Sustainable Forestry Project
Sustainable Forestry Project: Great Cypress Swamp
The Great Cypress Swamp represents the largest contiguous acreage holding of Delaware Wild Lands, and perhaps the largest private single owner contiguous forest land on the Delmarva Peninsula. This 11,000 acre plus property contains the headwaters of the Pocomoke River which in turn meanders through Maryland’s Eastern Shore to the Pocomoke Sound on the Chesapeake Bay near the Maryland and Virginia border. Our current holdings represent most of the remnants of what was estimated to be a swamp of 50,000 to 60,000 acres dominated by Atlantic white cedar and bald cypress. This property contains about 1,000 acres in Maryland with the remainder located in Delaware.
Since our initial acquisition, Delaware Wild Lands has investigated numerous management strategies that would protect, preserve, restore, and enhance the natural attributes of the Great Cypress Swamp. Our initial efforts were “piecemeal” in nature and included conversion of agricultural lands to plantings of bald cypress and Atlantic white cedar; water control structures in drainage ditches; and limited wetlands restoration projects. We soon learned that this type of approach was largely ineffective and that a more costly and comprehensive plan would be necessary.
One of our early management plans included the integration of forestry operations with our overall management objectives. We did not pursue this path due to limited scientific research and potential negative public opinion. Recent advances in forestry operations, in particular the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Program and the Forestry Stewardship Council certification programs have resulted in radically different forestry management plans. Organizations such as Vision Forestry working with The Conservation Fund and the State of Maryland have developed sustainable forestry plans that consider not just “working” forests, but also multiple use and values of the same lands for sustainable biodiversity enhancement and recreational public use. In the fall of 2005 we contracted with Vision Forestry to develop a similar plan for Delaware Wild Lands. This new planning methodology provided us with the tools for the development of a state of the art comprehensive Sustainable Forest Management Plan for the Great Cypress Swamp. The Great Cypress Swamp project represents an application of the Vision Forestry regional forestry knowledge to a privately owned significant natural area for the long-term benefit of both the natural area as well as the local community.
The first project in the summer of 2006 was a harvest of 52 acres designed to demonstrate four different harvest types: standard thinning; 50 to 60% harvest; 80% harvest and an eight-acre clear-cut. In the sections of partial cutting, we retained un-cut “habitat islands” of various sizes. As far as we know, this is the first timber harvest operation that was designed to incorporate the use of such “islands” for biodiversity purposes.
We have developed specific project plans and goals for 2007 and are developing plans for projects beyond 2007. All profits from the timber sales will be re-invested in restoration projects, habitat enhancement projects, as well as re-planting and property maintenance activities.