Timber harvesting of 85 aces at Woodbury needed for highwall reclamation project

Leonard L. Hayhurst, Coshocton Tribune
·2 min read

COSHOCTON − More logging is being done at Woodbury Wildlife Area this summer, which officials with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said isn't a bad thing.

Some citizens expressed their concerns with logging at the nature preserve last year. Timber sales are common for Woodbury and other nearby wildlife areas, such as Tri-Valley and Powelson. No additional timber harvesting is planned for Woodbury at this time.

Woodbury is 19,252 acres with 16,900 acres of woods. It offers public hunting, camping, fishing, hiking and more. There is a shooting range as well.

Currently, there is an 85-acre timber harvest being done to eliminate all woody vegetation on the site ahead of a highwall reclamation project, said District 4 Manager Nathan West. The area is west of Township Road 310 and south of Ohio 541. It's just south of the area cutdown last year, which was also part of a highwall reclamation project.

Lafferty Chipping is doing the work. West said they do not specify know how timber is used once it leaves the property. However, nearly all timber removed is used to make wood-based projects supporting the regional timber industry and economy.

Any contractor harvesting timber on ODNR properties must be a certified master logger through the Ohio Forestry Association. West also said all proceeds from timber sales are placed in a fund used by the Division of Wildlife for habitat restoration and protection. The area will be re-planted with native species for re-forestation, he added.

"The ODNR Division of Wildlife implements timber harvesting to improve wildlife habitat on wildlife areas. Timber harvests revert forestland to an early successional stage, also commonly referred to as young forest. Young forest is a very important habitat component for many wildlife species, including game species such as white-tail deer, wild turkey, cottontail rabbits and woodcock, as well as numerous songbirds, bobcats and birds of prey," West said. "Young forest not only provides bedding and nesting areas for these species, but also many food sources like insects, small mammals, nuts, berries and browse."

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Timber harvest at Woodbury required for highwall reclamation project