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Fred Morgan
Sponsor
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Posted: Sun Jun 19th, 2005 04:49 pm |
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One of our decisions this last year was to move step by step toward a managed forest. The first generation trees (many of which are plantation trees like teak) will be replaced by natives - often ones that grow slower.
A managed forest is like a forest, but is being cared for by hopefully intelligent beings who can make decisions about which trees to keep, and which to remove.
The decisions will be based on the following factors.
1. Health of the forest.
2. Increasing wildlife.
3. Creating the most valuable future wood.
Whenever possible, trees will be planted that are good for wildlife as well as lumber - this is very easy to do here in Costa Rica since some of the best food trees for animals are also great lumber trees - for example, the wild almond (Almendro).
What happens is that a small percentage of wood is removed every year - carefully, without heavy equipment. This opens up the forest for regeneration as well as provide money for continuing the preservation of the forest. Sort of a win, win.
Instead of removing the best trees - you remove the inferior ones so that the best trees reproduce. Currently often in many parts of the world, so many good trees have been removed, sometimes the best thing you can do is clear-cut since all you have left is the genetically inferior.
Eventually the best trees will be removed, but when they are no longer increasing in size as well as are not creating more seedlings. These trees of course will be very valuable commercially because of their large diameter and quality of wood.
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LogRite
Member
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Posted: Wed Jun 22nd, 2005 12:00 am |
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| I wonder if the future generations will have the same goals in mind when the forest contains wood that is of value. A sustainable, harvestable forest is the only way I know of to keep developers, thieves and government law makers at bay. Everyone must learn that the real value is in the forest, not the one time harvest.
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Aaron Brewer
Member
| Joined: | Sun Jul 31st, 2005 |
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| Posts: | 2 |
| Mana: |  |
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Posted: Sat Aug 13th, 2005 02:07 pm |
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Have you planned out how to harvest timber with as little disturbance as possible? Around these parts (Minnesota) that means harvesting during the winter when the ground is frozen, removing the trees with draft horses, and/or using a portable mill to cut the lumber in the field. Larger operations use large machines that cut the trees and cary them out. I'm sure the methods in CR vary by the size of tree being removed, size of the operation, and access to roads, but what are the typical and "prefered" methods used there?
Best Regards
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Fred Morgan
Sponsor
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Posted: Sat Aug 13th, 2005 05:34 pm |
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The normal method is to cut in the dry season - usually around February or March when the soil is pretty hard. As, we will be using oxen or believe or not, water buffalo. And, of course, a portable sawmill enters the picture as well.
When you process the wood from end to end, you don't have to do such large volumes to be able to pay for costs of doing business.
Hector just talked to me last week about acquiring a couple of ox calfs - then we will have a local craftsman make the yoke and harness. Here they attach the yoke to the horns and tie it on with leather. Very interesting.
The prefered wood is from the manga tree, is is tough, but elastic.
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Redwood
Administrator
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Posted: Sat Sep 10th, 2005 03:46 am |
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Does anyone know of the Alerce cyprus, native to the temperate southern mountain to coast rainforests of Chile? Seed or seedlings of these trees should be in high demand. Groves of Alerce could grace Hyde Park like the Wellingtons do today.
Fred Morgan wrote:
The normal method is to cut in the dry season - usually around February or March when the soil is pretty hard. As, we will be using oxen or believe or not, water buffalo. And, of course, a portable sawmill enters the picture as well.
When you process the wood from end to end, you don't have to do such large volumes to be able to pay for costs of doing business.
Hector just talked to me last week about acquiring a couple of ox calfs - then we will have a local craftsman make the yoke and harness. Here they attach the yoke to the horns and tie it on with leather. Very interesting.
The prefered wood is from the manga tree, is is tough, but elastic.
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jradecki
Member
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Posted: Mon Oct 3rd, 2005 12:45 am |
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I recently went tree planting in northern Ontario the set up is
renewable cycles of harvested trees in specific areas
national parks as well as goverment land to remain as old growth forests.
The advantages of having new forests growing are: Young growing trees consume more carbon dioxide and produce more oxygen then old growth forests and supplies materials for the people.Our main problem is getting to the balance point and actually realistically consuming only what we are able to produce
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Fred Morgan
Sponsor
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Posted: Mon Oct 3rd, 2005 12:55 am |
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What works here in Costa Rica is around the creeks, rivers and springs you are not allowed to cut except in very rare times. So, old growth is preserved around the waterways. Also, in the national parks.
There is more wildlife in secondary forest, so these are encouraged as well.
They key in sustainability is to harvest in such a way that you leave the best trees to produce more trees - instead of practicing "Genetic Erosion" by removing the best trees year by year.
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