New England Old Growth Forest Exhibit

New England Old Growth Forest Exhibit	Douglas Potter
	Jan 05, 2005 09:49 PST

Hi ENTS,

The EcoTarium, an environmental museum in Worcester, MA, is moving forward
on the construction of an exhibit that explores old growth forest in New
England. The exhibit is being constructed in segments, with the first
segment due to open in a few weeks.

This first segment has a number of interactives that explore the
identification of old growth. Also in this segment, we would like to to
create a map that indicates the many places to date that old growth forest
has been identified in New England. Does this data exist? Is it
available in Mary Byrd Davis' recent update to her "Old Growth in the
East: A Survey"? Where can I find a copy of Mary Byrd Davis' updated
book? Is a map already available that we might use? Any help you can
provide will be greatly appreciated!

In addition to the above, I am looking for photography to be used in the
planned second segment of our old growth forest exhibit. This segment
will focus on the measurement of age and height and what we can learn
about trees and forest from this information. Specifically, are there
photographs of Bob Leverett or others coring a tree, using a laser to
measure the height of a tree, or simply standing next to a magnificent
tree that we can use in our exhibit? Again, it will be a great help!

Thank you.

Doug Potter

-----
Doug Potter
Senior Program Developer
EcoTarium: A Center for Environmental Exploration
222 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA 01604
Website: http://www.ecotarium.org

RE: New England Old Growth Forest Exhibit	Gary A. Beluzo
	Jan 06, 2005 07:06 PST

Doug:

The exhibit sounds wonderful, my only question would be how appropriate it
is to make available on a public map the location of all remaining OGF given
the paucity and relative sensitivity of these sites. We should probably get
together and have a discussion about this, perhaps at the Ecotarium?

Incidentally, you may know that Bob Leverett and I have a Special Permit
from the Massachusetts DCR to identify, characterize, and map the Old Growth
Forests in Massachusetts; we maintain a GIS database with the locations and
related attributes of old growth and superlative second growth forests here
in Massachusetts.

Also, perhaps we should have a general discussion here on the ENTS list
about the wisdom of making all OGF site locations public..whether they be in
Massachusetts or elsewhere. Perhaps there should be some sites made
available for visitation and educational purposes and others left off any
public lists?

What say you ENTS?

Gary

Gary A. Beluzo
Professor of Environmental Science
Holyoke Community College

RE: New England Old Growth Forest Exhibit	Gary A. Beluzo
	Jan 06, 2005 07:19 PST

Doug:

I forgot to mention that John Knuerr, myself, and others have MANY images of
our work in the Massachusetts Old Growth Forests....let us know specifically
what you need.

Gary

Gary A. Beluzo
Professor of Environmental Science
Holyoke Community College

RE: New England Old Growth Forest Exhibit	Gary A. Beluzo
	Jan 06, 2005 07:19 PST

RE: New England Old Growth Forest Exhibit	Robert Leverett
	Jan 06, 2005 07:25 PST

Gary:

You are correct. Making sites known that can accommodate visitation
from the public was the basis for the book Bruce Kershner and I did:
"Sierra Guide to Ancient Forests of The Northeast". However, dozens of
highly sensitive and/or private sites exist that must not be revealed.
It is best that you, me, and Doug talk about this one in private.

Bob

RE: New England Old Growth Forest Exhibit	Willard Fell
	Jan 06, 2005 07:41 PST

I can about guarantee you the loggers/procurement people already know
where they are ;-) The question is; are they at risk from the public...I
think not. I think it would be a benefit for the public to know where
they exist on public (or quasi-public) land as they tend to take
"ownership" of these unique sites and watch over them and the benefits
would outweigh the risks. On private lands it may be a different story
as the issue of trespass arises with otherwise well meaning individuals
wishing to view such sites. With privately owned trees on our state
champion site we keep exact locations private unless the landowner
specifically requests publicity. I have found that most landowners are
extremely proud of their big trees and usually welcome visitors, but it
sometimes does get to be a hassle with some of the more popular or
larger trees particularly where gates have to unlocked or pastures to be
crossed.

Will F.

RE: New England Old Growth Forest Exhibit	Robert Leverett
	Jan 06, 2005 08:53 PST

Will:

   It is always good to hear the views on the privacy issue from a state
official. I'm wondering what Don Bertolette and Don Bragg think about
this matter. Dale Luthringer? There are indeed distinct situations to
address:

   1. Individual trees,

   2. Small forest sites with no rare or endangered species

   3. Small forest sites with rare or endangered species

   4. Large forest sites with no rare or endangered species

   5. Large forest sites with rare or endangered species

   6. Accessibility and safety regardless of size or composition

Bob

RE: New England Old Growth Forest Exhibit	David Orwig
	Jan 06, 2005 10:04 PST

Doug et al. I thought I would make a personal plug for my Ph.D. student
and fellow listserv, Tony D'Amato, who is currently examining in
detail, most of the old-growth sites in MA, (by documenting I mean
extensive tree coring, coarse woody debris, understory vegetation,
etc.). Tony and i have many photos as well, including pics of coring trees
in OG areas.

thanks much,

Sincerely, DAVE ORWIG

RE: New England Old Growth Forest Exhibit	Paul Jost
	Jan 06, 2005 16:46 PST

I agree with problems related to giving out too many details. However, I
see the value of an exhibit having a map with colored areas or dots
identifying locations of known old growth, but not necessarily having any
roads or place names on it. An exception might be made to locate a few
large towns or cities and labels on a few of the larger publicly known old
growth sites. It communicates what little old growth is left and gives a
few examples that someone can visit.

Paul Jost

EcoTarium	dbhg-@comcast.net
	Jan 23, 2005 15:44 PST

ENTS:

     On Friday Gary Beluzo and I visited Doug Potter in Worcester, MA to discuss how we might help with a museum display on old growth forests. We had a great time exploring how ENTS could support the EcoTarium. There's lots to discuss, but for teh task at hand, I'll cut to the chase. One of the display panels we agreed to help with will be the profiling of a tree species in terms of what it can achieve in New England size wise. We settled on the white pine, symbol of colonial New England. However, we could also profile the great white across its full geographical range with the identification of factors that govern maximum growth and size. The idea, as we left it, is to create silhouettes of white pines in poor, average, and ideal growing conditions, listing the factors that account for each potential. However, we could add two more silhouettes: one for the absolute worst growing conditions and the other the best. I think Lee Frelich knows what the worst conditions are and what they produce in dimensions. The Boogerman Pine is at the other end of the scale.

     Rather than Gary and I taking on this project alone, we should open it up to all ENTS. I'm sure the group could do a far better job than just the two of us. We would create the computer images and details and present them to Doug as jpeg files. What say the rest of you? Can we do this as a group?

     Oh yes, The EcoTarium is owned by the Worcester Hostorical Society which had its beginnings in 1825 and guess who was one of its supporters and visitors? Yes, Henry David Thoreau. Wow, what a class act. WAY COOL.

Bob

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