Development of stand structural stage indices to characterize forest condition in Upstate New York

Stand development stages are often used to describe temperate forest dynamics, but defining them using stand history or age can be difficult, especially for extensive surveys. The purpose of this study was to define stand development stage indices for forest stands on state forest land in Upstate New York using stand structure alone. A total of 508 stands were sampled, including 442 in Upstate New York. Two structural stage indices were defined for each of the 442 stands. The first index, based on SILVAH, was calculated using weighted mean diameter of trees in different size classes. The second index, based on work from Frelich and Lorimer, was calculated using the ratio of basal area of large trees to mature trees and either (1) exposed crown area (ECA) of trees in different size classes, or (2) basal area of trees in different size classes. Both indices were tested on stands with known stand histories. The second index was preferred for its superior ability to distinguish old-growth stands and was used to characterize structural stages of major forest types in Upstate New York: hemlock–hardwood (9% of state forest land), red spruce-fir (16%), and northern hardwood (51%). Results showed that the vast majority of stands in Upstate New York are in the mid-developmental stages. Structural characteristics of old-growth stands from this study were found to be in agreement with other old-growth stands in the northeastern United States.