Document a dense pine hardwood midstory segment in the Davy Crockett National Forest, site 2, the public Davy Crockett National Forest, a fire suppressed pine hardwood midstory segment near Ratcliff, TX 75858, Houston County (2026-08-04)

This pine hardwood midstory segment inside the Davy Crockett National Forest near Ratcliff has built up dense hardwood and understory growth over decades without a natural fire cycle, crowding out the open pine woodland structure the standard calls for, with no photo record to prioritize it for the credentialed thinning crew. Standard: USDA Forest Service fire adapted pine woodland restoration practice plus USDA NRCS conservation practice standard 666 forest stand improvement, applied here to a fire suppressed pine hardwood midstory segment inside the public Davy Crockett National Forest near Ratcliff, TX, Houston County. SDG 15.1 and 15.5. Proof: document only stand off photo log plus segment condition note plus GPS plus ranked follow on note Method (USDA Forest Service fire adapted pine woodland restoration practice plus USDA NRCS conservation practice standard 666 forest stand improvement, applied here to a fire suppressed pine hardwood midstory segment inside the public Davy Crockett National Forest near Ratcliff, TX, Houston County. SDG 15.1 and 15.5.): 1. 1. From a public forest road or marked trail inside the Davy Crockett National Forest near Ratcliff, photograph a dense, decades unburned pine hardwood midstory segment from a safe stand off vantage. 2. 2. Note whether the segment shows dense midstory hardwood and understory buildup crowding the open pine canopy, sparse midstory, or an already thinned, restored stand structure. 3. 3. Photograph the site from a fixed reference point for future comparison. 4. 4. Record a ranked follow on note naming the segment for the credentialed forest stand improvement crew. Done when: Photo of the segment taken from the public forest road or trail, from a safe stand off vantage; Note of the segment condition (dense midstory buildup, sparse midstory, or already thinned stand structure); Ranked follow on note naming the segment for the credentialed forest stand improvement crew; GPS waypoint of the surveyed segment

Where

the public Davy Crockett National Forest, a fire suppressed pine hardwood midstory segment near Ratcliff, TX 75858, Houston County

Pay

$85 proposed

This packet is not funded yet, so this figure is a proposed price and not money waiting in escrow. If a buyer funds it, approved proof settles that price onchain. If nobody funds it, approved proof earns provable credit toward the work instead of cash. You see which before you claim, never after.

Proof

document only stand off photo log plus segment condition note plus GPS plus ranked follow on note

This is exactly what gets it approved. Nothing settles without it.

Level

entry

Open until

2026-11-03

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 45–120 minutes. Method of record: Point-count / transect species survey (Breeding Bird Survey + Xerces pollinator-count protocols)

Bring

• binoculars
• field ID guide or app
• GPS phone
• data sheet / recorder
• timer
• camera

Steps

1. 1. Navigate to the first survey point; record GPS; note start time, weather, and wind (surveys pause in rain/high wind).
2. 2. Wait a settling minute, then run a fixed-duration count (e.g., 5 min) within a fixed radius; record every species seen/heard and the count of each.
3. 3. Photograph the habitat and any species you can; note any threatened/target or invasive species.
4. 4. Move to the next point along the transect (keep points >=200 m apart) and repeat the count.
5. 5. Record total effort (points, duration) and observer.
6. 6. Enter the per-point species lists + counts, GPS, weather, effort, and photos into the proof record; sign.

If it does not match the plan

• Threatened/at-risk or target species observed -> flag for the land steward (with location) for protection planning.
• Invasive species dominant / native diversity very low -> flag for a management plan.
• Rain or high wind -> pause/reschedule; counts under poor conditions are not valid.

What counts as done

• Photo of the segment taken from the public forest road or trail, from a safe stand off vantage
• Note of the segment condition (dense midstory buildup, sparse midstory, or already thinned stand structure)
• Ranked follow on note naming the segment for the credentialed forest stand improvement crew
• GPS waypoint of the surveyed segment

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.