A study today estimated this planet has more than three trillion trees, much more than originally thought. I would love to see a comparison study after the cutting season http://m.phys.org/news/2015-09-trees-previously-believed.html
And we certainly have our share: "The forests of Maine stretch from Kittery to Fort Kent and from Jackman to Lubec. In fact, forests cover 90% (17.7 million acres) of the state, making Maine the most heavily forested state in the country." Around here there are hundreds of property lines make of stone walls put up from clear cutting years ago. Today, these clear cut areas are mostly forest again. One of these stone walls is just behind my place. There they are just like grave yard markers of a time forgotten.
That's sorta funny. We've been told our whole lives, that cutting down a big tree is a bad thing, since it may have taken over 100 years to get there. But when you think about it, they're just a "Long term crop". A plant... There were trees before we got here, and there will be trees long after we're gone. Just doing what they do. Seeding, and making more. I clear fence rows, and about every 15-20 years, they need it done again. I have found myself leaving the nicer trees "out of selfishness one could say". Just cause I like a good shade tree and a nice visible barrier. As long as the tree in question isn't infringing on the field's light and water too much. As far as woods goes, take one big Beach tree out, and watch the little ones all around it grow and fill! Geeze, you'd almost think it was all by design, it works so well.. Happy cutting
Seems like it would be easy to get 3 or more years ahead with that many trees, but we all know it's a lot of work, and we don't all have wood fairies and land to cut on
Lol... Truth... I cut countless trees and process maybe 35-40 cord a year into firewood, and still can't get 3 years ahead on just the stuff I'm responsible to supply. If the wood fairy showed up and left me 100 cord, I might could do it. There always seems to be someone who needs it more than me, and I consider myself blessed that this is the case.
I like how the article states that trees have "plummeted" since the start of human civilization, down 46%. But if you think about it, the human population has EASILY more than doubled since the start of human civilization. Heck, it's probably increased 100,000 X since the first humans started using trees. I'd say we've been doing fairly well as stewards of the forest. And I'd bet that natural climate change has probably contributed to those lower numbers as well.
Well, it can be a bad thing.....in certain places. For example down in South America, especially near the Amazon. It is amazing how much forest is disappearing down there. Here? Even with all the dead and dieing trees we have, we'll have no shortage. Yesterday my wife and I went for a drive and I'd almost hate to estimate how many trees we saw that were standing dead. In one spot alone there were probably well over a thousand trees; all dead. Lots of places where hundreds were dead. Between here and on little town (crossroads actually) there are probably well over a thousand dead standing ash and elm. It sort of hurts seeing all this beautiful firewood that is just going to go to waste. And on the long term crop, you are exactly right. That is what it is and when it goes, yes, it will be replaced by many more. We had a huge beech, probably the biggest I've even seen. It died. Today where just that one tree stood, there are probably a hundred now standing and I've cut probably 2 dozen of those new ones too (just to clear a small spot).
