Welldeveloped silvicultural prescriptions increase sugarbush productivity and profitability generating significant value for maple producers the rural communities they are a part of and society at…

Welldeveloped silvicultural prescriptions increase sugarbush productivity and profitability generating significant value for maple producers the rural communities they are a part of and society at large. Sugarbush silviculture also has a critical role to play in ensuring the longterm sustainability of the nations maple resource and of the industry IT underpins. However there is currently no consolidated source of technical silvicultural guidance targeted to an audience of professional sugarbush managers. This project brings together an exceptional team of leading young silviculturists and maple researchers supported by an advisory board of experienced academics and industry experts to fill that need. Through a series of linked activities this project will strengthen the scientific underpinnings of sugarbush management in the united states and drive the continued professionalization of the maple industry. Specifically we will 1 synthesize existing scientific literature on sugarbush silviculture and consolidate informal producer and manager knowledge 2 design and execute original modelbased analytical research to address identified knowledge gaps 3 produce an accessible authoritative handbook of sugarbush silviculture and 4 plan and deliver an extensive outreach and training campaign for maple producers sugarbush managers and professional foresters so that the benefits of this project are equitably and impactfully distributed across the maple industry. By strengthening the connections between maple producers and professional foresters and repositioning silviculture as an essential component of modern sugarbush management this project will deliver substantial and lasting value to maple producers of all sizes and across the entire geography of the industry