Assessing the effects of sugar maple tapping on lumber production

Abstract

Production goals for certain stands previously used mainly to produce sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) lumber are being revised due to the growing demand for products made from maple sap. This paper therefore estimates the impacts that maple sap production may have for maple lumber production. We began by developing a model able to predict sugar maple lumber losses due to tapping for sap collection. We then used the model to simulate two management scenarios: one for timber production alone, and one for production of both lumber and maple sap in the same stand. The results suggest that the net harvested volume of lumber declines by approximately 40% in the co-production scenario, compared to the timber production scenario.