Re: RC: RE: trees

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/27/00 8:21:36 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
bobmorris@rmci.net writes:

<< I guess that environmental science did not teach you that redwoods 
reproduce
 quite readily when cut. They grow from the old stumps and roots similar to
 the way aspen reproduce. Actually it is almost a cloning process. While
 education is a wonderful thing and I support it extensively, education on
 and from the land is extremely important. It is the one thing many of our
 federal service persons lack. They are "not from the land". >>

Uh, yeah, Louise--I've seen "baby" redwoods in SEVERAL locations--both in CA 
and OR.  Bob is absolutely correct here.  Only real difference in that 
respect between redwoods and some of our more "common" timber species is that 
they do grow slower and have a longer lifespan.  But it is nonetheless a 
finite lifespan, and yes, there ARE new ones growing--contrary to what one 
reads in the popular press.  The several century life span of a redwood 
compared to the several decade lifespan of pines and firs is about on par 
with comparing a human life span to that of a dog or some other mammalian 
species.  And certainly one must know the life cycle of a given species of 
tree to be intelligent about its management.  But indeed, the redwoods DO 
propagate, and DO die of old age.  If we are going to try to educate, let's 
at least get the reproductive facts about trees taught correctly, just as we 
try to do with the human "birds and bees."

Heidi