A Forester's Perspective: The Facts of Life for
Forest Grown Trees
by Arlyn W. Perkey, USDA Forest Service
How do you view the trees on your property? Do you see
them as being equally desirable, or do you like some of
them better than others? Do you think they
all have the same potential for producing benefits for
you? Have you ever even thought of them as entities that
can be manipulated to produce benefits?
Let me share some of my philosophy about trees.
First of all, I love them dearly. I have for over 30
years. I've spent the past 24 years either formally
obtaining an education about trees, or actively working
with them as a professional forester. This experience
has prompted me to draft what I call:
The Facts of Life for Forest Grown Trees
1. Life is tough for trees. Not only must they withstand
the elements, but they are also forced to compete with
neighboring trees for water, light, nutrients, and space
in order to survive. This competition is intense. From
the time it is first established as a seedling or a
sprout, a tree must constantly struggle to exist and
grow.
2. Trees that are unable to compete successfully soon
fall behind their neighbors and become desperately
disadvantaged in the ever-present struggle for life.
They lose vigor, become suppressed, and frequently
suffer attack by insects and disease. Many of these
trees that have obviously lost out in the race should
be removed from the stand, thus turning over their
water, light, nutrients, and space to a neighbor with
more potential to produce.
3. All trees are not created equal. Some trees are
prettier than others. Some produce more food for
wildlife, and some are more valuable for producing
timber products. Environmental circumstances and genetic
make-up are factors which often influence the
desirability of individual trees.
4. No tree is perfect. Since there is no absolutely
perfect crop tree, we must carefully choose trees that
have the most important characteristics. There aren't
always high quality crop trees available to choose from,
but there is always a best tree to choose.
5. It is OK to discriminate against inferior trees.
Removal of trees that have either fallen behind in the
race for life, or are simply inferior due to species,
shape, size, etc. should not be considered wrong.
6. Trees in good condition will take advantage of
opportunities to utilize additional water, light,
nutrients, and space. When disadvantaged trees are
removed from competition, the healthy trees that remain
will respond with increased growth.
7. Trees can be regenerated. Given appropriate time,
place, and environmental conditions, trees will
reproduce. It is difficult to identify separate
specific crop trees at this stage of development; but,
if we are going to harvest bountiful crops in the
future, we must provide appropriate conditions now for
regeneration of desirable crop trees.
Perhaps these statements sound harsh; but I'd like to
encourage you to accept these truths as guiding
principles for making decisions about the trees in your
woodlot.
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