Oregon Natural Forestry

Gaps naturally form in a forest when a limb breaks off, tree dies, landslide happens, micro tornados or there is some other disturbance that allows sunlight to reach the forest floor (ground).  Within the gap can be intense diversity of species, forbs, shrubs and even the start of trees.  Animals also find these gaps.  Those on the ground coming to feed and birds like the marbled murrelet using the opening like a runway approach to their nest. Gaps can also be created through the selective cutting of trees.  Thinking about topography, tree species and purpose the gap can be put where it will do the most good.  For instance if the forest has the basis of marbled murrelet habitat a flight path to future habitat can be created well in advance of when the site would be occupied.  Not quite like a city built and waiting for residents but close. A small meadow for deer or elk use can be created the same way. Gaps are one of the less explored ways of creati...

Fog drip in a forested environment is when fog condenses on a conifer tree’s needle and then as water drips to the ground. Tall redwoods have scrubbed water out of Coastal skies for eons watering themselves and adjacent streams.  This is one reason redwoods are thought to be able to grow so tall. Fog drip is also being recognized as an important contributor to Coastal summer stream flows.  Dr. Gordie Reeves with the United States Forest Service made this point during his recent talk at the Lower Nehalem Watershed Council.  Summer stream flows are usually low but facing warmer summer temperatures and less snow these flows are expected to be even lower.  Fog drip from big trees adjacent to streams could moderate the low flows by extracting fog and cloud borne water and dripping it to needy streams.  The number of days in which fog is sucked inland off the ocean is expected to increase with more frequent hot valley days as the climate warms up.  It will ta...

When you look at the dollar value of a forest it is often about the trees and land.  How many board feet or cubic meters of wood there is and what is the ability of the land to produce more trees.  The land also has a development value, how about lots of homes or apartments? Of course there are other values a forest has, its ecosystem service value, it just isn’t as quantifiable, usually.  That may be changing.  Less than a year ago the Chinese government flew (and paid the rest of the expenses) Dr. Bob Deal of the US Forest Service over to see how they might be able to enhance a forests ability to provide ecosystem services and to begin quantifying their contributions.  Water, cleaner air, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, slope stability are just a fraction of the services a forest provides just by its being.  Little trees and big trees, both, at different times, contribute differently.  The wildflowers of a perceived meadow do not bloom (o...

Dec iduous trees are the ones that drop their leaves in a firestorm of color in the fall.  They are the oak, ash, maple, alder, beach, birch, cherry and hickory that are associated with flooring, baseball bats, furniture and cabinetry.  In some climes and indigenous peoples they are an essential food source providing protein and fat, walnuts and hazelnuts. The deciduous trees are our companions providing shade in the summer and letting the sun shine through in the winter.  Susan Fenimore Cooper put it this way in Rural Hours (1850) “In very truth , a fine tree near a house is a much greater embellishment than the thickest coat of paint …… much more desirable than the most expensive mahogany and velvet sofa in the parlor.”  Urban trees line our streets adding value to adjacent properties, and are actually found in more affluent neighborhoods.  Depending on where you live a deciduous tree can be a fire safer alternative to evergreens. One of my favorite me...