Classifying bottomland hardwoods to map and identify forest stand types for wildlife management planning on Ward Bayou Wildlife Management Area

This research project was designed to describe a practical classification system for wildlife management planning in bottomland hardwood communities. A bottomland hardwood classification system was developed and implemented on Ward Bayou Wildlife Management Area, MS to map and identify forest stands. The variables chosen are commonly considered in evaluating suitability of wildlife habitat. Cover type, species association, main canopy size class, vertical stratification and presence or absence of epistrata and residuals were identified as primary habitat variables to delineate and classify forest stands. Auxiliary variables also were identified to describe other important habitat variables associated within stands, including canopy coverage, topographic position, ground flora, woody debris, snags, and river cane. A geographic information system (GIS) was developed to generate maps. Corrected stand delineations were digitized and geo-referenced to corresponding classification data. The GIS database also was used to produce tables summarizing variables and combinations of variables, and to map stands by variable classes and stand type. Classified variables and derived maps to aid in management for the project area are summarized.