Sugarbush Forestry
Foresters and other resource professionals play an important role in supporting maple syrup producers in sustainably managing forests. Managing for sustainable sap production requires a specific focus and approach that can be compatible with managing for wildlife habitat and timber production.
Ecology of a Sugarbush
‘A sugarbush is a forest stand dominated by maple trees from which sugary sap is collected for maple syrup production. These forests are natural ecosystems that provide habitat for wildlife, opportunities for recreation, and other ecosystem services such as: air filtration, soil stabilization, and water purification. Maple syrup producers do not plant the trees; instead they manage the forest to maintain the natural ecosystem. Maple syrup production is one of the only agricultural crops that comes from a native ecosystem. Maple trees are tapped year after year for many decades and even centuries.’
The videos below are recordings from The Maple Hour. Click the (+) to expand and watch the recording.
Sugarbush Forest Management Overview (45 min.)
Dr. Mike Demchik, UW-Stevens Point Forestry Professor, joined the Wisconsin Maple Hour to share insights, considerations and strategies for managing a sugarbush to maintain and increase production and enhance ecological values.
Invasive Plants in the Sugarbush (45 min.)
Mary Bartkowiak, WDNR forest invasive plant coordinator, joined the maple hour to talk about the most important invasive plants for maple syrup producers to know and control.
Adapting to Changes in Your Sugarbush
Maple syrup producers across the Midwest have noticed changes in their sugarbushes in recent years, such as earlier tapping seasons and the arrival of new invasive and competing plant species and forest pests. Explore our sugarbush adaptation guide, which features descriptions of current and future environmental challenges that can affect syrup production along with concrete actions you can take to address them.
Other helpful forestry resources
We will be developing additional forestry products and programs as the project continues. In the meantime, here are some great external resources:
- Sugarbush Management YouTube Playlist from the UVM Proctor Maple Research Center
- Sugarbush Management Notebook from the Cornell Maple Program
- ‘Syrup with Saps’ SilviCast podcast from the UW-Stevens Point Wisconsin Forestry Center
- North American Maple Syrup Producers Manual: Chapter 5, Managing Maple Trees for Sap Production
- MapleResearch.org: Updates and resources on research related to maple syrup production. Search for “forestry.”
