Natural Succession is Broken

Many people have heard about the concept of natural succession.  This is the process by which nature restores a forest on land that has been deforested.  After the fire/windstorm/clearcut the land grows into annual grasses and flowering plants, these give way to perennial plants and seedlings of shrubs and trees.  The shrubs and trees grow and compete for light.  Shade tolerant trees and plants then recolonize the young forest.  Some trees get big, layers develop, and presto, new old forest.

Young forest choked with amur honeysuckle

Dominant Trees in Young Forests of Five Rivers MetroParks

This process still works pretty well in heavily forested areas, but here in sw Ohio I say it is busted.  The forest land has been reduced to isolated fragments, many of which were impacted by livestock grazing and high grade timbering.  Invasive shrubs, particularly Amur honeysuckle, autumn olive, multiflora rose, and now callery pear spread rapidly and cover disturbed areas in impenetrable thickets.  Native trees such as oaks and hickory's that have large seeds and grow slowly cannot spread more than a short distance from existing mature trees.  Those that do grow are munched like snickers bars by over-abundant deer as well as rabbits and mice.  Trees that do spread well tend to be ones that have berries, such as hackberry,  or winged seeds such as ash that are spead by birds or the wind.  Now our most successful young forest trees, white and green ash are all dying from Emerald Ash Borer.  Most young forests regenerated since the mid 1960's are not diverse and have no realistic chance of gaining in diversity without help. I've decided to stop telling people about the miraculous process of natural succession, it's just not working  in sw Ohio.   We still have fertile soil, sunshine, and abundant rainfall.  Something is going to grow, but the forests of tomorrow are shaping up to be a shadow of the what they were.  Many people may not care, but to me its like eating spam when you are used to eating at the Meadowlark.

A young oak emerging from a tree shelter: hope for future forests

People of all ages want to help

Okay, enough gloom and doom.  There are plenty of conservation groups around the world that are doing great work and would put your contribution to good use.  But if you want to do something more personal here is your chance. Five Rivers MetroParks has made forest restoration and renewal a priority.  To learn how you can contribute go to www.metroparks.org/forests.  Help plant trees in the spring, collect seeds in the fall, become a reforestation leader by taking the Master Silviculturist course, adopt some trees for the summer in the Forest Foster Tree program, or learn how to plant a tree in your yard.

Maybe if we act now we can grow more forests like this