Originally posted by Reefer Ryder
**I agree with julien, i dont see a problem with taking a few small trees down. But if your going around cutting down 3-4 foot wide trees thats sorta questionable. Its not like a few trees will change anything its just more the thought you know? Like why kill something thats taken decades to grow just so you dont havto ride around it?? Just my thoughts, Cheers
PS the trailbuilding forum rules.
oh and good post! **
There are many problems with cutting the small trees down, particularly on the North Shore.
1) Most of the small trees taken are cedar. Fromme, since it was logged has become a primarily hemlock forest. Those hemlocks are starting to come down through natural attrition and if there are no strong cedars to fill the area of new light, hemlock will grow back, resulting in a continued lack of diversity. How many of you tree cutters are foresters and can make a knowledgeable decision on which trees NEED to be cut out?
2) As I said, forward looking land managers look to the value of the trees in 50+ years, right when these trees will be prime for selective silvaculture. Typically land owners are not happy when some-one removes their future $10, 000+ tree.
3) Live trees are not as strong or rot resistant as properly seasoned wood, particularly if the bark is left on. Houses are not built from green lumber, why should structures. There are plenty of standing, dry cedars that are dead, and are better building material hands down. It should be noted that these trees are valuable habitat as well, and should be selected from different areas so as to not denude the forest of standing deadwood.
The bottom line is that we are building on some-one elses land. Where did we ever get the idea that it was cool to destroy potentially valuable resource on their land?
