Woodlands
Management Committee Meeting Minutes
February
16, 2011
Attendees: Cliff Miles, Bob Dewing, Dan Happer, Jerry Uhrig
- High
School Students reforestation activities: The students have been
following up on their reforestation effort of two years ago with ongoing
analysis of survival rates and monitoring the condition of the deer
exclosures. They have been invited to report on this work at the March
Woodlands meeting. They would like to continue with reforestation efforts
this year.
- American
chestnut restoration: The woodlands of our borough were once graced with stately American
chestnut trees, as were most of the woodlands throughout our region. In
the early twentieth century, they were the dominant hardwood forest tree.
They were until they succumbed to the Chestnut blight. By mid-century they
were essentially gone except for lone blight-resistant survivors here and
there. Since that time there have been two organizations working to
restore this unique American tree to its former range. The American Chestnut
Foundation is working to produce a hybrid that is predominantly American
chestnut but with enough Chinese chestnut to provide blight resistance.
The other approach, being taken by the American Chestnut Coordinator’s
Foundation, is to locate blight-resistant trees and then nurture their
progeny, about 10% of which might be blight-resistant. Interested parties
may support these efforts by taking a membership in these organizations
and in return receiving seeds to grow into new trees, some of them blight-resistant.
The Chestnut Coordinator’s Foundation has also had some success in
grafting new stock to existing chestnut roots, which have never been
harmed by the blight.
- Eagle
scout project: A current Eagle scout project is proposing to clear a section of
woodlands of alien invasive vegetation and trash and then plant new
understory and canopy vegetation.
- Japanese
knotweed control: We plan to give some special attention to Japanese knotweed control
this year. Bob Dewing suggested that the Scouts could probably be helpful
in this effort.
- Committee
staffing:
Dan Happer inquired about our staffing needs. We could probably use at
least two good people interested and motivated in woodlands management
issues. Hands-on types are best.
The
meeting adjourned at 9:00pm.