I have posted many times on the
need for forest refugia. Here we get
another lesson. The older trees grow mosses
and these mosses actually fix nitrogen which is then dropped onto the forest
floor.
In fact, proper forest husbandry
must include refugia in various shapes and sizes, but most likely best set in
narrow strips that perhaps go for miles.
Such strips also cater to the needs of wildlife. Such strips are usually best set right along
the valley drainage to protect the fishery as well. Yet hillside strips are also called for.
This way planned timber
harvesting can follow decadal programs rather easily while also preserving a lot
of natural fertility and diversity.
Even better will be the day we
simply practice selective logging from time to time that includes extensive
brush clearing through burning.
I personally think that most
forestry needs to be privately owned with a quota system put in place and
designated refugia that is deliberately preserved.
This shows us another control
that can be put in place. Just license
the allowable cut on the basis of the number of healthy refugia trees whose age
exceeds a certain standard. Unhealthy
trees would be removed posthaste but then one would wait for their replacements
to reach the proper age before new cutting was allowed. That should motivate everyone to be good and
also careful.
Old trees 'important for forests'
Mar 15, 2011
"You need trees that are large enough and old enough to start
accumulating mosses before you can have the cyanobacteria that are associated
with the mosses," says Lindo. "Many trees don't start to accumulate
mosses until they're more than 100 years old. So it's really the density
of very large, old trees that are draped in moss that is important at a forest
stand level. We surveyed trees that are estimated as being between
500 and 800 years old."
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