This week has been sort of emotional because we're having some logging done on our property. As most people have figured out by now, we love our trees. Seeing some of our trees go away is really hard to witness.
Some people look at a forest and see dollar signs. Some politicians, for example, seem to think selling off thousands of acres of land and trees is a fine way to pay off debt. (Heritage, what heritage?) No matter what your political views, the fact is that as long as people need wood, trees will have to be cut.
When we first moved here, we took a forestry management course so we could understand more about the land we own. Intellectually, even my tree-hugger self understands that if you let a forest go completely through its natural cycle, the end of the progression is a "stand replacing fire." I love my trees, but I love my house more and when you live in a forest, you think about fire a lot.
The last few years have been very dry and the lack of moisture is stressing the trees. Stressed tries tend to die and essentially become standing firewood. This situation isn't good. Various insects and disease have also affected some of our trees (mainly because they are stressed), so realistically, it's time for some of them to go.
Fortunately, we're working with a forester we trust and the loggers are doing a lot to try and minimize the impact of the job. In the press, loggers often get a bad rap, but generally they just follow the instructions they get from the landowner. Many loggers truly love trees and being out in the forest. Like us, they want the trees that remain to stay healthy long after the logging is over. Heavy equipment can cause ground compaction, which can damage the trees left behind. Because the ground is frozen and covered with snow right now, it's actually a good time to perform a logging operation.
Even though it makes me sort of sick to see trees from our property loaded up on log trucks, I've accepted that some of our trees have to go. The good news is that the trees left behind will be have a much better shot at survival. They'll have less competition for the resources that keep them strong and healthy. We're hoping to enjoy our forest for a lot more years, after all. |
