The Sensible Environmentalist
(NAPS)�DEAR DR. MOORE:
How do I know if my deck
comes from an old growth
forest?
Wood products aren�t tracked
in terms of each tree�s age, so you
can�t be certain. But there are
other ways to ensure
the protection of old
growth forests if this
is your concern.
The important
thing is to set aside
enough old growth
across the forest
landscape. This is
something Americans have taken
to heart. The amount of protected
forest in the U.S. has increased
steadily over the last fifty years
and now includes more than 270
million acres, much of which is old
growth.
The debate over old growth has
been presented as good versus
evil: beautiful old forests or barren
clearcuts. But forests are in a
constant state of change. North
American forests face large natural
disturbances such as fire or
disease on a regular basis�which
is simply to say that a forest set
aside as old growth usually won�t
be old growth forever. The process
is cyclical, not a one-way street
that leads either to the perfect forest
or permanent forest loss.
Old growth is a complex subject,
partly because there is no
universal definition:
- Age�As a popular term, "old
growth" describes trees that are
big and old, usually older than
200 years. Scientifically, it means
trees that have reached the age of
maturity, which may be 50 years
for alder or 500 years for redwood.
- Characteristics�To many
people, this is more important
than age. Old growth characteristics
include standing dead trees
big enough for cavity nesting
birds, fallen dead trees as habitat
for insects, fungi and small animals,
and a fully developed diversity
of plants, shrubs and trees. In
some types of forest (like coastal
Douglas fir), these features may
appear after just 70 years.
Old growth forests provide
important habitat, are beautiful
and (where fires are infrequent)
may live to be centuries old. However,
it is equally true that young
forests provide important habitat,
are beautiful and contribute to
our material needs. I believe that
a sensible environmentalist would
support a balance of both these
types across the forest landscape.
home
