Station 17: Understanding How the Forest Grows Back

Since the 1990 clearcut we have been studying the regrowth of the forest. We inventory 50 small plots in the regrowth area in front of you. Since 1995 the relative importance of the major tree species has remained the same.

In order of importance, the most numerous tree species are

• white ash,
• red maple,
• sugar maple,
• black cherry.
• Red oak seedlings have been slowly increasing in numbers.

It remains to be seen if these seedlings will survive to play a role in the developing stand. We plan to continue this study for decades to better understand and predict how forests respond to management.

Open Grown Trees

Notice in the picture on the left the distinct pattern of growth on the black birch, that was not cut during harvest. This form has full "crowns" and many side branches is typical of "open grown" trees and is quite different from the "forest-grown" form of the crowded sprouts.