Ash Management Guide for Private Forest Landowners

Chapter 5The Native PlantCommunitiesForested RichPeatland SystemAsh in the ForestedRich Peatland SystemThe range(purple) ofForested RichPeatlands inMinnesota andthose that includeash (dots).Forested Rich Peatland (FP) forestsare dominated by conifers, tamarack,northern white cedar, black spruce,and balsam fir. They occur on organicsoils that are deep, actively formingpeat. Sphagnum moss is the principlepeat-forming plant, although the woodyremains of trees and shrubs contributesignificantly to peat volume. Peat formsbecause FP sites are continuously waterlogged.By comparison to the atmosphere,water offers very little of the oxygen thatis needed to decompose plant remains -thus the buildup of organic peat. Furthermore,Sphagnum moss depletes thegroundwater of its dissolved nutrients,leaving the site acidic and so poor thatthe site cannot sustain large populationsof decomposing microbes even thoughthere is a large supply of “food.” FP sitesare, in general, poor habitat for ash trees.Like many environments, ash seedlingsare fairly common, appearing in 31% ofall FP forests. But, the chances of growinginto a tree are slim – just 4% of FP forestsactually have ash trees and, when present,they account for only 4% of the trees.Achieving tree status probably occurs onmicrosites where the peat is thin enoughSurvey Recommendations: Forested Rich PeatlandsThere will be minimal effect on Forested Rich Peatland Systems because coniferswill continue to dominate these stands. Harvest when ground is frozen ordry; however, ash is too small a component of the forested rich peatland systemto manage for its replacement.Recommended replacement trees (as ranked by the experts):Forested Rich Peatland (north only): 10 out of 11 species• Black spruce• Tamarack• White cedar• Balsam fir• White spruce• American elm (DED resistant)• Paper birch• White pine• Quaking aspen• Red maple48