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November 03, 2003
Oak trees losing grip on Forest Domination??
The Warren Times Observer reported this morning that oak trees, particularly valuable red oak, are losing ground to less desireable species such as red maple.
However, the article fails to mention that red oak, and for that matter the oaks in general, never really accounted for much of the forests in the Allegheny Plateau, particularly where it is unglaciated as in the national forest.
Oaks only increased in abundance due to the rampant logging of a century ago much in the same way as black cherry. Many burned over lands were ripe for the growth of certain oak species.
Many are now trying to link oak forest with burning practices of Pennsylvania's native American population but I think this is disingenuous. Certainly, burning practices did occur, but it was limited in scope -- particulary around rivers for agriculture and settlment. The vast majority of the plateau was not affected by fire.
This is how the article is misleading - saying that a lack of forest fires is parlty to blame for the loss of oak -- as if Pennsylvania naturally had regularly occurring forest fires to select for oak. This is not California!
Posted by Ryan at November 3, 2003 11:30 AM
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