TEST WEEK 7 Date: 08/09/2024

Forest management in Pennsylvania, USA

How managing low-quality wood (also known as low-use wood) for bioenergy can
encourage sustainable forest management.

A. A tree’s ‘value’ depends on several factors including its species, size, form,
condition, quality, function, and accessibility, and depends on the management
goals for a given forest. The same tree can be valued very differently by each
person who looks at it. A large, straight black cherry tree has high value as
timber to be cut into logs or made into furniture, but for a landowner more
interested in wildlife habitat, the real value of that stem (or trunk) may be the
food it provides to animals. Likewise, if the tree suffers from black knot disease,
its value for timber decreases, but to a woodworker interested in making bowls,
it brings an opportunity for a unique and beautiful piece of art.

B. In the past, Pennsylvania landowners were solely interested in the value of

their trees as high-quality timber. The norm was to remove the stems of
highest quality and leave behind poorly formed trees that were not as well
suited to the site where they grew. This practice, called ‘high-grading’, has left
a legacy of ‘low-use wood’ in the forests. Some people even call these ‘junk
trees’, and they are abundant in Pennsylvania. These trees have lower
economic value for traditional timber markets, compete for growth with higher-
value trees, shade out desirable regeneration and decrease the health of a
stand leaving it more vulnerable to poor weather and disease.

C. Wood energy markets can accept less expensive wood material of lower
quality than would be suitable for traditional timber markets. Most wood used
for energy in Pennsylvania is used to produce heat or electricity through
combustion. Many schools and hospitals use wood boiler systems to heat and
power their facilities, many homes are primarily heated with wood, and some
coal plants incorporate wood iinnto their coal streams to produce electricity.
Wood can also be gasified for electrical generation and can even be made into
liquid fuels like ethanol and gasoline for lorries and cars. All these products are
made primarily from low-use wood. Several tree- and plant-cutting approaches,
which could greatly improve the long-term quality of a forest, focus strongly or
solely on the use of wood for those markets.

D. One such approach is called a Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) Cut. In a TSI
Cut, really poor-quality tree and plant material is cut down to allow more space,
light, and other resources to the highest-valued stems that remain. Removing
invasive plants might be another primary goal of a TSI Cut. The stems that are
left behind might then grow in size and develop more foliage and larger crowns
or tops that produce more coverage for wildlife; they have a better chance to
regenerate in a less crowded environment. TSI Cuts can be tailored to one
farmer’s specific management goals for his or her land.
E. Another approach that might yield a high amount of low-use wood is a
Salvage Cut. With the many pests and pathogens visiting forests including
hemlock wooly adelgid, Asian longhomed beetle, emerald ash borer, and gypsy
moth, to name just a few, it is important to remember that those working in the
forests can help ease these issues through cutting procedures. These types of
cut reduce the number of sick trees and seek to manage the future spread of a
pest problem. They leave vigorous trees that have stayed healthy enough to
survive the outbreak.

F. A Shelterwood Cut, which only takes place in a mature forest that has
already been thinned several times, involves removing all the mature trees
when other seedlings have become established. This then allows the forester to
decide which tree species are regenerated. It leaves a young forest where all
trees are at a similar point in their growth. It can also be used to develop a two-
tier forest so that there are two harvests and the money that comes in is
spread out over a decade or more.

G. Thinnings and dense and dead wood removal for fire prevention also center
on the production of low-use wood. However, it is important to remember that
some retention of what many would classify as low-use wood is very important.
The tops of trees that have been cut down should be left on the site so that
their nutrients cycle back into the soil. In addition, trees with many cavities are
extremely important habitats for insect predators like woodpeckers, bats and
small mammals. They help control problem insects and increase the health and
resilience of the forest. It is also important to remember that not all small trees
are low-use. For example, many species like hawthorn provide food for wildlife.
Finally, rare species of trees in a forest should also stay behind as they add to
its structural diversity.

Questions 1-5

Reading Passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 1—5 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

1. bad outcomes for a forest when people focus only on its financial reward

2. reference to the aspects of any tree that contribute to its worth

3. mention of the potential use of wood to help run vehicles

4. examples of insects that attack trees

5. an alternative name for trees that produce low-use wood

Questions 6-8

Look at the following purposes (Questions 19-21) and the list of timber cuts
below.

Match each purpose with the correct timber cut, A, B or C.

Write the correct letter, A, B or C, in boxes 6-8 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

List of Timber Cuts

A. a TSI Cut

B. a Salvage Cut

C. a Shelterwood Cut

6. to remove trees that are diseased

7. to generate income across a number of years

8. to create a forest whose trees are close in age

Questions 9-13

Complete the sentences below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 9-13on your answer sheet.

9. Some dead wood is removed to avoid the possibility of …………………………

10. The………………………………..from the tops of cut trees can help improve

soil quality.

11. Some damaged trees should be left, as their……………... provide habitats

for a range of creatures.

12. Some trees that are small, such as………………………, are a source of food
for animals and insects.

13. Any trees that are…………………………………….should be left to grow, as

they add to the variety of species in the forest.
 Agricultural tourism
A. Agricultural tourism is a worldwide trend which offers city dwellers a chance
to escape urban concrete and re-discover their rural roots. In addition, visiting
farmers, agronomists and other agricultural experts can evaluate worldwide
developments in agriculture, which have been greatly influenced by modern
technology. Agriculture and tourism—two of Wisconsin’s most important
industries—are teaming up in southwestern Wisconsin. A pilot project has found
that tourists, rural communities, and some farmers could benefit from stronger
efforts to promote and market agricultural tourism there. More than one-half of
those surveyed responded favourably to a proposed tour, saying they would be
interested in participating in some types of agricultural tour in southwestern
Wisconsin.

B. In 1990, agricultural tourism project members surveyed 290 visitors to the

annual Monroe Cheese Festival and 164 visitors to the Picnic on the Farm, a
one-time event held in Platteville in conjunction with the Chicago Bears
summer training camp. Survey respondents reported that they would prefer to
visit cheese factories, sausage processing plants, dairy farms, and historical
farm sites, as well as enjoy an old- fashioned picnic dinner. The study also
found strong interest in visiting specialty farms (strawberries, cranberries,
poultry, etc.). More than 7 5 percent of the Cheese Day visitors planned ahead
for the trip, with 3 7 percent planning at least two months in advance. More
than 40 percent of the visitors came to Monroe for two- or three-day visits.
Many stopped at other communities on their way to Cheese Days. Visitors at
both events indicated that they were there to enjoy themselves and were
willing to spend money on food and arts and crafts. They also wanted the
opportunity to experience the “country” while there.

C. The study found that planning around existing events should take into
account what brought visitors to the area and provide additional attractions
that will appeal to them. For example, visitors to Cheese Days said they were
on a holiday and appeared to be more open to various tour proposals. Picnic
visitors came specifically to see the Chicago Bears practice. They showed less
interest in a proposed agricultural tour than Cheese Day visitors, but more
interest in a picnic dinner. (The table below results from the 1990 survey of
Monroe Cheese Days and Picnic on the Farm visitors and shows how the visitors
would rank various activities in the proposed tour.

Interest in specific activities in proposed tour

Activity Cheese Days Picnic

 (Rank) (Rank)

Cheese Factory Visit 1 2

Sausage Processing Visit 2 2

Dairy Farm Visit 3 5

Picnic Dinner 3 1

Historical Farm Visit 3 3

Crop Farm Visit 4 6

D.

Agricultural tourism can serve to educate urban tourists about the problems
and challenges facing farmers, says Andy Lewis, Grant county community
development agent. While agriculture is vital to Wisconsin, more and more
urban folk are becoming isolated from the industry. In fact, Lewis notes,
farmers are just as interested in the educational aspects of agricultural tours as
they are in any financial returns. “Farmers feel that urban consumers are out of
touch with farming,” Lewis says. “If tourists can be educated on issues that
concern farmers, those visits could lead to policies more favourable to
agriculture.” Animal rights and the environment are examples of two issues
that concern both urban consumers and farmers. Farm tours could help
consumers get the farmer’s perspective on these issues, Lewis notes.

E. Several Wisconsin farms already offer some types of learning experience for
tourists. However, most agricultural tourism enterprises currently market their
businesses independently, leading to a lack of a concerted effort to promote
agricultural tourism as an industry. Lewis is conducting the study with Jean
Murphy, assistant community development agent. Other participants include
UW-Platteville Agricultural Economist Bob Acton, the Center for Integrated
Agricultural Systems, UW- Extension Recreation Resources Center, the
Wisconsin Rural Development Center, and Hidden Valleys, a Southwestern
Wisconsin regional tourism organization.

Question 14-17

Reading Passage 1 has seven paragraphs A-G.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter A—E in boxes 14-17 on your answer sheet.
14. Nearly half of all the surveyed tourists would spend several days in
Monroe.

15. Most visitors responded positively to a survey project on farm tours.

16. Cooperation across organisations in research for agriculture tours has been
carried out.

17. Agriculture tours help tourists understand more about zoological and
ecological issues.

Questions 18-22

Which of the following statements belongs to the visitor categories in the box?
Please choose A, B or C for each statement.

Write the correct letter A, B or C, in boxes 5-9 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once

A. Cheese Festival visitors

B. Picnic visitors

C. Both of them

18. have a focused destination.

19. majority prepare well before going beforehand.

20. were comparably less keen on picnic meals.

21. show interest in activities such as visiting factories and fruit farms.

22. are willing to accept a variety of tour recommendations.