2. Learn the proper use of the following common forestry tools and practice using them on trees in a forest. Record the information for each tree giving also the common name of each tree:
For this requirement you will need access to a forest and permission from a land owner to bore into the trees.
You can go as a group, but each person in the group must take several measurements. In addition to the equipment listed below, each participant should bring a notebook and a pen for recording measurements and observations.
a. DBH (diameter at breast height) tape – measure the diameter of trees (or measure the tree circumference and calculate the diameter)
A DBH-tape is a form of dendrometer that consists of a cloth or metal tape that is mainly used to measure diameter at breast height (DBH). DBH is measured at a fixed height of 140cm above the ground, where it is most convenient to measure diameter. DBH is measured up high so to avoid measuring a tree's butt swell. Butt swell is where the base of the tree is unconventionally fatter than the rest of the tree. height and diameter are used to determine the volume of a given tree, measuring above the butt swell is required to provide the most accurate measurement.
Diameter is easily measured because the tape is calibrated in units of 3.14 ([math]\displaystyle{ \pi }[/math]) inches or centimeters. The tape is actually measuring the tree's circumference but since circumference and diameter are related by pi, the diameter can easily be obtained. The only problem with the diameter tape is that the measurements assume the tree's trunk cross-sections are perfectly circular. Thus the diameter tape just gives an approximation, regardless it is the most commonly used dendrometer for DBH.
b. Clinometer or Tangent height gauge – measure the height of trees
c. Increment borer – count the growth rings to determine age
d. Prism – estimate the basal area per acre or hectare
3. Use the information gathered in #2 to determine the board foot volume of the trees in the forest you measured.
4. Calculate the basal area of a tree from the diameter (dbh) or circumference measurement. What is basal area per acre or hectare?
5. Study five tree species important to forestry in your area and give the following information about each: a. common and scientific name b. range of tree c. height and diameter of tree at maturity d. common use and importance of tree e. habitat of tree, forest zone, and elevation
6. List the benefits of forest to the environment, water quality, air quality, wildlife, and recreation.
7. List the uses of wood produced in the forests in your area, and which tree species are important for each use.
8. Discover & Discuss the following: How are forests managed to reduce the damage from insects and disease? What factors influence fire behavior? Considering that wildfires produce both benefits and destruction, what treatments could reduce wildfire severity?
9. Do one of the following in forest regeneration:
a. Tour a forest seedling nursery
b. Plant forest seedlings or forest seed
10. Explore the biblical stories in Genesis 1-3 and Revelation 22 that talk about the tree of life. In your discussion, discover the role of trees in God’s perfect environment, and our responsibility to take care of our environment.
above the ground, where it is most convenient to measure diameter. DBH is measured up high so to avoid measuring a tree's butt swell. Butt swell is where the base of the tree is unconventionally fatter than the rest of the tree. height and diameter are used to determine the volume of a given tree, measuring above the butt swell is required to provide the most accurate measurement.
