Ray: What state is that? Here in MD I habve seen that to some limited degree. This is really terrible and stupid.
I am a timberland owner and have done some tree planting under the state forestry programs. Here is the situation in MD: In Annapolis they have a special group called the "heritage group." This is an unelected group of people who claim they are protecting our natural heritage. They set rules that we all must follow, at least if we want to participate in any of the state forestry programs, which include huge tax benefits. Most of us cannot afford not to follow their rules. OK, here is one rule: you can't plant any more than 10% of any non-native tree in any reforestation project. Now here is the problem: if I plant white pine, the deer will destroy virtually all of them, both by browsing and by buck rubbing. Norway spruce and European larch are basically immune to browsing, and much less likely to be rubbed. Of course I can plant oak and maple, but these are destroyed even faster. Now I could use the protective tubes, but ar $4 a pop, not including stakes, this can make a pauper fast out of even the most affluent timberland owner. Now here is the irony that really gets me boiling: the group says they are protecting our forest heritage, but they refuse to do anything to control the deer population. I have a 285 acre timberland. I would challenge anyone to find a single seedling of oak or maple or tuliptree or ash, etc. over 6 inches tall. There will never be any reproduction of these species on my timberland as long as the deer population is anywhere near the current levels. This is destroying our forest heritage. But the "heritage group" in Annapolis doesn't care about this one stinking bit. I am disgusted. And one or two species of small trees and shrubs have been eliminated from my land in the 35 years I have owned. One was a kind og viburnum that had showy white flower panicles. Its effect was much like dogwood in areas where that is native. I really mis this plant, but none of the members of the "heritage" group does. "Heritage group" yeah, right!! --Gaines ----------------------------------------------------- On 1/3/10, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote: > The state went on a cutting rage clearcutting the plantations > of these great trees. They were and still are in many areas providing > valuable overwintering habitat for various species. They are reproducing > in a mild manner like mentioned in many of these stands, and since is no > other real regeneration, they are filling a void. The green certification > people while relatively useless, did hit the state hard on cutting the > plantations of these down, while justifying it as "non native". They make a > great replacement for hemlock stands that are damaged by wooley adelgid. > There were a few that stated there may be some native ones in the Northeast > US, > only native because they have been here so long. Some were rumored to have > been > seeded accidentally by arriving colonial ships. A great species for sure. > > Ray > > -- Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected]
