Rarity Watch: Old-Growth Forests

Many authors occupy space on my shelves.  Wendell Berry has moved my heart, but Joan Maloof has moved my feet. After reading Maloof's "Among the Ancients" I had to go see the last remains of our Old-Growth Forests: Cathedral Woods West Virginia, George Washington Nation Forest in Virginia, Cook Forest Pennsylvania, Congaree National Park in South Carolina, and Ohio's own Johnson Woods.

Only by immersing ourselves into true Old-Growth Forests can we measure what we have lost.  These forests boast of many species and great biodiversity.  Well-fed chipmunks and birds scamper across rotting logs that are protein rich in beetle larva. The hydrology is deeper, moister. Wildflowers respond in abundance to the sponge-like humus of the forest floor. the woodland fungi run unseen, beneath the leaf-covered forest floor and bind together the rotting bark.  These fungal components of our forest play important roles in the ongoing drama.  They are the communication system called the "woods wide web."  This tree communication system draws forth nutrients and sends out signals of impending attack.  No need for Druids or sprites in a forest, the fungi help trees "talk" to each other through their entangled roots.  It may stretch our limited imaginations, but scientists are documenting this "web" in current studies.

Breath deeply in an Old-Growth Forest... the Japanese call this "deep forest bathing" of Shinrin-yoku.  The documented health benefits include lowered blood pressure, boosted immune system, stress reduction, increased energy level, and improved sleep.  You too, will probably feel better taking deep breaths in an Old-Growth Forest.  It is part of our DNA.

Ohio has but a handful of these protected forests. Mohican has the Clear Fork State Nature Preserve.  Johnson Woods near Wooster offers a peek into our past. Dysart Woods near Belmont remains lauded, but endangered by underground mining. Ohio wold benefit by setting aside more sites like these.

One walk in an Old-Growth Forest teaches anyone attuned to nature the vast difference between 100-200 year old forests and the single-species woodlots used for timber production.  Wood lots for timber production are as important as any other type of farm, but forests only begin to reach their true potential with the passage of time.

A visit to witness astounding, centuries-old trees commune in a natural Old-Growth Forest is an experience one long remembers.  Never again will you believe "woods can 'over-mature'."

Cheryl Harner

The Big Woods

One hundred and fifty some acres of the most impressive trees to be seen in Ohio are in Wayne County.  Yesterday we traveled to Johnson Woods, a State Nature Preserve just outside of Orrville.  The locals have always called it "The Big Woods." 

Several of the trees here are over 400 years old.  Imagine: they were already growing when the Pilgrims arrived in America! This towering Old Growth Forest was  featured in the book Among the Ancients  (by Joan Maloof.)  It inspired our visit, and has re-awakened my interest in trees.

 These giants dwarfed the mere humans on the board walk.  To appreciate an old growth forest, one must consider the whole ecosystem.  The rich forest floor is fed by fallen trees and leaves.  Forests do just fine without human "management."  This rich eco-system boasted more chipmunks, mushrooms and wildflower than you could shake a stick at.

Birders talk of "warbler neck,"

 but we were experiencing "tree neck."  My father is gaping at the dizzying height of one of the giants.  Friends and family were leaning back and pointing, like tourist seeing sky-scrapers for the first time.

Fall color is starting to arrive with the blackgum trees.  They are always the first red flags to wave autumn in. This giant of a Blackgum- or Tupelo- as some call them, had us all craning our necks to admire the view.

Johnson Woods is an wonderfully wet woods with several open stands of Jewelweed, Impatiens capensis  and Turtlehead, Chelone glabra.  A Ruby-throated Hummingbird was enjoying the nectar in this clearing and putting on a good show.

We are so fortunate to have this forest monument preserved for our enjoyment. Schedule an afternoon there and look closely at the entire eco-system.  It is filled with life and death- the very stuff of nature.

Among the Ancients

We humans are are but short lived species, compared to some of the ancients on earth.  The term "Old Growth Forest" has many different meanings, but a general rule of thumb would be a forest that has attained significant age (pre-settlement in America) without significant disruption.  They are filled with ancient trees.

These forests are rare and unique communities, and probably less than 1%  of them remain.  Giant Sequoias certainly come to mind, but there are a few examples in our Eastern deciduous forests as well.

 Recently I have been entranced by this book listing 26 forests in the east.  You can believe I have map-quested my way to the ones within striking distance and have made plans to re-visit Ohio's representative in the book: Johnson Woods.  Yes, it is one of our Ohio State Nature Preserves.

 Joan Maloof, the author, gave a compelling program at last week's "Forest Management" seminar at Cleveland Museum of Natural History.  Not only is she a admirer of these big, bodacious trees, she is working hard to protect the last of our giants in arboreal natural history.

Old Growth Forests are rated as more beautiful.

Old Growth Forests are not only more beautiful, they are quantifiably more diverse and often protect unique organisms.  Is it any wonder some of our extinct or nearly extinct bird species (Ivory-billed Woodpeckers, Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, Black-backed Woodpeckers) prefer these- now nearly extinct forests?

But is not just beauty and diversity these forests add.  They are also good for our environment.  They have enhanced hydrology and are excellent at carbon sequestration. Both are huge pluses for a world undergoing climatic change. For a long time we thought young forests were better at carbon sequestration, because young trees take up carbon at a higher rate.  However, now we know due to their additional mass, old growth trees sequester carbon just as well.

Learn more about these forests and the goal to protect our remaining ancient trees.  Joan is quick to say she has “no problem with forests set aside for production.”   However, she also believes some

“public forests should exist for more than fiber and dollars.”  

Let's work to set aside ancient forest for our children's children.  These trees can easily outlive us, but only if we protect them now.  Go here to read more about the Old Growth Forest Network.  It is truly  America's Next Idea.

A day at Johnson Woods

It was a fine day to visit one of Ohio's best known old-growth forests, Johnson Woods. Located in Wayne County, between the metropolises of Marshallville and Orrville, this 155 acre preserve is a wonderful place to study winter trees...

and the inhabitants therein. We found this Barred Owl on our way into the preserve, and were even more surprised to find its mate in a limb not 20 feet away. Masters of camouflage, this day time snoozer was taking advantage of the cover provided by a squirrel's nest. He awoke long enough to let us know he disapproved, but would tolerate our presence.

This forest contains specimens of amazingly large oaks, hickories, maple and beech trees, and a sampling of other species. Some of the trees closest to the trail are well marked, providing an excellent opportunity to study winter tree ID. The bark of black cherry is quite distinctive, and looks a bit like black potato chips glued to the tree. However, sometimes bark on old growth trees look a bit different than the bark which we are accustomed to seeing.

The overwhelming size of the slow growing oaks was most impressive. Towering overhead and long ago maxed-out in height, their canopies spread across the winter sky, much to our delight. White, red and pin oaks grow here in good number, but as the oldsters decline, they are succeeded by maple and beech. Oak requires more light for germination and growth, whereas the maple and beech are more shade tolerant.

What could cause the scaring on this tree? Lines of damage mark this tree and if you click to enlarge this photo you may see small holes. This appears to be the healed over work of a sapsucker drilling for liquid gold.

A different type of pest is making much smaller D-shaped holes in our ash trees. Many of Michigan and Ohio's trees are loosing the battle to the Emerald Ash Borer. Tom Arbor wrote a particularly good article on EAB today, go here to read it. You'll want to make time to visit Johnson Woods while there are still some massive ash trees to see. It is likely they will go the way of the elm and chestnut trees, also victims of non-native pests and disease.

This forest is a good representation of Ohio's woodlands 200 or 300 years ago, and we felt fortunate to spend the day admiring these beautiful, bodacious trees.