Our School Forest is due for a timber harvest. As trees age, they need more space. Once they reach full size, they also either will naturally die, or are harvested to create room for the next generation of trees. Here are the following prescriptions for our timber and the rationale:

Final Harvest of Red Pine - The red pine stand is about 70 years of age. Here in southern Wisconsin, we are out of the natural range of red pine, so it doesn't get quite as large or age quite as long as the red pine stands in the north. There are several trees on the property that show signs of red pine pocket decline. This is something that eventually kills the tree. Because we are out of the natural range of red pine, and red pine typically germinates from forest fire, this will be a final harvest of the red pine on the property to get the most out of the trees

Thinning of White Pine - the white pine on the property is doing very well and naturally re-seeding. Some white pine need to be thinned to make room for the dominant trees to reach full size, but most white pine will remain on the School Forest and can reach ages up to 200 years, so it will stick around for the foreseeable future

Shelterwood harvest of Black Oak - unfortunately, the School Forest was hit hard years ago by Oak Wilt. Oak Wilt is a fungal disease that spreads through root contact. Many of the oak trees original to the School Forest have died and fallen, or have limited vitality remaining. These dead or dying oak can still be salvaged and utilized as firewood. The healthy oak remaining will be kept to stay as seed trees

Whenever a forest is logged, it can create some strong emotions as it really can alter how the place looks. Of course we all love our trees, but our goal with logging operatives is to promote the growth of new healthy trees and improve the overall forest health and biodiversity. Because logging only happens once every few decades, it is also a unique opportunity for our students to learn about forestry, forest products, habitat restoration, and many other topics in hands-on ways!

Data was collected on forest inventory during the winter of 2022-23. A forest stewardship plan was developed by our local DNR foresters. Efforts to restore the health of our forests have been prescribed through: invasive species removal, sustainable harvest, and hand planting native trees. 

Between 2023-24, 190 volunteers ranging from students to community members have completed 400 volunteer hours to improve the School Forest habitat. One of the biggest projects involves restoring the oak forest on the hill. This project is complex as it takes numerous volunteer efforts to remove the invasives that over-ran then hill. Thanks to a generous grant from the CD Besadny Conservation Fund, mowing of a thicket of invasive buckthorn and honeysuckle was able to be completed in March 2024 to help the process of habitat restoration. With control of the invasives over the next two years, by Earth Day 2026, our students will be planting native oak trees to complete the restoration.