To the Editor:

Many of the trees logged in Little Plover River Park were just youngsters in the early 1900’s. When logging occurred this spring many were well over 120 years old.

This was a time when the horse and buggy was the primary source of transportation and most people lived without electricity. These trees lived through two World wars, the Great Depression and man going to the moon, but they couldn’t survive a forest management plan that viewed all trees past financial maturity as ready for the ax and the idea that forest health means commercial tree crops and timber production.

This forest was treasured by those in the community who walk with their children and fished in the trout stream. It was a natural playground for area children, enjoyed by walker and runner alike. They didn’t see it as a forest in need of massive logging. They enjoyed the birds, deer and multitude of wildlife common in this mature forest, or just enjoyed the cool stream bank to rest by.

But they were destined for the mill, as are all the mature trees in this forest, what is left is scheduled to be removed in 8 years. But it wasn’t just mature trees that were deemed financially expendable, forest management plans call for the removal of all trees viewed as economically poor quality or low vigor.

It doesn’t take much forethought to realize the number of wildlife effected. Over 30 species of birds and 30 different mammals make their home in these over mature and standing dead trees (snags). These cavities provide ideal conditions for wildlife requiring perches, tree cavities, denning and bark foraging sites. Fallen tree trunks and large branches provide shelter and foraging grounds for salamanders, small mammals, and multitude of arthropods (insects, spiders, etc.)

If you are interested in our effort to put a stop to future logging in Little Plover River Park, please feel free to contact Bill Seybold at [email protected] or Barb Gifford [email protected]

Bill Seybold
Plover