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The Rural Voice, 1999-10, Page 28Nordique rCortlwood portable saw. 3 pl hitch A. J. HAUGH EO., R.R. 1, Brucefield Open Mon. - Fri. 8-12 a.m. 8 1-5 p.m. Sat.. Sun & evenings by appointment Cell for the name 01our local dealer: Phone: 519-522-0248 (Allan Haugh) Fax: 519-522-0138 WOODLOT & WETLANDS Self -Guided Tour SATURDAY, OCT. 16 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Registration $5.00/car on site at Beaver Valley Ski Club Grey Cty. Rd. 13 South of Kimberley Visit 6 Woodiots tFzat demonstrate different forest management objectives For information contact 519-371-8468 Sponsored by: Grey County Forest Stewardship Network, Ministry of Natural Resources aer couNry O0 Ministry of Natural Ontario Resources 24 THE RURAL VOICE Managing a woodlot for maple syrup production requires a different strategy than for timber production. laying out trails throughout their property for hiking, snowmobiling or cross-country skiing and enhancing their viewing of wildlife. "In the last four or five years I've seen more interest than in a decade with the Ministry of Natural Resources," says Morton. Lennox -Brindle finds many of her clients put environmental protection at or near the top of their list of objectives. It means, for instance, that if they are going to harvest logs, they want it done at the times of the year when damage to other trees or the forest floor will be minimized. It means logging at dry times when the woodland can support the heavy equipment needed to move logs. Others are concerned about esthetic buffers along streams, preventing soil erosion and maintaining forest cover. Sometimes, however, the consultant has to burst the bubble of the landowner, says Eccles. "A large segment of the population has no idea about forests. A lot of them don't even know the tree species. People think what they have is extremely valuable." Sometimes they want the impossible, like dreaming of maple syrup production when they have no maple trees, says Eccles. For those who do have maple trees, managing for maple syrup production is entirely different than managing for maple timber. In a younger bush, someone seeking timber would want to keep trees growing close enough together to force them to grow tall and straight, to produce knot -less saw Togs. You'd want the first tree limbs at a height of 30-40 feet. If the young bush is to be managed for maple syrup production the tree needs more crown. In that case the bush would be opened up more to produce trees with limbs at 16-20 feet. "the lower the branch pattern, the higher the tree's