A forest rarely receives fertilizer, yet enormous trees can keep growing for decades or even centuries. Every year they produce new leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, and wood, all of which require nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. So where do those nutrients keep coming from? Much of the answer lies in nutrient … Read more
A healthy forest does not always look perfectly green, tidy, or untouched. Trees naturally die, branches fall, insects feed on leaves, storms create canopy gaps, and fallen logs slowly decompose on the forest floor. Some of these changes are actually essential parts of a functioning ecosystem. Understanding forest health and the signs of a healthy … Read more
Two trees of the same species can grow side by side yet respond very differently to drought, disease, cold weather, or poor soil. One may grow quickly and stay healthy, while the other struggles under exactly the same conditions. Part of that difference comes from their genes. This is where forest genetics becomes important. Understanding … Read more