UNBC will be hosting a lecture on ‘mother trees’, and their importance in the ecosystem next week.
Dr. Suzanne Simard, UBC Professor of Forest Ecology, who will be giving the lecture, says mother trees are the biggest and oldest trees in the forest.
“They have huge root systems, and many fine roots that connect through the microbial fungi with other trees.”
“They also have great big crowns, the leaf area above. They’re able to photosynthesize a lot, so they send a disproportionate amount of energy into the ecosystem through these fungal networks.”
Dr. Simard’s research suggests these may be the most important trees to leave behind during forestry activities.
“The practical implication is ‘how do you do that?’ and ‘what is an alternative to clear cutting?’ ‘Can we still harvest some trees, but still leave this great big nuclei of the forest?’,” she explained.
“We’re testing different ways to do that. We’re finding the more of these mother trees you can retain in the ecosystem, and just harvest around them, sort of like selective harvesting, the better off the ecosystem is.”
Simard will be giving a lecture on Mother Trees at UNBC’s Canfor Theatre on April 7th, at 7:30 p.m..
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