Future Ecologies FE6.1 - FOREST / TREE
18 snips
Oct 30, 2024 
Ethan Tapper is a forester and author of "How to Love a Forest," providing a Vermont perspective on ecological forestry. Brian Duff, from Forestry and Land Scotland, shares insights on restoring Glenmore Forest Park, while Keith Erickson discusses his experiences with forest restoration on Galliano Island. They explore the balance between industrial forestry and biodiversity, the intricate dynamics of forest management, and the critical need for community support in conservation efforts. Their conversations highlight the paradox of cutting down trees to save forests and emphasize the importance of restoring ancient ecosystems.
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Lying Under Ancient Trees
- Adam and Mendel lie beneath thousand-year Sitka spruce in the Hoh Rainforest and describe layers of time and life in the old growth.
- They contrast this with nearby plantation forests to show how rare intact old growth has become.
Most Vermont Woods Are Second Growth
- Ethan explains Vermont's forests are largely 60–100 years old and often regenerated from pastures, not ancient woodlands.
- These second-growth stands lack the diversity, functions, and species composition of historical old growth.
Commercial Plantations Overcrowd Woodlands
- Brian describes post-war replanting in Scotland with non-native species at very high commercial densities.
- Plantations now vastly exceed historic tree densities and lack old-growth structure.