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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: Fun fact about MN forests

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Minnesotian

01/16/2021 10:58AM

According to the latest issue of MN Conservation Volunteer, "the average forest stand in Minnesota is 58 years old."

I wonder if that takes into consideration the Lost 40 and other older areas of the BWCA. I assume it does, its just that those areas are so small compared to what is harvested/farmed probably. If those were taken out of the equation, I wonder what the average stands age would then be. 40 years? And how old are some of those stands in the BWCA?

LindenTree

01/16/2021 12:26PM

Since much of MN forests are Aspen/Popple that probably is reflected in that age class. When I worked for the MN-DNR Forestry the optimum age of Aspen to be cut was around 48 years depending on the site index of the stand.

"Regenerating aspen
Aspen tree saplings in foreground, older trees in back of photo
Aspen stands managed for pulpwood should generally be harvested at ages 45 to 55. If you grow stands primarily for sawtimber, they should generally be harvested between ages 55 and 65. You may need to harvest stands earlier if disease incidence is more than 30 percent."

Info from the U of M on MN Forests.