Introduction
Knowledge of the quantity and quality of timber on a private woodland can be extremely useful to the landowner. Timber measurements provide information on the status of the tract and are an integral part of any forest management plan. They also are useful for prescribing management treatments, such as thinning, that improve the overall health and vigor of the forest and its quality for recreation, wildlife habitat, and other uses.
This folder presents guidelines for sampling and measuring trees in a woodland. It is not meant as a substitute for assistance from a professional forester. It will, however, help you understand and implement proper procedures for sampling and measuring trees.
Before You Begin
If you have little or no experience in woodland management or timber measurements, seek the assistance of a professional forester.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Forestry provides "on-the-ground" forestry advice and assistance to owners with holdings of less than 1,000 acres. Upon written request, a trained forester will, at no charge, examine your woodland, prepare a management plan to help you achieve your ownership goals, estimate timber value, prepare timber sale bids and contracts, and provide market advice and assistance. For a nominal charge, a DNR forester will mark or designate timber to be harvested, measure and scale products (veneer and sawlogs, pulpwood, firewood, poles, posts, etc.) to be harvested, and designate timber sale boundaries. DNR foresters will not examine or appraise timber strictly for sale purposes, for settlement of an estate, or for settlement or evidence in litigation.
You may contact a DNR forester by calling the appropriate telephone number listed for the Natural Resources Department under the "Minnesota state offices" listing in your telephone book or by writing to: Private Forest Management Supervisor, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry, Box 44, 500 Lafayette Rd., St. Paul, MN 55146.
Many of the larger forest industries in the state also provide forest management, timber measurement, and marketing assistance to private woodland owners. In addition, there are a number of consulting foresters who, for a fee, provide a wide range of land management services, including timber harvesting and marketing assistance. Fees are usually a percentage of the gross receipts of the sale. You can obtain an updated list of consulting and industrial foresters through your local DNR forestry office.2
Estimating Volume of Standing Trees
To determine the volume of wood in a timber tract, you must first estimate the tree diameter, merchantable height, and defect percent of a representative number of trees by sampling ("cruising") the tract. Using appropriate tree volume tables and expansion factors, you can then calculate the volume for each species in the tract. Each of the factors required for estimating the volume of standing trees is discussed below.
You'll need an accurate measurement of the size of your woodlot to obtain reliable volume estimates. Stand acreage may be computed from information obtained during a traverse or land survey. Woodlot acreage may also be available through a local governmental office, such as a tax assessor.
A word of caution: timber cruisers need experience in several different timber tracts to produce consistently reliable results, so you may want to get professional help to obtain accurate volume estimates.
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