Recovery of Florida Cypress Swamps from Clearcutting

Vegetation analysis in ten central Florida cypress (Taxodium distichurn) swamps was undertaken to determ•ne the response of woody species composition to clearcutting. Line transects hrough swamps that had been harvested by clearcutting within the last 5 years demonstrated that all but one of these swamps are likely to recover their original species composition and a normal stem density. Cypress was the major tree species in all swamps examined except one that had been severely burned by a wildfire. Both natural seedlings and vegetative propagation are important avenues of cypress reproduction f llowing clearcuttzng. South. J. Appl. For. 13(3):123-126. Swamps comprise more than 25% of Florida's commercial forestlands (Dippon 1983) and occupy an important place in Florida's forest industry. Large, old-growth baldcypress trees in v•rtually all the swamps in the state were logged during the first half of the twentieth century. The heartwood in these trees, which required centuries to be laid down, was marketed as tidewater red cypress, and it was valued for its durability, workability, and at• This study was supported by a Memorandum of Agreement between the University of Florida and the Florida Division of Forestry. We thank Jack Vogel for calling our attention to the clearcutting •ssue and for helping to identify appropriate sites. Bill Ray and Jerry McCord generously provided information and access to private sites. Ted Murray, Steven Smith, and John Kern assisted with the field work. Mary Duryea and Eric Jokela made helpful comments on the manuscript. University of Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 10001. tractive appearance. Pondcypress (Taxodium distichum var. nutans) was not so valuable, but it was also extensively harvested, primarily for specialty products such as cross ties, pilings, and ladders, as well as lumber. In many of these swamps, biomass has reached merchantable levels once again. Harvesting practices have changed considerably. Both small and large trees are now likely to be cut, and modern equipment can penetrate deeper into swamps. Although second-growth cypress trees today contain little heartwood and require treatment with preservatives for outside use, the wood is attractive, workable, and used for many purposes, such as decorative fencing and lumber. Cypress mulch has become a popular specialty product and can be made from trees previously considered too small to be merchant-