Lesson 4: Forest Measurement 101
Course: Environmental and Natural Resources I
Unit H: The Role of Forests in the Environment
Standards:
Competency: EN 29.00 Demonstrate proper forest management techniques.
Assessment:
Objective: EN 29.02 Apply tree measurement techniques and skills that are used by professional foresters.
Goals for the Lesson:
- Students will understand forestry measurement terms
- Students will demonstrate how to use a Biltmore stick.
- Students will use a diameter tape and a Biltmore stick to measure a tree’s diameter.
- Students will identify tree species in a forest.
- Students will describe the age and identifying characteristics of a forest.
- Students will cruise a forest and determine individual trees’ heights and board feet volumes.
- Students will classify trees according to their product definition, including: pulpwood, chip-n-saw, sawtimber, and veneer logs.
- Students will determine the value of a timber stand.
Classroom Time Required:
2, 90-minute class periods
Materials Need:
Setting: Classroom and forested area. Need at least ½ acre of forested land.
- 10-30 Biltmore Sticks or create your own Scale Stick
- Flagging Tape in Several Colors (green, blue, yellow, pink, white, and orange)
- Diameter Tape (borrowed from county Extension Agent or local forester)
- Forest Measurement 101
- Forest Site Survey
- Forest Measurement Terms Cheat Sheet
- Getting to Know Your Forest
- Weyerhaeuser Intern Agenda
- Weyerhaeuser Intern Final Report
- Woodland Owner Notes
- Forest Measurements Video
- Calculators
Address: Campus Box 7006. Raleigh, NC 27695 Telephone: 919.515.5118 Fax: 919.515.5831 E-Mail: KenanFellows@NCSU.edu