In 1998, the Mohican Ad Hoc Committee allowed for silviculture in only 743 acres of the 4,700 acres. The new plan would allow timbering in 3,386 acres, protecting only 1,314 acres.
The new plan’s goal is to return the acreage to “historical forests of the region.” Removing the pine trees does not guarantee that hardwoods would return to the area. It is more than likely that invasive plants would quickly take over a forest opening.
Also Ohio’s skyrocketing deer population makes growing hardwood saplings nearly impossible unless deer fencing is used. Deer will eat most woody species with the exception of black cherry, beech and spicebush.
Additionally, peer reviewed studies predict a warmer and drier central and southwestern Ohio. This, along with the increase of invasive species, will dramatically change the tree species that once grew in the region. In reality, we will probably never see the same species as we did 200 years ago.
However, to discount the value of the 1,800 acres of older, larger pine trees is not productive. Larger, older trees are much better at carbon dioxide sequestration than saplings and hold more soil carbon. However, once those areas are disturbed that ability is greatly reduced.
Why change the original zoning? Given that only 3 percent of Ohio’s forests are public the protection of intact, undisturbed trees in Mohican Memorial Forest is vital to Ohio residents’ future.
Dr. Randi Pokladnik
Uhrichsville, Ohio
