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Hi Nick & All,
I agree that death of Hemlock stands is no cause for alarm, because=20
plants tend to generate conditions more favorable for other species, but=20
one should try to use any development to advantage; by intervention if=20
applicable.
With respect to the following
"... obviously the less we do and the more we let succession regenerate=20
a fast growth of new trees to mop up mineralized nutrients, tie up more=20
carbon all amid the existing carbon in the old hemlock, the more we are=20
doing our part for slowing climate change..."
doing less can scarcely translate into doing more.
The notion that forests just keep capturing carbon if left alone is=20
wishful thinking. If Hemlock in the affected areas die then all of=20
their carbon, trunk, root and branch will eventually be released as CO2.=20
This will no doubt be a slow process because Hemlock is rot resistant,=20
but release is certain.
ASSUMING DEATH OF MANY HEMLOCK IN A RELATIVELY PURE STAND---
I agree that succession, with rapid growth of young trees, will in=20
time offset this release so it makes sense to act in ways which will=20
enable this with minimum delay. The C/N ratio of wood is high so much=20
dead wood implies a N shortage for decades. About half of this carbon is=20
underground and beyond practicable removal. But above ground wood can=20
readily be removed so, where feasible, it makes sense to use it. Cut the=20
dead trees, chunk, split and pile in the woods with bark removed and use=20
for firewood locally in later years as substitute for fossil fuels. [The=20
bark of Hemlock is readily removed when split.] Every stick of firewood,=20
burned for heat, can represent that much less fossil fuel burned for=20
that purpose.
An you indicate, when many trees of a stand die in a region subject=20
to leaching one may expect loss of mobile nutrients as decomposition of=20
soil organic components continues in the absence of uptake. A=20
scattering of seeds, such as Buckthorn, would minimize this.
If the affected Hemlock are in relatively pure stands then selective=
=20
removal trees most affected would make sense.
Yt, DW, Kentville
------ Original Message ------
From: "Nick Hill" <fernhillns@gmail.com>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Sent: 4/10/2018 6:57:54 AM
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Meeting
>Condolences, John. Hemlock is one of our most beautiful shade tolerant=20
>long lived trees and it sets the structure of many ravines, riparian=20
>forests and old growths.
>I'd advise caution, however In adopting either a sanitary, a chemical=20
>or a treatment that uses non native biocontrols.
>Wild forest management is the proper job of a forest ecologist who sees=20
>structure, forest successional dynamics and evolution. The sky is not=20
>falling; as I've pointed out, other areas have gone through this and=20
>forests change and in some (many if we read the West Virginia phd) =20
>affected forests, hemlock persists and relinquishes some of its=20
>dominance to cherry birch, the species determined by availability in=20
>the area. Here it will probably be yellow birch and red spruce but we=20
>will see.
>
>Active management makes humans and particularly those in mandated=20
>organizations feel they are not being negligent ..due diligence=20
>etc...but forests change and we would do best for nature to let it=20
>change and only intervene where we think there are regeneration =20
>issues. It's a good time to collect tree seeds, start nursery stock of=20
>yellow birch and red spruce hobble bush mountain maple.
>
>The public has lost its forest commons as we cede the forest to=20
>companies that clearcut. If we care about forests and nature, let the=20
>forests be wild...connect up wild areas onto corridors...but don't=20
>treat wild forest like gardens or we will be mimicking the clear=20
>cutting mentality at work on most of our forest commons.
>
>Let's have some faith in nature and not think it's helpless without us.=20
>Holding back and not rushing to active management will be hard for=20
>people in government and conservation organizations but succession can=20
>handle what we think is a crisis. How it handles it is the beauty and=20
>wisdom of nature.
>
>I haven't got into carbon implications but obviously the less we do and=20
>the more we let succession regenerate a fast growth of new trees to mop=20
>up mineralized nutrients, tie up more carbon all amid the existing=20
>carbon in the old hemlock, the more we are doing our part for slowing=20
>climate change...the more we remove and hack and burn...
>
>Lastly, we are in, undeniably, a time of vegetation change brought n by=20
>climate change. Such forest changes will be opportunities for=20
>biodiversity and we will witness exciting positive changes.
>
>Nick
>
>
>
>On Tue, Apr 10, 2018, 12:46 AM John Kearney,=20
><john.kearney@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote:
>>Hi All,
>>
>>Our hemlock trees are in serious trouble. The culprit is an aphid=20
>>relative, the hemlock woolly adelgid, and currently, southwest Nova=20
>>Scotia is the most at threat.
>>
>>The Tusket River Environmental Protection Association (TREPA) will be=20
>>sponsoring a talk by Ron Neville, Plant Health Survey Biologist of the=20
>>Canadian Food Inspection Agency, at the Yarmouth County Museum and=20
>>Archives, 22 Collins Street, Yarmouth, on Tuesday, April 10th, at 7:00=20
>>PM. All are welcome.
>>
>>
>>
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