[MassChestnutOrchards] Globe article on clear cutting in MA

[Fred Hebard]

I don't know much about New England forests, but forests re-establish  
prolifically in the southern Appalachians after clearcutting.   
Shelterwoods or other silvicultural regimes may be helpful in  
preventing early succession trees that produce numerous wind-borne  
seeds --such as yellow poplar and red maple-- from taking over a  
site.  Or some other silvicultural practice might be prescribed for  
encouraging desirable species.

However, clearcutting itself is often the best means of establishing  
desirable stands.  Unfortunately clearcutting has been demonized in  
order to alter the behavior of the Forest Service and other land  
management agencies.  And the demonization has transmogrified in the  
public mind into an established fact, that clearcutting is  
necessarily a bad forest management practice, when it's not.  It's  
just another tool in the toolbox, that has to be evaluated in  
choosing the best silvicultural prescription to achieve the desired  
objectives, while keeping the long-term health of the ecosystem in mind

Fred

Frederick V. Hebard, PhD
Staff Pathologist, Meadowview Research Farms
American Chestnut Foundation
14005 Glenbrook Ave.
Meadowview, VA 24361

Email: Fred at acf.org
Web: http://www.acffarms.org
Phone: (276) 944-4631
Fax: (276) 944-0934


On Mar 12, 2010, at 11:54 AM, Mirick, John O. wrote:

> My thought is that we should use up any political capital that we  
> may have by weighing in on this issue.
>
>
>
> John
>
>
>
> From: masschestnutorchards-bounces at masschestnut.org  
> [mailto:masschestnutorchards-bounces at masschestnut.org] On Behalf Of  
> Yvonne Federowicz
> Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 11:25 AM
> To: masschestnutorchards at masschestnut.org
> Subject: Re: [MassChestnutOrchards] Globe article on clear cutting  
> in MA
>
>
>
> It sounds like some of the cuts might have made it more difficult  
> to re-establish forest, since they didn’t properly do a  
> “shelterwood” cutting? Would these also make it more difficult to  
> plant chestnut?
>
> It would be good to hear from Bruce, Dennis and Lois.  I doubt  
> we’ll be in the position to make any official statements anyhow as  
> a group, probably not an issue – unless someone cuts our trees or  
> improperly prepares a site that is agreed upon for one of our  
> plantings, in the future.
>
> Re. expressing opinions - seems more like a situation where  
> Massachusetts residents might want to express opinions as citizens,  
> or forestry professionals – as Bruce has done.
>
>
> On 3/12/10 10:03 AM, "Gary Jacob" <gjacob at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Interesting article.  It is too bad that a state like Massachusetts  
> should be setting such a bad example.  I think it is important,  
> however, that we not take a position or express any official  
> opinions concerning this issue.
>
> What we should do is to begin thinking about different planting  
> plans we would use, for future American chestnuts, depending on  
> whatever harvesting situation we may find.
>
>                 Gary
>
>
> From: masschestnutorchards-bounces at masschestnut.org  
> [mailto:masschestnutorchards-bounces at masschestnut.org] On Behalf Of  
> Jamie Donalds
> Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 10:21 AM
> To: orchard mgrlist
> Subject: [MassChestnutOrchards] Globe article on clear cutting in MA
>
>
> Hi All,
>
>  Here is an article in the Globe I found this morning about clear  
> cutting in MA. It has a quote from Bruce Spencer.
>
> I would like to here more about this issue and how it might affect  
> future restoration plantings at Quabbin  and elsewhere.
>
> Does this effect any plans for our seed orchard  at Moore State Park?
>
> Perhaps Bruce , Dennis or Lois  would be interested in talking on  
> this subject at the April Meeting?
>
> Food for thought,
>
> -Jamie
>
>
>
> http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2010/03/04/ 
> a_clear_cut_controversy/
>
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