#forest health

[ahedderick]

   It may not necessarily be intuitive WHY I gripe about invasive species and thorny brush. I mean - what’s wrong with this?

Well, there are 3 or 4 invasive species of shrubs or vines, here, and they grow so fast and form such impassible tangles that

at some points, even BEARS can’t force their way through this. And because it’s so dense, tree seedlings can no longer get started on the forest floor. And THAT, my friends, is a problem for an east coast Appalachian mountain area that is supposed to be forested.

   They’re not completely without charm:

Even I can see the beauty in this little path that Hero and the deer have made. Especially when the redbuds are blooming. But

the forest isn’t supposed to look like there’s a wall across it. So off I go, with pruning shears and a hand saw.

and a helper.

[forestduck]

[delicatelysublimeforester]

Innovative Solutions Sprouting for International Day of Forests

[ethicallysaucedlibraryfaggot]

My area may be a hole but I have seen more kererū here in one week than I have in the last 5 years. I don’t know whether it’s the climate, or conservation efforts but it makes me emotional.

[pcttrailsidereader]

Forests Forever?

Over the past several years we have joined the many voices sounding the alarm about the health of California forests. We have included a number of articles on this website regarding California's ailing forests. About ten years ago while walking the PCT between Cottonwood Pass south to Walker Pass, the number of unhealthy trees was difficult to ignore. And since then, persistent drought and incursion of pests have made things worse. Erik Vance's piece also includes another factor in the deterioration of forest health . . . over-crowding and the resulting competition for water/nutrients/sunlight.

Vance also notes that the casualties are not equally distributed between tree species with the red fir being particularly at risk.

By Erik Vance

California’s iconic mountain forests are in serious trouble, according to a series of recent studies. The latest — an aerial survey of the state’s most forested regions — shows that a combination of drought and insect damage wiped out a startling 36 million trees between 2021 and 2022.

“These last three years have been the hardest, driest three years on record in California,” said Jeffrey Moore, a forester with the U.S. Forest Service and the lead researcher on the survey, which was conducted from July to October. “When you get talking about multiyear exceptional drought, I mean, it’s rough on everything.”

The death toll wasn’t the highest we’ve seen in recent years, but it was troubling because of the type of trees that died and where they were. There are perhaps 40 species of native evergreen species in California, but more than three-quarters of the dead trees detected last year came from one family: firs.

These Christmas-tree-looking conifers are found mostly at higher elevations where there’s more snow. Half of the dead trees in the study were red firs, a crucial alpine tree in places like the Lake Tahoe area, which had avoided the worst effects of the drought until now.

Likewise, the Douglas fir had resisted the drought by using its deep roots to pull up water. But last year saw a shocking 16 times more dead Douglas firs than the previous one. In other words, the trees that should be the most able to survive the drought are now dying in large numbers.

“Doug fir is probably one of the most resilient species in the Sierra Nevada,” said Scott Stephens, a forestry professor at the University of California, Berkeley. “It is the last species that actually has not been really significantly impacted.”

Losing so many mature, drought-resistant trees can be devastating to delicate mountain ecosystems, and it indicates that the forests of the Sierra cannot withstand many more dry winters. And, of course, all of those dead trees may become a fire hazard. A study from last July showed California had lost an area of forest land nearly the size of Delaware since 1985, largely from wildfires.

What’s causing this die off? In effect, it’s a one-two-three punch, Stephens said. First, over the last 100 years, California forests have gotten more crowded, thanks to policies like fire suppression. He and several colleagues recently showed that 60 percent of lower pine forests in the Sierras are so crowded, the trees are essentially choking one another for water and nutrients.

Then came drought. The already thirsty trees reached a breaking point and many started to die. Lastly, pests like the fir engraver beetle arrived and made a meal out of the already desperate trees.

Stephens said California needed to begin managing its forests preemptively to withstand drought. The best way to do this, he said, is selectively thinning out smaller trees and clearing dead ones before they become a fire risk.

It’s not all bad news though. For one thing, about a third of the dead trees from the U.S. Forest Service survey were white firs, which are the forest version of garden weeds. They grow fast and push out trees like red firs that create a healthier ecosystem. With them gone, it’s possible other species might have a better chance.

Also, there has been a lot of snow this winter in the Sierras, which means the remaining trees will soon be healthier and better able to fight off pests. But Moore said he’s ready for at least one more bad year, since many of the trees that died last summer, including oaks in the lower elevations, weren’t spotted by the last aerial survey, because they hadn’t turned brown yet.

Stephens said: “We’re quite fortunate this year that we were able to recharge the soils. We’ll have to watch, but it’s certainly better than being another drought year.”

[girlbogg]

hey has anyone else noticed that totk looks a lot like princess mononoke sometinms (<- guy who has never had an original thought)

[sunbreakisland]

What is Your Web of Life?

What is Your Web of Life?

You can’t escape the web of life Maintaining and protecting your web results in a bounty for all. Photo by Cherie Ude. Previously published in Interpretative Guide to Western Northwest Weather Forecasts. (See Natural Resources, the environment and eco-systems) If you could separate yourself, you’d destroy your connections to life itself. The Web of Life confirms that, contrary to what we might…

[basement-student]

'Mutually obsessed with eachother but in a healthy way' kinda relationships>>>>>>

[thelatestkate]

Shop , Patreon , Books and Cards , Mailing List  

[pastel-hazey-dreams]

[cryptid-moose]

IM BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER HAVE SOME WINTER SHASSIE!!!!!!!

[ahedderick]

Sunny and cold

   This morning’s dog walk was also a not-very-hopeful search for morel mushrooms. The weather has not been good for morels, though, and I did not find any (except one old, dried-up one).

   The flat creek bottom area ends abruptly in a steep bank that is nearly a vertical cliff in places. It is full of moss, ferns, and spring wildflowers at this point.

Steep. Very steep.

I stepped rather carefully along here, because wellie boots are great for dry feet but not great for nimbleness. Some of the ferns were wilty from frost. There’s an entirely different plant community here as opposed to the creek bottom just a few yards away.

  When I successfully navigated back down the hill without breaking my neck, I found this little jack-in-the-pulpit flower and visited the silver maple I transplanted in March. Looking good!

   Several trees have fallen in this area in the last couple of years, so I’m hoping the maple will take over and restore shade. Shade is what maples do best.

[forestduck]

[0nelinerwordplay]

Koinobori こいのぼり -

Tsuetate Onsen 杖立温泉

Tucked away in the remote northern reaches of Kumamoto, Tsuetate Onsen Resort, often referred to as ‘Kyushu’s Secret Haven,’ boasts a rich history spanning 1,800 years. Although its once vibrant atmosphere has mellowed with time, Tsuetate remains an enchanting destination. Visitors are drawn not only by the allure of its bygone splendor and the nostalgic ambiance of the Showa era but also by the enduring appeal of its hot springs. These thermal waters are celebrated for their beneficial health effects, adding to the unique charm of this historical retreat.

[reality-detective]

Shinrin-Yoku, first established in Japan is a growing global wellness movement backed by 30 years of scientific research on the physical and psychological benefits of immersing yourself in nature.  Known as forest bathing, forest therapy can lower blood pressure and trigger a dramatic increase in the activity of natural killer (NK) cells produced by the immune system to ward off infection and fight disease. Spending three days in the forest has been shown to increase NK activity by 50 percent. The natural chemicals secreted by evergreen trees, collectively known as phytoncide, have been associated with improvements in health focusing on reducing the effects of chronic stress.

Walking in a forest is known as Prescription Green and the benefits are enormous for overall mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health. 🤔

[sonyashnik]

Hey, I drew my toppins, I missed them