Wendy McCully, from Ahwahnee, receives seedlings for herself and a friend from Philip Messerschmitt, a visitor information specialist at the Bass Lake Ranger District of the Sierra National Forest. For more than 25 years, nearby communities have been encouraged to plant new trees provided by forest to support the reforestation program. Foothill residents in the North Fork, Oakhurst and Mariposa areas can participate in the reforestation process by planting ponderosa pine seedlings on their property. (Photo by Mike Nolen, U.S. Forest Service)
To pick up seedlings: North Fork office (57003 Road 225. North Fork, CA 93643), Monday through Friday, between 8 am to 4:30 pm, and ask for 5-10 seedlings.
April 18, 2016 - SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST, California – As natural processes such as bark beetles and wildfires kill trees in the forest, the cycle of life responds as it has for centuries to regrow and renew. However, there are some areas where it is beneficial to speed up the natural process with projects such as tree planting in order to expedite and encourage regrowth.
The Bass Lake Ranger District (BLRD) of the Sierra National Forest conducts an annual reforestation program, with this year’s already underway and running through the end of April. Contracted and Forest Service crews will plant seedlings on approximately 120 acres of the recent Carsten, Courtney and French fires. The planting is necessary because of the severity of burns in some areas.
“Without mature live trees to provide a seed source within close proximity to the burned areas, or the lack of a viable and healthy cone crop, natural regeneration cannot be counted on within large portions of the fire area,” said Marty Gmelin, acting regional silviculturist for the U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Region.
Between 300 and 360 seedlings per acre will be planted, totaling approximately 37,000 new trees planted on the district. Natural clearings and site-prepared areas will be planted with a mixture of ponderosa pine and sugar pine trees.The new trees will accelerate the reforestation process on the national forest and establish new plant communities that stabilize the soil and provide biodiversity, ultimately protecting the watershed.
How the community can help
For more than 25 years, nearby communities have been encouraged to plant new trees provided by the forest to support the reforestation program. Foothill residents in the North Fork, Oakhurst and Mariposa areas can participate in the reforestation process by planting ponderosa pine seedlings on their property.“By extending this seedling planting program across property boundaries, we are assured the proper seed stock is planted in the area forests,” said Mike Nolen, a forester for the Bass Lake Ranger District.
For many years, the BLRD has provided the excess seedlings from the district’s planting program to the public for use on private property. Between local fires such as the Carsten (2013), Courtney (2014), French (2014) and Willow (2015), and the loss of trees to drought and insects, the public has experienced a loss of forested lands on a large scale.
“The public loves to plant trees, just to add trees or to replace ones that have died,” said Nolen. “People are passionate about their forest. They just want their forests back.”
To participate, residents need to stop by the North Fork office (57003 Road 225. North Fork, CA 93643), Monday through Friday, between 8 am to 4:30 pm, and ask for 5-10 seedlings. Bare root ponderosa pine seedlings will be available for adoption through the end of April. It is best to bring a few small plastic bags and a cooler with ice to keep the seedlings shaded and cool. Seedlings should be planted soon after receiving them for best results. More information on planting and care is available at the front desk.
Source: SNF
