Logging and Harvesting Operations

Why harvest trees from pine plantations?

Evidence shows red pine plantations promote hardwood regeneration. Red pine plantations have been identified as opportunities to promote many, difficult to regenerate, northern hardwood species (e.g., sugar maple [Acer saccharum]). Further, oak (Quercus spp.) regeneration is often limited under hardwood canopies, but more successful under pine canopies. Releasing desirable and natural hardwood regeneration via final red pine over-story harvests, likely avoids costly and often ineffective under-planting options.

As a natural successional pathway, selective harvesting of red pine plantations promotes growth and regeneration of native hardwoods. It is a cost effective and widely accepted management option. Allowing changes in tree cover type can also be used to break the disease and pest cycles that are driving declines in red pines.

Harvesting red pine plantations allows the Municipality to generate revenue that can then be utilized for betterment of our trail systems, as well as other Kawartha Lakes projects that further benefit our residents and visitors.

Harvesting operations are the original reason for trails through our forest tracts. Routine harvesting creates a means of maintaining access to forest areas that would otherwise be void of trails. Without harvesting operations, most forest tracts would not have formal trail systems, and could not be enjoyed by as many user groups as they currently are.

We encourage residents to seek additional information if they still have questions or want to know more about this process. There are many resources online regarding plantation harvesting. To learn more view the Conifer Plantation Management put out by the Eastern Ontario Model Forest (EOMF) that is easy to understand and a helpful starting point to better understand the importance of plantation harvesting.

 2024 Somerville Forest Tract Red Pine Plantation Harvest