The following is forwarded from Eric:
Jeff wrote:
> Clearly this area wants to be forest, so i assumed the best
> plan was to help a little and not interfere too much. Wrong,
> those days are long gone. What i did not see was the war
> all around me. Plants and animals are invading this area and
> the original ecology was under siege. We found ourselves
> surrounded by European and Asian plants.
>
> Eventually, the local trees might dominate, but it would take
> a long time. The slow growing trees and some of low growing
> forest plants were not able to cope with logged land. They
> are now gone and only intervention can bring them back.
>
> The few areas i planted to fruit and nut trees also became
> choked with grass and weeds (mostly introduced to this area
> to improve grazing). In the battle between grass and trees
> the grass wins over tree sprouts. The invading brush wins
> over grass.
Eric responeds:
I don't see the problem, maybe I'm missing something. "the grass wins over
tree sprouts. The invading brush wins over grass " This sounds like
typical succession in my neck of the woods. In a large clearing, the
forest doesn't start with the trees and forest floor plants; grass lets
gets the brush started, brush lets the trees get started. Specifically, I
see some trees in our area (Oak and Bay) being pruned heavily by deer
unless the tree bushes out enough to let the center grow or it sprouts up
in the protection of a bush or brambles. I think nature goes through the
"slow" process of succession for a reason, probably to condition the soil
for the next stage. It night not be possible, or desirable, to skip a step.
As for the European and Asian plants, I can see where that might pose a
problem, assuming you don't want those species. As you mentioned they my
just serve the function of pioneer species and die out as the forest closes
in again. If not, there would be the loss of "native habitat" to be
concerned about. Although my area is mostly orchards, the native species
(along with a few non-native ones) are very good at filling in the
unattended spots. "Intervention" seems totally unnecessary because the
birds seem to be the main planters of seeds. There is a very obvious path
of succession that occurs. Of the non-natives, the Eucalyptus seems to be
the most tenacious, as it is a climax tree in its native land. But, I have
seen them give way to encroaching redwoods and Douglas Fir. Madrones seem
to have no problem growing with them either.
Are there areas you can check out where you can see later succession
stages? Do the non-natives hang in? Perhaps you can give the natives a
boost by thinning out some of the most tenacious non-natives [sounds like a
lot of work; I always thought Fukuoka had the right idea ; ) ] Otherwise,
if you are inclined to speed up the process, you could encourage / plant
the intermediate stage plants.
I keep getting the nagging feeling that you already know all of this.
Perhaps I did miss something : )
Eric:
