Nature of the beast

Here are some truncated stories of man-made forests (see pic in post below - Canadian ones are mostly evergreen, the picture is taken in the Netherlands. Albert knows more about it).

Once upon a time there was a Dutch farmer . . . okay, not part of the first story, but economics does seem to play a major role ...

Sometimes these types of forests are planted for later use, such as building materials, utility poles and shishkabob skewers. Planting in rows is simple, the even spacing allows machinery in and around, and the closeness of the trees means competition for sunlight, producing straight and tall trunks. The key characteristic of a man-made forest is that it in no way resembles nature.

Lots of kids, looking for hard-earned cash, head out to the west to 'go tree planting'. This is to fill the gaps left by the logging industry.

For-profit use is not always the reason behind rows and rows of trees however. In various areas around Ontario, for example, there are plantations of trees - usually white pine - put there out of necessity. After the dust-bowl scare of the 1930's, farmers realized that they were losing a LOT of their productive topsoil to their neighbours far and wide (blowing away b/c there was nothing left to hold it down - ie: roots). This is what you'll see when you head out north past Grand Valley and Luther Marsh.

Oh, can't forget Christmas tree farms. There are a few of those around Owen Sound, but most of the trees you buy - if you get the already-cut ones - are shipped from the Maritimes. Figure that one out.


The reality of man-made forests is that they're quick and easy to install. They're not healthy ecosystems (monocultures, inhospitable to wildlife biodiversity) in any way. But it's green, growing & breathing stuff regardless ... much preferable to sealing the land in asphalt!