Tree marking course showcases sustainable forestry in action

Tree marking is a valuable forest management technique commonly used in Ontario and the Northeastern United States to ensure the sustainable and efficient harvest of trees. The process involves marking individual trees within a forest stand before any cutting occurs. This allows forest harvesting contractors to accurately identify which trees to harvest and which to leave growing within a stand to maintain and enhance biodiversity and the forest's health.

NSCC recently hosted a 4-day tree marking course for a group of forest professionals from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick at the Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS) in Lawrencetown. Course delivery partners included the Family Forest Network, the Medway Community Forest Co-op, the Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF-ICF), and Forests Ontario. The course provided an immersive learning experience that combined classroom instruction with hands-on practice on multiple field tours.

Instructors Al Stinson and Martin Streit from CIF-IFC and Forests Ontario emphasized not only the technical aspects of tree marking but also its ecological, cultural and economic significance, particularly in the context of Nova Scotia's unique forest ecosystems. 

Understanding tree marking

The basic technique of tree marking involves using paint. Typically, an orange or yellow mark indicates trees that are slated for cutting, while a different color designates trees that should be retained. This color-coded system aids in managing tree spacing, reducing competition for resources, and regulating light on the forest floor to encourage the growth of desired tree species in the stand. 

Trees marked for cutting often have defects such as rot, broken tops, or poor form, which compromise their longevity and value. By removing these trees, the remaining healthier trees have better access to resources and space, encouraging overall forest health and regeneration.  

Conversely, trees marked for retention are selected for desired species, superior form and strength, and often possess qualities beneficial to wildlife or the ecosystem. These might include trees with cavities suitable for nesting, mast trees like oak and beech that provide food for animals, or super canopy trees that play a critical role in the forest structure. 

“Tree marking really ties into considerations for climate change and restoration. It’s about being able to make decisions of what to encourage or promote in a landscape to have the best possible result for future generations. We always need to be thinking ahead,” explains Michele Young, a forest technician from the Western Woodlot Services Cooperative who participated in the course. 

“Learning how to tree mark and make decisions on what to keep, what to cut and what will persist in the future will be essential to build my skillset as a forest technician,” she says. 

Liam Ryan from the Federation of Nova Scotia Woodland Owners also participated as a student. “We haven’t done a lot of tree marking in Nova Scotia, but I’m hoping it’s something that becomes more common. I think it would be useful for everyone in the forest industry when it comes to what is being kept and what is being harvested,” Liam says.

Expert insights from multiple viewpoints

The tree marking training covers many topics, like how to study groups of trees, identify different kinds of trees, and how to evaluate the trees. It also covers animal habitat in the forest and the variety of plants and animals living there. The training explains how to make plans for marking trees to meet forest goals, organize marking teams, mark trees in plantations, and protect Indigenous values. 

Andrew MacDonald is an NSCC alumni who recently graduated from the Natural Resources Environmental Technology program and now works for the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq. He says the diversity of instructors delivering the course was a highlight.  

"Having the availability of the depth of knowledge through all of our instructors has been great. Any questions that I have, they have the answers. It’s a wealth of knowledge," he says. "I think that tree marking, and single tree selection are very important tools in our job, and I think that it’s going to allow me to understand the forest better and understand what it wants to do and help it get there faster." 

This comprehensive understanding is vital for forestry professionals, as tree marking requires a nuanced approach tailored to the specific conditions of, and management objectives for each forest stand. 

Advancing ecological forestry in Nova Scotia

Selection harvesting aligns with the principles of ecological forestry in Nova Scotia by carefully choosing which trees to cut, which helps maintain the health and diversity of the forest ecosystem.  

As Nova Scotia continues to prioritize ecological forest management, courses like this one play a pivotal role in equipping the next generation of forestry professionals with the tools they need to steward the province's valuable forest resources effectively.