Information Support
to the YouTube Videos!
Main Theme
Trees reproduce through several methods under a variety of optimal environmental conditions. Different tree species have different regeneration requirements. Forest management practices in the Lake States employ this knowledge to encourage the natural regeneration of trees and forests. Most of the time, in the Lake States, trees do not need to be planted after harvests, otherwise known as “regeneration cuts”.
Major Points
Most of the billions upon billions of new Lake States tree seedlings fail to live through their first year. The natural world is a tough place. Nevertheless, forests have been regenerating by millennia. Forest management can help improve the odds of securing adequate regeneration of desired species. So, all "harvest" practices are also "regeneration" practices designed to help forests along.
Different tree species have different conditions for successful regeneration. These requirements are described in a science called silvics, which is all about environmental requirements for tree growth and development. New challenges to young trees include climate change, exotic pests, and deer browsing.
BeLeaf It or Not! Video ProductionThe purpose for these videos is to INTRODUCE a few concepts for each episode topic. They are meant to be light-hearted and entertaining. Yet, the intention is to have both feet on solid science ground (biological, economic, social, et al.). We acknowledge that many of the topics are introduced or reinforced in school curricula at the fourth through seventh grades. So, these students, and their teachers, are the primary target audience. All of these topics can be more fully explored within the classroom setting or, in some case, be explored IN THE WOODS! With this in mind, these support pages are embedded into the Michigan Forests Forever website, which already houses a wide range of information about Michigan forests, designed for use by teachers. This entire project cost about $100,000. No small amount, of course. The primary authors were Bill Cook, Georgia Peterson, and James Ford. Additionally, most of the episode scripts were either drafted and/or reviewed by cooperating foresters, biologists, teachers, and other experts. If you're curious about who helped produced these videos, visit the "credits" page.
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