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Urban Forest Prob



KESLICK & SON MODERN ARBORICULTURE
PRODUCTS, EDUCATION AND SERVICE
214 N. Penn Street West Chester, PA 19380
610-696-5353
E-mail:"treeman@locke.ccil.org"
Web Site: http://www.ccil.org/~treeman/

									
	August 17, 1996

This is my report of the PENNSYLVANIA FOREST STEWARDSHIP PLAN prepared 
for Westtown Township, West Chester, Pa by Daniel G. Gerber, Forester.   
First allow me to define some terms used.  A forest is a system,  where 
trees and their associates are so highly ordered in their connections 
that they all survive at a high quality state.  A system is a highly 
ordered connection of parts and processes that have a predetermined end 
point - product, service ( In this case the universal biological 
currency-glucose. I need it. You need it. The animals need it. We all 
need it).   Stress is a condition where a system, or its parts, begins to 
operate near the limits for which it was designed.   Strain is disorder 
and disruption of a system due to operation beyond the limits of stress. 
 Survival means that you stay alive and you stay in a working state under 
conditions that have the capacity or the ability to kill you.  Vigor is 
the capacity to resist strain; a genetic factor, a potential force 
against any threats to survive (We cannot change this).  Vitality is the 
ability to grow under the conditions present; dynamic action.  High 
quality means as it survives it survives in a state that will continue to 
be usable.  Low quality means if it does survive it will be in a state 
that will not be usable.  Health is the ability to resist strain.   Old 
forestry is forestry without the understanding of tree biology, i.e., 
they make decisions without understanding trees biology.

This proposal if NOT PASSED, at worst,  MAY possibly apply stress to your 
urban forest, but the plan, if carried out, will strain your forest to 
the point of low quality.  I know of no biological data to show that 
trees are too close together in a forest.  I do know that opening the 
canopy brings out the anthracnose in Cornus florida (dogwood).  Presently 
the vitality of your forest appears to be increasing, i.e., from a 
biological stand point.  Logging and such as planned will reduce the 
vitality to strain.

Here, as in all Medicine, the first principle must be: "FIRST OF ALL DO 
NO HARM!"  This implies, of course, a thorough understanding of the 
healthy organism i.e. in this case,  the tree biology.  This, in turn, 
brings us to a second principle:   "DON'T HURT THE TREE AND YOU WON'T 
HURT YOURSELF!"  

The biggest problem in arboriculture, landscaping and forestry is the 
lack of the understanding of tree biology.   Mr. Gerber has explained he 
has no education in tree biology.  He is very good at numbers and 
measurements.  Also he knows the easiest ways to get trucks in and out.  
We call this OLD FORESTRY.  Old forestry is dead.  In 1991, they wrote a 
report that stated all efforts to manage our forest have failed.   What 
we need is a plan that connects with the environment.  Old forestry is 
disconnected.  I would suggest that someone who understands TREE BIOLOGY 
would draw up a plan to sustain the forest health that you now own.  
That's right, you own the forest health and this is your greatest asset 
along with your children's.   An example of a plan without knowledge of 
tree biology is planting Liriodendron tulipifera (yellow poplar) with 
Quercus alba (white oak) in predominantly wet soils.  These two trees 
have two entirely different vigor codes for water.  The white oak being a 
strongly ring porous tree, verse's poplar being a diffuse porous tree.  

An important aspect of tree biology is the difference in "plumbing,", 
i.e., the way water is transported,  stored and used.  For instance,  
Oak,  Elm,  Chestnut,  Robinia-Black Locust are ring porous trees.  In 
these,  on cross section,  you see the vessels quite large in the early 
spring,  laid out in concentric circles,  and copiously absorbing water 
in the early growth season after which they close down.  On the other 
hand,  Maple,  Sycamore,  Honey Locust and  Tulip Tree are diffuse porous 
trees with the vessels equally distributed over the cross section.  They 
take up water during the entire growth period.  The Birch also belongs in 
this group since it requires water and keeps its stomata open throughout. 
 Conifers do not have vessels, they have tracheids.  Their water 
requirements are similar to the ring porous trees.  The reason for this 
is that the trachids are at first thin walled and then become thick 
walled as the increment progresses.
Thus,  one will choose the appropriate location for planting either of 
these groups according to the water supply.  But there are also trees,  
such as Ash and Mulberry, which are "semi-diffuse",  not quite belonging 
to either category and developing tyloses,  plugging of the vessels,  
irregularly.

My suggestion in a forest treatment plan would be to first incorporate a 
safety inspection.  See that present trails are safe for visitors.  Trees 
along roadways inspected regularly for possible failure.  Remember, 
safety first.  On removals of high risk trees feed the soil with the 
wood.  In other words do not clean out the forest.  Remember tree systems 
are the most efficient recyclers on earth.  Lets work with them and not 
against them.  I would be willing to draw up a plan of stewardship based 
on tree biology and the desires of the community.  Keep grass OUT of YOUR 
FOREST.
The construction of the Exton Bypass and just before that the Blue Route 
has supplied much timber.  Along with new shopping malls as well.  How 
about all the trees around the Media Reservoir? This urban forest does 
not need to be logged for better health.  Only low quality, stress and 
strain will remain.  We must take care to manage forests in ways that 
will not break connections.  Decisions must be based on scientific 
understanding, not emotions.  The only reason we would cut those trees is 
for money at the disadvantage of your forest.  This would make us the 
pathogen.
Old, healthy mature trees make GOOD homes for wildlife!
A FORESTER DECIDING WHAT TREES TO REMOVE THAT DOES NOT UNDERSTAND AT 
LEAST FIVE MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A WOODY ROOT AND A WOODY STEM, IS 
MUCH THE SAME AS A  THORACIC SURGEON DOING A HEART TRANSPLANT WITHOUT 
KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HAND AND THE FOOT.

Today,  even a child knows that the destruction of the rain forests 
threatens the very existence of life on earth.

Yours Truly						
 John A. Keslick Jr. 					
John A. Keslick Jr. 					
Tree Biologist & Professional Modern Arborist

Member: PA Urban and Community Forestry Council
Member: S.E. PA Community Tree Association
Plus Certified Chester County Master Composter




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John A. Keslick Jr.              If you are not OUTRAGED you're not 
Professional Modern Arborist     paying attention.
& Tree Biologist                  
Phone: 610-696-5353              Support ORGANIC FARMERS.
organic tree treatment web site: 
http://www.ccil.org/~treeman/    
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