Old Stand

I recall visiting two preserved forests in the States over the years that I just couldn't understand why things were let to naturally die away. One of these forested areas is in the San Francisco, CA area and another in Spruce Knob, WV. Whether it is Redwood or large native Spruce the situation is the same. Not knowing if it was originally a forest or another man had planted or changed it's lifestyle a hundred years ago, it's evident anyway that they have overgrown themselves and are so thick and depressed that they will most likely not be around for our children. Which is exactly why I think the parks were established to begin with... When we fence off, so to speak, an area and herd lots of people through - it does change things in a forest.

Now number three- today Laura and I visited a beautiful overlook area here in Molokai, Hawaii where there were two paths built to the overlook. The trees were so dense they were dying off at what looked to be a higher rate than most of the similar area forests. Now as the trees naturally die, because there is not enough food on the table for all of them, they are creating hazard situations along the trails.

I think it is ashamed these areas are set aside to preserve them and then no management is allowed in, whether planned by man or natural. Most of the parks I discuss my thoughts with say the budgets just are not there, nor the manpower, to properly maintain them. Volunteers, who are usually a little more on the "don't cut this" side of maintenance are the only ones cleaning up the trails and park facilities. That thought process is usually to maintain less work for some or because of some ecological beliefs of others. Thanks to both of the groups though for at least doing something. A medium point of education and understanding would prosper the results better I think.

Soren Eriksson used to tell me that a forest should be maintained so people can safely walk and even run through the trees. I think he is right. The preserved forests in some park areas and woodlots are so thick they cannot be enjoyed outside of a beaten paved trail or tent pad.

If you were to go in and change the density or build more access trails, the trees are so close together they would fall over in the next little breeze. The root systems have been so protected for so long they are not strong enough to support thinning or storms now. It appears to me they are just slowly dying out. There is no room for new growth. The worst that's evident is the overhead hazards, the fallen and ready to fall stressed and dying trees.

Maybe in the near future we will see more groups and or land owners start to form new recreation areas with management plans from the seed up...


Good Sawing!
Tim Ard

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