Phase II Upland Oak Sustainability and Management Project

Upland Oak Phase II – LSR Abstract The project will help restore, through the collaborative use of science-based management practices, the regeneration and recruitment of oaks in the Central Hardwoods Forest, that is it currently lacking. If left unchecked, there will be significant reductions in the ecologic and economic value of upland hardwood forests occupying priority landscapes across the South. The project builds on a national initiative and two previous Landscape Scale Restoration Projects in US Forest Service regions 8 and 9 that resulted in a conservation strategy and guidelines for oak management. The activities for this project will include the development of silviculture decision key for use in the App/websites forester, the development of an oak evaluative guide for use in the App/websites landowner, the design and development of a Mobile App and Companion Website, and consultation with states on how to monitor implementation and how to construct landowner engagement protocols, both built into the App. This project will also field test the beta Mobile App/Website. develop training and educational materials, and development and launch of Mobile App/Website. Following these activities, we will conduct state training and education workshops (virtual or face to face as appropriate).