better luck with hand planted acorns than with oak seedlings (root systems too big!).
Comment #: 99
I have difficulty in getting red oak to regenerate in my area. I favor oak, maple and ash over basswood and hickory.
Comment #: 100
I believe that this conversion is the result of fire control. Management for these species without adequate disturbance (harvest or fire) interval will reesult in conversion to shade tolerant species. I think this issue should be addressed in the manner that with fire control we may have to sacrifice the regeneration of some species.
Comment #: 101
1) Oak is a slow grower 2) Squirrels like the oak habitat.
Comment #: 102
no opinion!
Comment #: 103
Oak wilt is a problem.
Comment #: 104
In areas oak regeneration is fairly easy, but convincing a private landowner to do what's necessary is not easy!
Comment #: 105
Northern Wisconsin too.
Comment #: 106
Invasive plant species makes manaement even more difficult
Comment #: 107
I grew up in southern Wisconsin and I feel this trend should be addressed. If, as human beings, we are manipulating this cover type, we need to back off on our efforts that are causing this succession (heavy selection harvests) and step up our efforts on regenerating what we do harvest.
Comment #: 108
and don't forget the deer browsing on the seedlings so that they can't get any significant growth
Comment #: 109
I don't work in the southern part of the state.
Comment #: 110
Lack of fire has a huge impact here.
Comment #: 111
Cut the hardwoods and open things up to favor the oaks!
Comment #: 112
Encouraging pulp markets in the south could help improve selection harvests instead of logger (>15" log)harvests, leaving some larger diameter oak-hickory trees for shelterwood regeneration harvests.
Comment #: 113
Natural succession and "high-grading" are very important ideas to point out with this issue. The "elm-ash-soft maple" type should be better defined. We are decribing the conversion to mid-tolerant hardwoods such as elm, hickory, black cherry, ash, etc. or what foresters have traditionally called "central hardwoods" in southern WI.
Comment #: 114
This is an important topic. Even naturalists don't get this. In SE Wisconsin, we hear too often the suggestion from the SEWRPC and many naturalists, that brush control and prescribed burns will maintain oak, with NO harvesting of mature trees. Yet they ignore the regeneration present of elm, cherry, hickory, basswood and others, that are taking over the stands.
Comment #: 115
Loss of production potential for high quality timber. Loss of mast producing habitat. Difficult sites to regenerate. Identification of regeneration techniques that are effective. Oak wilt. Urban encroachment.
Comment #: 116
Once again, diversity on the land should be a goal of the forest plan.
Comment #: 117
Again as in A1, this issue needs to be addressed. It not only effects the makeup of hte forest but also hte genetic diversity. As many of our forests are still being high graded we are loosing genetic diversity. We are left with poor stock or undesireables to regenerate future stands.
Comment #: 118
The increasing turkey population thrives on these oaks
Comment #: 119
It is essential that stategies be developed to preserve the biodiversity and viability of southern oak-hickory forests. Without this management our southern forests will erode into fragmented remnants of greatly reduced ecological value.
Comment #: 120
If the discussion is confined to loss of the oak resource from getting to the mill, then it should be not sure. However, if the discussion involves management of the oak ecosystem with fire then it should be one of the highest priorities.
Comment #: 121
What are theeconomic or ecological issues related to this trend? Any chace that they can be adressed?
Comment #: 122
The study should address regen successes. Th enorthern part of the state will soon be in the position of southern WQisc, unless we crack the question of how to regenrate oak; practically
Comment #: 123
The study should address regen successes. Th enorthern part of the state will soon be in the position of southern WQisc, unless we crack the question of how to regenrate oak; practically
Comment #: 124
Harvesting management is not good forest management. Forest management should plan for regeneration of your desired spp and its cost.
Comment #: 125
DNR needs to take a stronger role in regeneration of oak types statewide. Fire can be a very effective tool, but private landowners lack the means to conduct prescribed burns
Comment #: 126
Encourage diversity in harvesting techniques to maintain/promote species diversity
Comment #: 127
How much of tyhis loss is due to a loss in total wooded acreage in this part of the state coupled with fragmentation of the remaining woodlots?
Comment #: 128
We should cut down on harvesting these trees and create space for them to grow.
Comment #: 129
Relates to Question A1.
Comment #: 130
Relates to Question A1.
Comment #: 131
more emphasis should be placed on expanding hickory growth statewide.
Comment #: 132
Aging of the oaks is a ridiculous excuse for the lack of regeneration. Most professionals outside of forestry would say its because of unchecked succession due to the lack of fire. You don't need to cut oaks to regenerate them you need to use prescribed burning
Comment #: 133
Landowners I speak with are continulally disappointed with the advice provided to them by DNR forestors for the management of theire oak woodlands.
Comment #: 134
While prescribed fire would presumably help regenerate oak, I think we need to be careful on if or how we promote it. While it may be helpful on light burns, with a hot burn it may cause significant wood damage/scarring on trees. I think we should check the research and survey Wisconsin Foresters to determine how to recommend prescribed buring.
Comment #: 135
An effort should be made to incorporate a wide variety of management tools in maintaining a diversity of forest types in the state.
Comment #: 136
I would like to see more support for native WI species.
Comment #: 137
Let's get the oak back on track. If global warming is real, then oaks wouls help us prepare in the sw part of the state.
Comment #: 138
The deer population must be kept in check or oak regeneration will be minimal and we will have few oaks in the future
Comment #: 139
Oak savanna habitats provide valuable wildlife habitat and promotes biodiversity.
Comment #: 140
Again the loss of species is bad.
Comment #: 141
Not an easy task.
Comment #: 142
If you adress the first issue (A4) that will probably address this one too.
Comment #: 143
Oaks are very valueable to humans and wild animals!
Comment #: 144
Oak has high value all across the spectrum from timber to wildlife to biodiversity to aesthetics to recreation. Regeneration of oak is critical to the future of Wiscon's forests. This is especially true in light of the advance of the gypsy moth.
Comment #: 145
Again, I guess to what degree from both an economic and ecological perspective do we want to intervine ar manage. What are the goals??????????
Comment #: 146
Timber production: Not important because the growing conditions aren't satisfactory for these species in the southern part of the state
Other applications: May be important; aesthetics in parks for example.
Comment #: 147
Like i stated earlier to return an ecosystem to its original state is imposible. As for this issue fire management, habitat protection and easement and or land purchases are what is needed to gain back the oak savanas of southwestern Wisconsin.
Comment #: 148
My experience is in the North, but I sure would not argue with the numbers. There is very little red oak in our little forest, but we are pretty far north.
Comment #: 149
Yes, absence of fire and overbrowsing by deer are significant
Comment #: 150
Oak regeneration problems are widespread not only in Wisconsin but in many other states. Fire suppression, excessive deer browse, and livestock grazing are likely causes.
Comment #: 151
Oak regeneration problems are widespread not only in Wisconsin but in many other states. Fire suppression, excessive deer browse, and livestock grazing are likely causes.
Comment #: 152
What affect does this observation have on a forest plan? It should be mentioned, but this limited oak supply should have a message.
Comment #: 153
A strong public education campaign is needed prior to any active management efforts so the public understands what the goal is.
Comment #: 154
Development activity and high deer populations must account decrease in suburban oak regeneration.
Comment #: 155
A3 comment
Comment #: 156
This sad trend is a sign of management failures. Excessive fire suppression, deer populations, livestock grazing, and logging are combining to decimate these beautiful and wildlife-rich oak forests.
Comment #: 157
oak are the most important tree in our ecosystem
Comment #: 158
If we did not have oak trees we would not do real well.
Comment #: 159
But we should not manage for oak at the expense of floristically good quality stands of maple-(beech)-basswood
Comment #: 160
To increase oak reproduction, re-introduce fire.
Comment #: 161
Not sure the report should just focus on particular problems, there are other problems in other parts of the state as well but they are not mentioned in this survey.
Comment #: 162
Oak trees are the building block for life in the wisconsin forests. It serves as food, shelter, and housing for many creatures of the forest and we should fight very hard to keep the oaks
Comment #: 163
assuming the state proposes to foster more, and older, oak stands.
Comment #: 164
This is a problem because oaks are the main food trees in the decidous forests. Many animals rely on them.
Comment #: 165
I think we should develop a plan that
allows us to bring the oak-hickory
back to southern wisconsin.
Comment #: 166
This is a problem because oaks are the main food trees in the decidous forests. Many animals rely on them.
Comment #: 167
stop building roads/urban sprawl and concentrate are perserving forest, etc. in this area.
Comment #: 168
The state of Wisconsin should establish state forests in southern and southwestern Wisconsin. Currently all of our National and State Forest are in the northern half of the state. The Baraboo Hills area as well as the recently deeded to the state from the federal government Kickapoo River tract would be a good starting point.
Comment #: 169
The state of Wisconsin should establish state forests in southern and southwestern Wisconsin. Currently all of our National and State Forest are in the northern half of the state. The Baraboo Hills area as well as the recently deeded to the state from the federal government Kickapoo River tract would be a good starting point.
Comment #: 170
I think it would be good to do what is possible to restore oak populations to something like what once was. Is there something volunteer organizations can do (there's a bigger pool of volunteers in southern WI because there is more people. Are there educational efforts that could be undertaken by volunteers?
Comment #: 171
Particularly because these species are hard to regenerate and are also the target of oak wilt and gypsy moth we must address the problem of maintaining a diverse genetic base wihtin our state forest land.
Comment #: 172
Question somewhat hard to follow
Comment #: 173
If you watch forests after a harvest of soft woods many times hard woods will come the time because there were hardwoods there many years earlier and the acorns,etc. layed dormant for many years
Comment #: 174
If you watch forests after a harvest of soft woods many times hard woods will come the time because there were hardwoods there many years earlier and the acorns,etc. layed dormant for many years
Comment #: 175
If you are going to manage for wildlife you will need some type mast crop for this wildlife to forage on.
Comment #: 176
Mention role of deer and animal browsing on vigor composition. How about oak wilt as a factor?
Last Revised: Monday July 30 2007
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