I live in Northern Maine and our land has been in the family for 100+ years. Untouched and has sooooo many beautiful super old different types of tree's. We actually own many acres on the backside of Haystack Mountain. A number of acres were sold off by my father about 20 or so years ago, but thankfully the people just cleared enough land to put their house on. My son and I spend alot of time out at camp snowshoieng, camping, winter camping in the tents, and just playing around in the woods. We love it
We have many hemlock that are absolutely huge...And all of our land looks identical to these forests shown in the video that were discovered in Massachusetts. So many unbelievably huge rocks, ferns, TONS of salamanders, moss, many huge varieties of mushrooms and so on. It's absolutely beautiful.
Growing up, I spent nearly all my time in a forest like this in western Maine. If I wasn't in school, I was in the woods. I miss everything about it, the sounds, the smell, even the feel of the forest floor. It has always been perfection to me and very spiritual. I loved to just sit and enjoy the peaceful calm
I waited to get back into the forest until I retired five years ago. Don't make the same mistake I did, it's there waiting for you. Visit it, you'll be glad you did.
Hiking the Appalachian trail through New Hampsire and Maine will cross some. I’m a detail person and I have seen all these scenes. There’s a lot that’s been logged, but when repeatedly approaching the tree line you can tell alot of areas are untouched. When the trails decend into gorges you can tell original growth from pockets that have logging history.
The sharp smell of the pines in the New England mountains is so captivating. I’ve noticed it especially in the White Mountains, but also found it in the Berkshires and Green Mountains as well. It’s so special and rare. The spaces between lower elevations and alpine zones. Around 2500-4000 feet.
Just took a hike up Mt Sunapee in new hampshire and at about 2200 ft you enter an old growth area of Red/Black Spruce and Balsam Fir. Its incredible to walk through these old forests because they just feel so natural and wild. the temperature drops like 10 degrees too, its amazing to see.
What a magnificent presentation and description of an old growth forest. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience these special places while backpacking. These forests provide a soul soothing, peaceful and magical experience to the extent that I just never want to walk away from. Thank you!
Omg, old home week! I was a graduate student in Forestry at UMass in the late 80's under Bill Patterson and the names of the interviewees and images (that Harvard diorama!) in this piece kept pricking my memory circuits! Then Peter Dunwittie came on and he was the burn boss on a prescribed fire we did on Martha's Vineyard ('88, I think). Too cool! I went on to work as a forester in central PA and have documented a couple of old growth remnants in Centre County. I'd love it if someone did a project like this in PA. Thank you! I am really enjoying the program.
A very informative documentary. As a former arborist and U.Mass Stockbridge School of Agriculture graduate I can really appreciate this documentary. There is nothing more profound than walking through and ancient forest , we’re very fortunate to still have a few acres left .
“If we leave it alone” is the cheapest and most effective way for nature to heal. We are so impaneled need to accept that leaving things alone means that we here and now won’t see the benefits but two or three generations from now our descendants will gain the value of our patience.
There is indeed some amazing old growth in Harvard, MA and it’s surrounding towns of Bolton, Berlin, Lancaster etc. Spent much of my twenties getting lost in that vast web of trails and other conservation lands. So well kept and preserved by people who are committed to fighting this most noble fight. Here is my little salute to them!
I’d love to know more about the old growth you’re referring to. I have found some remarkable individual trees in Harvard, Bolton, Lancaster, etc, but never a forest that strikes me as bona fide OG. Which trails or conservation lands would you recommend I check out?
I went on a hike in the Ferris Wilderness Area of the Adirondacks with my son a few years ago. Its a relatively unknown hike off a dirt road to an unassuming waterfall, but along the way, we saw one of the largest hemlock trees I have ever seen. We sat in amazement for about 20 minutes enjoying the Grove of trees that included this massive tree. Ive watched this presentation a few times now over the past year. Fantastic work. This type of content is why I almost watch UA-cam exclusively now.
Thank you for making this wonderful documentary. As a new Englander who loves to take strolls in the woods, I found it moving to see just how much biodiversity our forests are missing. I hope more conservationist movements supporting the return of old growth forests can “take root” in the following decades.
In 1973 I was working at a high adventure summer camp, I taught climbing and the last week (of 3 weeks) was a backpacking trip. I took my group, and we met up with another group in the Presidential range of the White Mountains. The other leader had spent years in those woods, we were hiking along, and he stopped us, thought for 4 or 5 minutes, then said, lets go up this side trail. We were well off the beaten path, and I was surprised on why he wanted to go in that direction. We stopped at a hill side and there was a Birch tree that was big enough around that 3 of us were required to reach around that tree. It was an old growth Birch, but unable to be cut down a hundred + years ago (when all these areas were clear cut for hay) because of the steep hillside. Still remember that tree, never could find it again, if it is still there.
David, sounds like it would have been a yellow birch. Large old ones like that are something special, aren’t they? I’ve found just one in a Massachusetts old growth forest that’s in that size category, nearly 13 feet in circumference (cbh). There are precious few like these left in New England, sadly.
@@NewEnglandForests Thanks for the info, I have had Birch trees in my yard, and they all died before they got to more than 15" circumference. That is why I remember a Birch that was enormous to me, and still is, almost 50 years ago. Is a Yellow Birch still white? If I remember correctly, I sure thought I remembered the tree was white. (but...well...my age)
David, yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) is a different species than white (or paper) birch (Betula papyrifera). As a younger tree, its thin bark is a silvery yellow (it’s also known as silver birch), and tends to curl into ribbon-like strips. When it gets old and large, like the one you remember, the bark gets more rugged looking and loses that ribbon curl characteristic; most people probably would not easily recognize it as a yellow birch unless they could see younger bark high up in the crown. You might like to see our film “Birch, Sweet Birch” (ua-cam.com/video/4Ux4CaKlkv4/v-deo.html) to see examples. Also, you can see the yellow birch I spoke of in this blog article: newenglandforests.blogspot.com/2016/12/champion.yellow.birch.html?m=1 It’s possible the tree you remember was a white, but that would really be exceptional. I’ve never seen one close to 12’ circumference.
I lived in the Berkshires for 20+ years, I lived literally 3 minutes from one of the places in this video, Campbell's falls. Massive old growth hemlock are in that area. It is majestic to be in a forest that you know is so old !!
Very, very, cool documentary!!! Being a fly fisherman, and a bow hunter I spend many an hours awood. To me paradise is finding an old growth Forest with a small to medium size mountain stream filled with with small native brown and brook trout. Average size probably 8-9 inches and as big as 12. Those beautiful bright orange yellow bellies and fin tips unlike trout that are farmed and then stocked. Those colors against the clear waters, blue skies, and the green of the white pines and cedars and the contrast it creates is truely a miracle of life. People always ask me how I spend hours on end chasing little fish that are only 10 inches and how it could possibly be any fun. Well if you nymph in small mountain streams you know exactly what it’s like and the thrill it brings. Just being n those old growth forests is like the perfect dream scape. To all the fisherman out there be it spinning reel or fly reel definitely look into getting a 2-3 weight 7ft. rod using a one pound tipit tied to your leader using beedhead nymphs with barbless hooks as to not damage these very delicate fish. It greatly decreases the risk to them and makes it more challenging and sporting for the angler. It’s equivalent to catching big 10 pound small mouth with a little 2 pound test ultralight on a 4’9 rod. Okay that was quite the digression but yes old growth equals amazing! New growth also equals beauty!! Get out in the forest and hike, fish, swim, hunt, just always remember to leave things the way they were. Pack out all gear and trash, don’t move around a lot of rocks and branches, basically try to the natural habitats exactly how you found them. Even if you pick up a rock on the bed of the stream to check what creatures are there that the fish would be feeding on so you know what fly to use just make sure to wet your hands and grip the rock on the edges as to not disturb any of the echo system clinging to the underside of that rock. Then place it gently back how you had found it. These ecosystems are a very delicate balancing act that effect from the smallest speck of a bacteria all the way to the top of a 200 year old white pine! Everything working in harmony. I know some of this stuff seems like over the top hippie bullshit but hey my forbearers introduced me to the woods and left it’s legacy to me to be a steward of so I feel we must do the same for the coming generations of so they may enjoy it like we did! And I don’t care how cool someone tries to act and if they say the forest is stupid and boring they are lying lol hahaha!!! 🌒🌕🌘🍂🍄🐌🦊
Thank you very much for this story of the old forests, it gave me a number of new insights. I am from the Netherlands and we have changed most of our country several times in 500 years time, so we do not have old forests. The word Holland comes from Holt-land, which means Wood-land: 400 years ago most oaks were used for building sailing vessels and our forest became grassland. Now most people think a forest is old when the trees are 100 years old. Forest management in State owned forests is now concentrated on improving ecological value, f.i. by replacing firs (planted around 1900 for construction wood in the coal mines) by deciduous wood (oak, beech, chestnut etc.). Although old wood is often not removed any more from the forests, the forest very often looks young. Timescale of humans is so short that basically most people can't understand forests and trees. The new scientific findings about forest-ecology (the role of fungi !) are very important. Yes, most citizens are not interested in forests, they are not interested in ecology not even in the ecology of their own body. WIthin 20 years people in the USA and other western countries will understand why bacteria and fungi (mainly in our gut) are so important for our health and they will say goodbye to the Standard American DIet for that reason. That will be good news for the tropical forests in the Amazonas too, but what remains is not clear because of the enourmous scale of deforestation (for livestock and soy: cheap burger meat). The world looks like Isengard, using wood in our furnaces of "progress", so carry on with the good work of finding new scientific results about old forests.
this video is a goldmine of old growth info that's so hard to find elsewhere, I keep coming back - the examples of old growth characteristics are so useful
Hi, and thank you for your comment. Lost Forests was intended to bring awareness of the old growth remnants we have in New England, and how important it is to preserve them and set aside more forest to eventually become OG again. We realize too that it’s difficult to recognize old forests (it certainly was for me), because there are misconceptions about what they look like. So, we’re working on another film that will concentrate more on the characteristics of eastern old growth...what to look for, etc. It will take some time to accomplish, but hopefully will be very helpful to those who are interested in honing their ability to identify old growth. Stay in touch. Ray
Me being an old NH boy, my family came to Dover, NH, in 1635. They were sawyers from the get go. I'm the 15th or 16th generation to be here. I'm also a wood worker. The house I grew up in, was at one time a sugaring business, back in the day. We had sugar maples with 40 inch trunks, all over the property.
An exceptionally well produced film on the value of old growth forests in New England. This should be required viewing for students of forestry or environmental science and also land managers. The film not only captures the ecological value of old growth forests but the mystical value of these places for our soul. I hope that if funding can be found that the producer will consider a second film on old growth forests of northern New England where spruce is often more common than hemlock.
Hi David, thank you. You won't get any argument from me on any of those points! :) We do have other films in mind, though not in northern New England. It takes a large commitment of time to do a reasonable job of capturing old growth scenes, and it would be difficult for us to travel there enough times to do that. Wish we could! Ray
What a wonderful video! Fascinating for this New Zealander to learn something about the trees and other species of New England. It also impresses on me how awesome and complex nature is
It's great to know that there are experts like the narrator of this video that take time to understand this vitally important topic. Our survival as a species begins with a clear understanding of our dependence on all other biological systems on the planet.
At one point in the 1990's, I bought an Audobon book on trees. It had profiles of all the different trees. Eventually, I came to realize that all the printed profiles of the trees in the book were only of very immature trees, all the truly aged ones being long gone. And as a side note, there exists outside of Philadelphia a state forestry building in the middle of suburbia. On the wall is a cross-section sample of a mature white pine that is eight feet in diameter.
Beautiful east forest with so much diversity. I live in West Vancouver Canada where I have four 120 year old fir trees that reach higher then our 7 story apartment. There are a few1200 year old fir tress higher up 5 minutes from here that because of their location escaped the saw. I love hiking and gathering a few Chanterelles in October. I feel so fortunate to live close to the forest. Really enjoyed this video, thank you.
Awsum doco . A far cry from the rainforests and eucalypt forests in Australia . I enjoyed seeing the N.E oldgrowth and i cant fathom how people could not preserve at least sum of the old growth on the lowlands and midslopes . Too many people see forests as a homogenous mass . Not different forest types on differing geography and soil types . I know a lot of those people . Sum of them loved ones .
As a kid i grew up on a mountain top in Vermont. Had several areas of forests that I use to play in as a kid that were old growth. let me tell you...there is something very primal, eldritch about an old growth forest. You spend enough time in one, and you start to feel like you, a human, doesnt belong in that forest. Its a very strange and unnerving feeling.
i know exactly the feeling you are talking about, i have felt it before in the mountain i grew up on. i have later learned that indigenous peoples respected the personality of lands- some may be lived upon, some may be hunted upon, and some are to be undisturbed.
What a tremendous film you've produced. I was not expecting something so broad in information and philosophical scope. Whoever worked on putting this together deserves a real pat on the back. This is a wonderful hour of UA-cam well spent.
Marvellous programme - thoughtful, informative, well-presented. Greatly appreciated here in Old England, where we have had similar scant regard for our old trees. Here: our great population density and rapacious consumption; our pathetically risk-averse attitudes; our obsessions with human youth, with tidiness, with control; and finally the minimalism and neatness of form that is our current fashion in aesthetics....all of these factors have combined with TERRIBLE consequence for our natural world in general and our veteran trees in particular. Worst of all, Joe Public continues to live in blind ignorance of all this, giving politicians and loggers free license to continue their exploitative ways.
This really is a great film, you did so good with it! It reminds me of all the trees and forests I grew up with. You really captured the beauty of these incredible places, and I learned so much watching it
The virgin cathedral pines in Connecticut were destroyed by a tornado in 1989; they were the closest thing to the size of a redwood on the east coast. Im glad I got to see them, they were enormous
I grew up in Greenfield mass...theres still some nice forest's and places left in that area...i live in south east ct now...i really miss western mass tho ! ! !
A wonderful work needed to make available the education of forest studies which was always in my interest and should be good for all who are interested!!
I am from the west coast of Canada I found this video entertaining as well very informative on the east coast forests and on forests in general ...well done .
At 68 years i can tell many stories of old growth i encountered as a child who wandered the woodlands daily . In my front forested yard alone i had black walnut , hazelnut, and towering white pines as far as one could see. The quail, pheasant, red fox, and many other species were so abundant. Under one big pine grove i counted nearly 40 quail one day feeding. The wild blueberries filled our little pails and jack-in -the pulpit was always a favorite find. When i came upon a stand of chestnut or beech , my heart filled with 4 year old wonder. There i would lay with my black shepherd yogi and sleep away. Yes, i worried my mother terribly. Beech nuts are delicious.
And now the forests look horrible all the beach trees are dying tons of Asian bitter sweet girdling the trees and a ton of other invasive vines and weeds killing all the native wood lands and the trees along the roads and highways are all dying off
I'm from The Berkshires, lots of beautiful forest around the county! There's a little snippet on Stockbridge Bowl that's supposedly virgin, definitely some big old beauties down there.
In Irish small rivers trees fall across from bank to bank. When floods occur, the water gouges out a pool under the three trunk and trout breed in these pools which are covered by the tree trunk itself.
I do not own a large forest here in central Pennsylvania (Penn's Woods), but now of advancing years I worry on how to protect it. Since moving here it has bothered me to see the condition of EVERY piece of woods that has been timbered. The soil is thin enough and by my estimate requires generations to accumulate mere centimeters. But after cat tracks have been everywhere to get the trees and access roads plowed all that is left is clay. The logging companies brag of "increased wildlife grazing and habitat" and "increased plant diversity" . Well, sure the weeds and stickerbushes are impressive. But I cannot imagine ever again seeing the huge oaks and other trees. And I already have the deer, bear, mountain lions, foxes, wild cats, etc. My brother has wisely,I think, recommended selectively cutting trees and having an Omishman haul them with a horse team. Those hooves don't move all the soil. It makes me nervous that men will buy land only to timber it and pay for the land with that timber. Not much left but clay and weeds. I welcome input. But you vultures I don't need to hear from.
Vultures, same here in Sask 🇨🇦, farmers & foriegn ownership) , have been clearing and grabbing every acre they(real estate, can, with gov. incentive. Forests regulate weather and attract rain, ironically we have been in drought conditions the last few years.
I feel your angst. Grew up in opposite corner of country. San Diego County. Little to no logging at least when I lived there. But had the privilege of walking in canyons with 1000 year old oak trees. Traveled alot in the north west. I noticed that the logging roads the public had access to as they were on federal land, were now gated and posted. Walk a a few hundred yards off of the highway through the forest and too often its clear cut back in there. Looks great from the road though in your motor home.
Southern forest suffered the same fate. Many species of animals were wiped out. The Florida Panther barely survives. The last eastern blue bird I ever saw was dead, it flew into the glass window of a super market and broke its neck. The Carolina Parakeet use to crowd the skies in huge flocks but was wiped out by farmers because it ate the corn crop.
I am in love with our old growth forests in the Pacific Northwest, and I noticed how fairly similar those old growth forests in the east coast looks like to our more typical older forests. It doesn't even have to be like our old growth, but rather forests that have been protected by wilderness designation or the roadless land rule. I also didn't even realize the east coast even had old growth trees that exceeded 5 ft in diameter, like we do typically. Over here, I usually imagine old growth forests with trees of around 7+ ft diameter, 5 ft minimum maybe. A lot of similar characteristics of those forests we have here, such as the diversity of tree structures, diversity of tree species, lack of invasive plants, nursing logs, dead tree snags, wind-beaten trees, more moss, softer ground, and logs fallen into creeks. Unfortunately, we lost most of our old growth too. Today, only about 3% of forests in Oregon, and about 5% in Washington are considered old growth. So when we fight to protect our remaining old growth, we're basically fighting over the last slice of the pie. I sure wish loggers in the 20th century could have left us at least ONE old growth Douglas-fir exceeding 400 ft tall. Hundreds of records mention douglas firs that were logged and measured, that exceeded 400 ft in length when cut, with the tallest in Whatcom County, WA, at around 475 ft. While still somewhat anecdotal, there seems to be more basis for them being possibly true. For one, those 400+ footers were all found and logged off in the low river valleys, which were cleared and turned into farmland or developed into cities (Portland used to be covered in massive old growth forests that grew along the Willamette River). All the old growth Doug firs that remain, exist in untouched river valleys or steep mountain slopes. Hardly any old growth forests exist anymore in the lowest river valleys, now developed into rural and urban landscapes. Being a far more favorable and ideal climate down lower where they were logged off first, the likelihood of some of them exceeding 400 ft has to be more likely. Sometimes I have to wonder if Douglas firs could have been the tallest trees on Earth, over the Coastal redwoods, if only just one of those 400+ foot trees remained. (Unless of course, perhaps the Coast Redwoods themselves also once exceeded 400 ft tall before most of them were logged off; considering only something around 3% of the old growth redwoods remain, I figure that there's a pretty good chance some of them also exceeded 400 ft. However, the hundreds of historical documented references of 400 footer Douglas firs does seem to make the Douglas fir's case more likely. I also understand about the theoretical limit for tree heights to take up water, but with how little old growth (of either Coast redwoods or Douglas fir we have left), I really wonder if there is some truth to those historical height records.
Yes dear one totally same vibe Out here in New England just on a smaller scale. Your old growth out west is so amazing in giant I feel so small. East Coast New England is amazing
@@NewEnglandForests that's what made the lack of them so surprising! The documentary was a pleasure to watch, so informative. Out here in the PNW (Oregon,specifically) we love our big trees and old growth areas. It broke my heart to see so much burn the last couple summers.
I grew up going on vacations to Massachusetts. Both to the Audubon sanctuary on Cape Cod and camping at Mount Greylock. Seeing all the backdrop in this video really brought back memories. I appreciate the work you guys are doing and loved this message
I love old growth forests. I live on property in western Oregon, and there are some amazing Old growth Douglas firs still left (my property was logged some decades ago). You can’t help but wonder how many people have stood at the base of that tree you are, what year it was when it was just a seedling, and how many years it will last after you.
I had a professor in school, Dr. Stanley Gemborys, who devoted his summers to studying one of the only first growth forests remaining in North America. A finer man I never knew.
I live in Forest Park in Springfield Mass and I take my backyard for granted. This video has made me suddenly realize the varieties of trees that grow around here.
Beautiful story well told. I am a fan and supporter of the Old Growth Forest Network. Funny how this video found me. I did not find it. Now go for a walk! In the woods!
What a fantastic, educational, historical, and hopeful video! I learned so much and hope that anyone who comes across this video would grab a cup of tea, sit down, watch and listen. We all collectively have lot to understand about our ecosystem; this video presents the information in such a way that complex ecological study it's easily digested. Thank you to all the stewards and scientists who made this possible. A definite recommendation! Blessings 🌿
Before the trees there was the fungi. Mushrooms and fungus construct a unique root system that makes the soil conducive to growing grass and trees. I live near the Redwoods in northern Cal and when you walk amongst them you feel like you are in a church cathedral. The sunlight comes to the forest floor in rays and they may only get sun for a few hours a day, but man do they grow. I would recommend that every person see these redwood groves as there is nothing else like them.
Incredible documentary. These old growth forests are beautiful. The amount of destruction over the last 200 years makes the remaining forests truly precious.
such a wonderful channel. I rewatch episodes once a week and always learn something new. I do wish someone would do the same for the Australian bush. The videos are perfect and the respect for the subject really shines through!
Thank you for this. Born to families on both sides that earned a living for generations off of lumber. Cutting it down to building with it. I greatly appreciate the accrued knowledge presented in video of the entire ecosystem in the forest. A beautiful thing. An intricate connected web. As a carpenter who often does demo work on old house rebuilds, I have amassed a sizeable stash of old growth material removed in the process. I'll do something with it. Just breaks my heart to toss it in the 20 yarder. What you present here hits me in the soul. I deeply love the woods and walk in it with greater awe.
A most informative piece. Many Thanks to all involved. It was excellent to here and see from a diverse gathering of knowledgeable presenters, experts, historians, videographers...really, all involved in preserving these precious records... As a Bonsai practitioner, much of the details this video has got me nodding my head.... I’ve seen on a much smaller scale, of course, many of the forest observations, of this video, through Bonsai practices. Thank You for the brilliantly clear window, into this and all forest, really...🙏 👍👍👍
Very informative video. I enjoyed it and really made me think of all the different forests I’ve been in throughout New England. Definitely a different feel the older the forest. More jungle 👍🏻
Superb video, thank you very much. I love forests and i am joyed by the level of understanding humans finally got about the meaning of a old growth or virgin forest so that they will recognize its value and save its habitats for birds species and many animals.
I grew up in Western Mass., some places in this video reminded me of places I tramped around and spent time in the forest there, as a young man in the 1970s. Up around Leverett, North of Amherst, looked a lot like your old growth scenes. 🤫 😉
Really great video! I lived on an abandoned 300 acre farm in Mansfield, Ct. one mile away from UCONN in the early 1980's.there was a grove of White Pines (5 trees) that were around 100 years old. Second growth for sure but magical! On a scorching, hot day I would seek refuge from the heat. Just these 5 trees shaded about 1/4th of an acre. The cooling effect was about 10 degrees cooler. The most amazing tree on the whole property was a dead and standing Chestnut tree that I theorized was grown in an open clearing and even though the blight killed it in 1916-7, it still stood mighty with branches sticking out almost vertical from it's trunk, 3 or 4 feet thick where they left the trunk. I got a surveyor's tape to measure the circumference of the trunk and it was 68' 2''. I have no idea how old tree was but it had to be pre settlement. I was young then and thought that if I went to the Botanical Department at UCONN and told them about this tree and it's girth that they would smirk and say "Yep, we know", so I passed.I walked this land day and night and one night on a full moon an owl landed on a high branch of this standing Chestnut, perfectly framed in the center of that full moon. The image was magnificent! By 1987 the farm was sold and the whole area bulldozed for development. I wish I knew of any old growth in Connecticut, but I don't.
Hi Robert...68 feet?? Is that a typo? You might like to watch “The Cathedral Pines of Cornwall, CT” on this channel at ua-cam.com/video/PSGAvGZsYVU/v-deo.html
A tree of 68 feet circumference would be approximately 21.6 feet in diameter (circumference is "pi" (ie, 3.14) times diameter). That still puts the tree well beyond what I'd believe grew in CT. But I could be wrong.
@@NewEnglandForests Had I known that my post would have the reaction it has received, in hindsight, I should have have grabbed my camera and photographed the dead Chestnut tree and driven the whole mile to UCONN Agriculture Station and said "You want to see a big, dead tree"? I guess I just wasn't thinking about trees, I was more into Archaeological thinking at that point. My thought process went like this: 1)This is the thickest tree i have ever seen. 2) This is a field grown tree, probably from slash and burn Agriculture. 3)This tree Caught the Blight when it came through the area 1916/7. 4) This tree is still standing in 1982, 65 years after it caught the Blight. Another regret I have is making the original post on your web site. I won't be making any more. Good luck, New England Forests. No malice on my part.
I find pockets of old growth while bushwacking for native trout, It's astounding the complexity and thickness of the floor mat. These areas have a very primal feel and of course the trout are keenly aware of any creature that appears as a predator. for me it is a spiritual experience
Fantastic video. In Arizona, commercial logging companies are still cutting down old growth Ponderosa Pines near the Grand Canyon. Some trees more than 300 years old have been felled. The US Forest Service overlooks the deforestation program.
Similar situation out west when the National Parks were being developed and all it took was citizens calling their state senators to get action to stop and it did. Unlike today, back then people held their elected officials accountable to do their job for the people & I hope more people today realize that.
This was so informative! We purchased land in central Mass and have placed it in Chapter 61A (I think that’s correct) I want to be a caretaker of this land. It’s a slice of paradise and I feel honored to care for it 😊
I loved this! What beautiful treasures these old growth forests are. I particularly enjoyed learning about how you can tell the age of many trees by examining how gnarled the bark is. Thank you for such a fascinating look at the forests of New England 🌲
The old growth forests are not only valuable ecologically, they’re inspirational as well, and are so good for the human spirit. When you’re in them, you feel that “this is how it should be.” You may also appreciate “The Return of Old Growth Forests” and “Eastern White Pine - the Tree Rooted in American History” on this channel.
The northeast is such beautiful and historic place filled with sm history and natural beauty. It reminds me of the mata atlántica or Atlantic forest running along Brazil’s and South Americas east coast. Basically at the opposite end of the North Americas eastern deciduous forest but with similar history of plagued by colonization and sprawling urbanization
I live in Northern Maine and our land has been in the family for 100+ years. Untouched and has sooooo many beautiful super old different types of tree's. We actually own many acres on the backside of Haystack Mountain. A number of acres were sold off by my father about 20 or so years ago, but thankfully the people just cleared enough land to put their house on. My son and I spend alot of time out at camp snowshoieng, camping, winter camping in the tents, and just playing around in the woods. We love it
We have many hemlock that are absolutely huge...And all of our land looks identical to these forests shown in the video that were discovered in Massachusetts. So many unbelievably huge rocks, ferns, TONS of salamanders, moss, many huge varieties of mushrooms and so on. It's absolutely beautiful.
your family should gift that land back to natives....it is stolen....100+ years does not make it old growth.
Youre very lucky
So Lucky. Enjoy
how many acres. good for you, most families sell off for new living and they bulldoze for a walmart
Growing up, I spent nearly all my time in a forest like this in western Maine. If I wasn't in school, I was in the woods. I miss everything about it, the sounds, the smell, even the feel of the forest floor. It has always been perfection to me and very spiritual. I loved to just sit and enjoy the peaceful calm
Thks for ur comment. U no doubt remember "feeling" the trees' presence.
I waited to get back into the forest until I retired five years ago. Don't make the same mistake I did, it's there waiting for you. Visit it, you'll be glad you did.
Man, I love trees! I really wish to visit these old growth forests once in my life.
Hiking the Appalachian trail through New Hampsire and Maine will cross some. I’m a detail person and I have seen all these scenes. There’s a lot that’s been logged, but when repeatedly approaching the tree line you can tell alot of areas are untouched. When the trails decend into gorges you can tell original growth from pockets that have logging history.
The sharp smell of the pines in the New England mountains is so captivating. I’ve noticed it especially in the White Mountains, but also found it in the Berkshires and Green Mountains as well. It’s so special and rare. The spaces between lower elevations and alpine zones. Around 2500-4000 feet.
Something so warm and comforting in a forest like that. Makes you want to snuggle up in a bed of leaves there and really relax. Its so comforting.
In the arms of Mother Nature all is well.
Just took a hike up Mt Sunapee in new hampshire and at about 2200 ft you enter an old growth area of Red/Black Spruce and Balsam Fir. Its incredible to walk through these old forests because they just feel so natural and wild. the temperature drops like 10 degrees too, its amazing to see.
Their almost every where’s up around there ;) just have to know where to look
The woods are healing. I appreciate New England trees so much.
What a magnificent presentation and description of an old growth forest. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience these special places while backpacking. These forests provide a soul soothing, peaceful and magical experience to the extent that I just never want to walk away from. Thank you!
I love features like this. This is why UA-cam was invented. Thank you.
That Black Gum (26:34) is truly astounding! The White Ash is one of my favorites too. Thanks for a great show. High calibur video shots!
This was a pleasure to watch. It brings back a lot of memories of playing in the forest as a kid. Thanks for putting this video together.
Omg, old home week! I was a graduate student in Forestry at UMass in the late 80's under Bill Patterson and the names of the interviewees and images (that Harvard diorama!) in this piece kept pricking my memory circuits! Then Peter Dunwittie came on and he was the burn boss on a prescribed fire we did on Martha's Vineyard ('88, I think). Too cool! I went on to work as a forester in central PA and have documented a couple of old growth remnants in Centre County. I'd love it if someone did a project like this in PA. Thank you! I am really enjoying the program.
I don't know how I found this channel, I wasn't looking for it, but I have learned a lot and I am enjoying it very much
A very informative documentary. As a former arborist and U.Mass Stockbridge School of Agriculture graduate I can really appreciate this documentary. There is nothing more profound than walking through and ancient forest , we’re very fortunate to still have a few acres left .
Old growth forests are amazing.
This a wonderful documentary on old growth forests. It is informative and gives me a deep sense of appreciation and awe.
“If we leave it alone” is the cheapest and most effective way for nature to heal. We are so impaneled need to accept that leaving things alone means that we here and now won’t see the benefits but two or three generations from now our descendants will gain the value of our patience.
There is indeed some amazing old growth in Harvard, MA and it’s surrounding towns of Bolton, Berlin, Lancaster etc. Spent much of my twenties getting lost in that vast web of trails and other conservation lands. So well kept and preserved by people who are committed to fighting this most noble fight.
Here is my little salute to them!
I’d love to know more about the old growth you’re referring to. I have found some remarkable individual trees in Harvard, Bolton, Lancaster, etc, but never a forest that strikes me as bona fide OG. Which trails or conservation lands would you recommend I check out?
Are the trails you speak of open to the public? What are their names?
something about Harvard planting trees meant to be harvested in 100 or more years to serve as replacement timbers for the university buildings..
I went on a hike in the Ferris Wilderness Area of the Adirondacks with my son a few years ago. Its a relatively unknown hike off a dirt road to an unassuming waterfall, but along the way, we saw one of the largest hemlock trees I have ever seen. We sat in amazement for about 20 minutes enjoying the Grove of trees that included this massive tree.
Ive watched this presentation a few times now over the past year. Fantastic work. This type of content is why I almost watch UA-cam exclusively now.
Thank you for making this wonderful documentary. As a new Englander who loves to take strolls in the woods, I found it moving to see just how much biodiversity our forests are missing. I hope more conservationist movements supporting the return of old growth forests can “take root” in the following decades.
It's starting in Maine. The goal is to protect forests from the mountains to the oceans.
In 1973 I was working at a high adventure summer camp, I taught climbing and the last week (of 3 weeks) was a backpacking trip. I took my group, and we met up with another group in the Presidential range of the White Mountains. The other leader had spent years in those woods, we were hiking along, and he stopped us, thought for 4 or 5 minutes, then said, lets go up this side trail. We were well off the beaten path, and I was surprised on why he wanted to go in that direction. We stopped at a hill side and there was a Birch tree that was big enough around that 3 of us were required to reach around that tree. It was an old growth Birch, but unable to be cut down a hundred + years ago (when all these areas were clear cut for hay) because of the steep hillside. Still remember that tree, never could find it again, if it is still there.
David, sounds like it would have been a yellow birch. Large old ones like that are something special, aren’t they? I’ve found just one in a Massachusetts old growth forest that’s in that size category, nearly 13 feet in circumference (cbh). There are precious few like these left in New England, sadly.
@@NewEnglandForests Thanks for the info, I have had Birch trees in my yard, and they all died before they got to more than 15" circumference. That is why I remember a Birch that was enormous to me, and still is, almost 50 years ago. Is a Yellow Birch still white? If I remember correctly, I sure thought I remembered the tree was white. (but...well...my age)
David, yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) is a different species than white (or paper) birch (Betula papyrifera). As a younger tree, its thin bark is a silvery yellow (it’s also known as silver birch), and tends to curl into ribbon-like strips. When it gets old and large, like the one you remember, the bark gets more rugged looking and loses that ribbon curl characteristic; most people probably would not easily recognize it as a yellow birch unless they could see younger bark high up in the crown. You might like to see our film “Birch, Sweet Birch” (ua-cam.com/video/4Ux4CaKlkv4/v-deo.html) to see examples. Also, you can see the yellow birch I spoke of in this blog article: newenglandforests.blogspot.com/2016/12/champion.yellow.birch.html?m=1
It’s possible the tree you remember was a white, but that would really be exceptional. I’ve never seen one close to 12’ circumference.
I lived in the Berkshires for 20+ years, I lived literally 3 minutes from one of the places in this video, Campbell's falls. Massive old growth hemlock are in that area. It is majestic to be in a forest that you know is so old !!
I gotta go check that out, man.
Very interesting. I live in Maine and once in a while I'll come across a single big old tree in the forest.
Very, very, cool documentary!!! Being a fly fisherman, and a bow hunter I spend many an hours awood. To me paradise is finding an old growth Forest with a small to medium size mountain stream filled with with small native brown and brook trout. Average size probably 8-9 inches and as big as 12. Those beautiful bright orange yellow bellies and fin tips unlike trout that are farmed and then stocked. Those colors against the clear waters, blue skies, and the green of the white pines and cedars and the contrast it creates is truely a miracle of life. People always ask me how I spend hours on end chasing little fish that are only 10 inches and how it could possibly be any fun. Well if you nymph in small mountain streams you know exactly what it’s like and the thrill it brings. Just being n those old growth forests is like the perfect dream scape. To all the fisherman out there be it spinning reel or fly reel definitely look into getting a 2-3 weight 7ft. rod using a one pound tipit tied to your leader using beedhead nymphs with barbless hooks as to not damage these very delicate fish. It greatly decreases the risk to them and makes it more challenging and sporting for the angler. It’s equivalent to catching big 10 pound small mouth with a little 2 pound test ultralight on a 4’9 rod. Okay that was quite the digression but yes old growth equals amazing! New growth also equals beauty!! Get out in the forest and hike, fish, swim, hunt, just always remember to leave things the way they were. Pack out all gear and trash, don’t move around a lot of rocks and branches, basically try to the natural habitats exactly how you found them. Even if you pick up a rock on the bed of the stream to check what creatures are there that the fish would be feeding on so you know what fly to use just make sure to wet your hands and grip the rock on the edges as to not disturb any of the echo system clinging to the underside of that rock. Then place it gently back how you had found it. These ecosystems are a very delicate balancing act that effect from the smallest speck of a bacteria all the way to the top of a 200 year old white pine! Everything working in harmony. I know some of this stuff seems like over the top hippie bullshit but hey my forbearers introduced me to the woods and left it’s legacy to me to be a steward of so I feel we must do the same for the coming generations of so they may enjoy it like we did! And I don’t care how cool someone tries to act and if they say the forest is stupid and boring they are lying lol hahaha!!! 🌒🌕🌘🍂🍄🐌🦊
Thank you very much for this story of the old forests, it gave me a number of new insights. I am from the Netherlands and we have changed most of our country several times in 500 years time, so we do not have old forests. The word Holland comes from Holt-land, which means Wood-land: 400 years ago most oaks were used for building sailing vessels and our forest became grassland. Now most people think a forest is old when the trees are 100 years old. Forest management in State owned forests is now concentrated on improving ecological value, f.i. by replacing firs (planted around 1900 for construction wood in the coal mines) by deciduous wood (oak, beech, chestnut etc.). Although old wood is often not removed any more from the forests, the forest very often looks young. Timescale of humans is so short that basically most people can't understand forests and trees. The new scientific findings about forest-ecology (the role of fungi !) are very important. Yes, most citizens are not interested in forests, they are not interested in ecology not even in the ecology of their own body. WIthin 20 years people in the USA and other western countries will understand why bacteria and fungi (mainly in our gut) are so important for our health and they will say goodbye to the Standard American DIet for that reason. That will be good news for the tropical forests in the Amazonas too, but what remains is not clear because of the enourmous scale of deforestation (for livestock and soy: cheap burger meat). The world looks like Isengard, using wood in our furnaces of "progress", so carry on with the good work of finding new scientific results about old forests.
this video is a goldmine of old growth info that's so hard to find elsewhere, I keep coming back - the examples of old growth characteristics are so useful
Hi, and thank you for your comment. Lost Forests was intended to bring awareness of the old growth remnants we have in New England, and how important it is to preserve them and set aside more forest to eventually become OG again. We realize too that it’s difficult to recognize old forests (it certainly was for me), because there are misconceptions about what they look like.
So, we’re working on another film that will concentrate more on the characteristics of eastern old growth...what to look for, etc. It will take some time to accomplish, but hopefully will be very helpful to those who are interested in honing their ability to identify old growth. Stay in touch.
Ray
@@NewEnglandForests Fantastic! I can't wait to watch that film! It is such an interesting topic to me.
Is there anything specific you'd like to see?
Me being an old NH boy, my family came to Dover, NH, in 1635. They were sawyers from the get go. I'm the 15th or 16th generation to be here. I'm also a wood worker. The house I grew up in, was at one time a sugaring business, back in the day. We had sugar maples with 40 inch trunks, all over the property.
This video was like therapy. So calming.
An exceptionally well produced film on the value of old growth forests in New England. This should be required viewing for students of forestry or environmental science and also land managers. The film not only captures the ecological value of old growth forests but the mystical value of these places for our soul. I hope that if funding can be found that the producer will consider a second film on old growth forests of northern New England where spruce is often more common than hemlock.
Hi David, thank you. You won't get any argument from me on any of those points! :)
We do have other films in mind, though not in northern New England. It takes a large commitment of time to do a reasonable job of capturing old growth scenes, and it would be difficult for us to travel there enough times to do that. Wish we could!
Ray
I had the same thought, this should required viewing for everybody getting a driving license.
What a wonderful video! Fascinating for this New Zealander to learn something about the trees and other species of New England. It also impresses on me how awesome and complex nature is
this was a great documentary, and this is what documentaries used to be about Science and nature
It's great to know that there are experts like the narrator of this video that take time to understand this vitally important topic. Our survival as a species begins with a clear understanding of our dependence on all other biological systems on the planet.
At one point in the 1990's, I bought an Audobon book on trees. It had profiles of all the different trees. Eventually, I came to realize that all the printed profiles of the trees in the book were only of very immature trees, all the truly aged ones being long gone. And as a side note, there exists outside of Philadelphia a state forestry building in the middle of suburbia. On the wall is a cross-section sample of a mature white pine that is eight feet in diameter.
There are some old growth pines in Norway Maine. The Ordway Grove. Massive, massive pine trees.
Beautiful east forest with so much diversity. I live in West Vancouver Canada where I have four 120 year old fir trees that reach higher then our 7 story apartment. There are a few1200 year old fir tress higher up 5 minutes from here that because of their location escaped the saw. I love hiking and gathering a few Chanterelles in October. I feel so fortunate to live close to the forest. Really enjoyed this video, thank you.
Awsum doco . A far cry from the rainforests and eucalypt forests in Australia . I enjoyed seeing the N.E oldgrowth and i cant fathom how people could not preserve at least sum of the old growth on the lowlands and midslopes . Too many people see forests as a homogenous mass . Not different forest types on differing geography and soil types . I know a lot of those people . Sum of them loved ones .
As a kid i grew up on a mountain top in Vermont. Had several areas of forests that I use to play in as a kid that were old growth. let me tell you...there is something very primal, eldritch about an old growth forest.
You spend enough time in one, and you start to feel like you, a human, doesnt belong in that forest. Its a very strange and unnerving feeling.
i know exactly the feeling you are talking about, i have felt it before in the mountain i grew up on. i have later learned that indigenous peoples respected the personality of lands- some may be lived upon, some may be hunted upon, and some are to be undisturbed.
What a tremendous film you've produced. I was not expecting something so broad in information and philosophical scope. Whoever worked on putting this together deserves a real pat on the back. This is a wonderful hour of UA-cam well spent.
Beautiful, beautiful film. Thank you
Marvellous programme - thoughtful, informative, well-presented. Greatly appreciated here in Old England, where we have had similar scant regard for our old trees. Here: our great population density and rapacious consumption; our pathetically risk-averse attitudes; our obsessions with human youth, with tidiness, with control; and finally the minimalism and neatness of form that is our current fashion in aesthetics....all of these factors have combined with TERRIBLE consequence for our natural world in general and our veteran trees in particular. Worst of all, Joe Public continues to live in blind ignorance of all this, giving politicians and loggers free license to continue their exploitative ways.
This really is a great film, you did so good with it! It reminds me of all the trees and forests I grew up with. You really captured the beauty of these incredible places, and I learned so much watching it
The virgin cathedral pines in Connecticut were destroyed by a tornado in 1989; they were the closest thing to the size of a redwood on the east coast. Im glad I got to see them, they were enormous
And you can see them in “The Cathedral Pines of Cornwall Connecticut” on this channel at ua-cam.com/video/PSGAvGZsYVU/v-deo.html
I grew up playing in the woods in Western Mass. and this video brings back many happy memories.
I grew up in Greenfield mass...theres still some nice forest's and places left in that area...i live in south east ct now...i really miss western mass tho ! ! !
Best documentary I watched in a long time. Thank you for that
Beautiful upload, thank you.
I wandered some of your old growth as a Youth, I still remember the smell, my awe, the wonder of the Woods♥️
Fantastic Nature Documentary. I Love Trees. Thank You.
A wonderful work needed to make available the education of forest studies which was always in my interest and should be good for all who are interested!!
I am from the west coast of Canada I found this video entertaining as well very informative on the east coast forests and on forests in general ...well done .
Such beautiful, interesting, and educational content thank you so much for creating this.
At 68 years i can tell many stories of old growth i encountered as a child who wandered the woodlands daily . In my front forested yard alone i had black walnut , hazelnut, and towering white pines as far as one could see. The quail, pheasant, red fox, and many other species were so abundant. Under one big pine grove i counted nearly 40 quail one day feeding. The wild blueberries filled our little pails and jack-in -the pulpit was always a favorite find. When i came upon a stand of chestnut or beech , my heart filled with 4 year old wonder. There i would lay with my black shepherd yogi and sleep away. Yes, i worried my mother terribly. Beech nuts are delicious.
Thank you for this beautiful summary! Felt like I was there myself! 😊
Beech nuts are a b*tch to get the meat out.
♥️ beautiful.
And now the forests look horrible all the beach trees are dying tons of Asian bitter sweet girdling the trees and a ton of other invasive vines and weeds killing all the native wood lands and the trees along the roads and highways are all dying off
I hang out in a 120 year old forest that won’t be touched because it’s a fish hatchery in the Berkshires.
It’s truly a healing sanctuary.
I'm from The Berkshires, lots of beautiful forest around the county! There's a little snippet on Stockbridge Bowl that's supposedly virgin, definitely some big old beauties down there.
In Irish small rivers trees fall across from bank to bank. When floods occur, the water gouges out a pool under the three trunk
and trout breed in these pools which are covered by the tree trunk itself.
I do not own a large forest here in central Pennsylvania (Penn's Woods), but now of advancing years I worry on how to protect it. Since moving here it has bothered me to see the condition of EVERY piece of woods that has been timbered. The soil is thin enough and by my estimate requires generations to accumulate mere centimeters. But after cat tracks have been everywhere to get the trees and access roads plowed all that is left is clay. The logging companies brag of "increased wildlife grazing and habitat" and "increased plant diversity" . Well, sure the weeds and stickerbushes are impressive. But I cannot imagine ever again seeing the huge oaks and other trees. And I already have the deer, bear, mountain lions, foxes, wild cats, etc. My brother has wisely,I think, recommended selectively cutting trees and having an Omishman haul them with a horse team. Those hooves don't move all the soil. It makes me nervous that men will buy land only to timber it and pay for the land with that timber. Not much left but clay and weeds. I welcome input. But you vultures I don't need to hear from.
Vultures, same here in Sask 🇨🇦, farmers & foriegn ownership) , have been clearing and grabbing every acre they(real estate, can, with gov. incentive. Forests regulate weather and attract rain, ironically we have been in drought conditions the last few years.
I feel your angst. Grew up in opposite corner of country. San Diego County.
Little to no logging at least when I lived there.
But had the privilege of walking in canyons with 1000 year old oak trees.
Traveled alot in the north west. I noticed that the logging roads the public had access to as they were on federal land, were now gated and posted. Walk a a few hundred yards off of the highway through the forest and too often its clear cut back in there.
Looks great from the road though in your motor home.
Bless you,keep what your doing
Southern forest suffered the same fate. Many species of animals were wiped out. The Florida Panther barely survives. The last eastern blue bird I ever saw was dead, it flew into the glass window of a super market and broke its neck. The Carolina Parakeet use to crowd the skies in huge flocks but was wiped out by farmers because it ate the corn crop.
Excellent documentary. I Learned a lot. Very interesting information on "sheep fever" at 5:58. Thank you!
I am in love with our old growth forests in the Pacific Northwest, and I noticed how fairly similar those old growth forests in the east coast looks like to our more typical older forests. It doesn't even have to be like our old growth, but rather forests that have been protected by wilderness designation or the roadless land rule.
I also didn't even realize the east coast even had old growth trees that exceeded 5 ft in diameter, like we do typically. Over here, I usually imagine old growth forests with trees of around 7+ ft diameter, 5 ft minimum maybe.
A lot of similar characteristics of those forests we have here, such as the diversity of tree structures, diversity of tree species, lack of invasive plants, nursing logs, dead tree snags, wind-beaten trees, more moss, softer ground, and logs fallen into creeks.
Unfortunately, we lost most of our old growth too. Today, only about 3% of forests in Oregon, and about 5% in Washington are considered old growth. So when we fight to protect our remaining old growth, we're basically fighting over the last slice of the pie.
I sure wish loggers in the 20th century could have left us at least ONE old growth Douglas-fir exceeding 400 ft tall. Hundreds of records mention douglas firs that were logged and measured, that exceeded 400 ft in length when cut, with the tallest in Whatcom County, WA, at around 475 ft.
While still somewhat anecdotal, there seems to be more basis for them being possibly true. For one, those 400+ footers were all found and logged off in the low river valleys, which were cleared and turned into farmland or developed into cities (Portland used to be covered in massive old growth forests that grew along the Willamette River). All the old growth Doug firs that remain, exist in untouched river valleys or steep mountain slopes. Hardly any old growth forests exist anymore in the lowest river valleys, now developed into rural and urban landscapes. Being a far more favorable and ideal climate down lower where they were logged off first, the likelihood of some of them exceeding 400 ft has to be more likely.
Sometimes I have to wonder if Douglas firs could have been the tallest trees on Earth, over the Coastal redwoods, if only just one of those 400+ foot trees remained. (Unless of course, perhaps the Coast Redwoods themselves also once exceeded 400 ft tall before most of them were logged off; considering only something around 3% of the old growth redwoods remain, I figure that there's a pretty good chance some of them also exceeded 400 ft. However, the hundreds of historical documented references of 400 footer Douglas firs does seem to make the Douglas fir's case more likely. I also understand about the theoretical limit for tree heights to take up water, but with how little old growth (of either Coast redwoods or Douglas fir we have left), I really wonder if there is some truth to those historical height records.
Yes dear one totally same vibe Out here in New England just on a smaller scale. Your old growth out west is so amazing in giant I feel so small. East Coast New England is amazing
Thank you for not interrupting your documentary with commercials!!
You’re quite welcome, they annoy me too. Note that UA-cam reserves the right to show them whenever they choose, however.
-Ray
@@NewEnglandForests that's what made the lack of them so surprising! The documentary was a pleasure to watch, so informative. Out here in the PNW (Oregon,specifically) we love our big trees and old growth areas. It broke my heart to see so much burn the last couple summers.
I grew up going on vacations to Massachusetts. Both to the Audubon sanctuary on Cape Cod and camping at Mount Greylock. Seeing all the backdrop in this video really brought back memories. I appreciate the work you guys are doing and loved this message
I love old growth forests. I live on property in western Oregon, and there are some amazing Old growth Douglas firs still left (my property was logged some decades ago). You can’t help but wonder how many people have stood at the base of that tree you are, what year it was when it was just a seedling, and how many years it will last after you.
I had a professor in school, Dr. Stanley Gemborys, who devoted his summers to studying one of the only first growth forests remaining in North America. A finer man I never knew.
Where was this forest?
I live in Forest Park in Springfield Mass and I take my backyard for granted. This video has made me suddenly realize the varieties of trees that grow around here.
There are some respectable trees in the woods on the west side within Forest Park… oaks, hickories, pines, etc.
Also feel like I’ve been taking my backyard for granted!!
So nice that people make this films and put them out for public for free.. Kudos! Long Live Trees! Even if we do or don't///
I really appreciate the effort you have put into these videos and the knowledge behind them. Really felt this one
Beautiful story well told. I am a fan and supporter of the Old Growth Forest Network. Funny how this video found me. I did not find it. Now go for a walk! In the woods!
Thanks, and thank you for supporting Joan Maloof’s vision at the Old Growth Forest Network!
What a fantastic, educational, historical, and hopeful video!
I learned so much and hope that anyone who comes across this video would grab a cup of tea, sit down, watch and listen. We all collectively have lot to understand about our ecosystem; this video presents the information in such a way that complex ecological study it's easily digested. Thank you to all the stewards and scientists who made this possible. A definite recommendation! Blessings 🌿
Coffee in hand, did just that!
Before the trees there was the fungi. Mushrooms and fungus construct a unique root system that makes the soil conducive to growing grass and trees. I live near the Redwoods in northern Cal and when you walk amongst them you feel like you are in a church cathedral. The sunlight comes to the forest floor in rays and they may only get sun for a few hours a day, but man do they grow. I would recommend that every person see these redwood groves as there is nothing else like them.
This documentary is so well done! Thank you 🙏🏽
Rejjie.. thank you for watching, and for commenting. Much appreciated!
Really nice photography work in this documentary, well done!
Incredible documentary. These old growth forests are beautiful. The amount of destruction over the last 200 years makes the remaining forests truly precious.
400 years.
such a wonderful channel. I rewatch episodes once a week and always learn something new. I do wish someone would do the same for the Australian bush. The videos are perfect and the respect for the subject really shines through!
Thanks mate!
Thank you for this. Born to families on both sides that earned a living for generations off of lumber. Cutting it down to building with it. I greatly appreciate the accrued knowledge presented in video of the entire ecosystem in the forest. A beautiful thing. An intricate connected web. As a carpenter who often does demo work on old house rebuilds, I have amassed a sizeable stash of old growth material removed in the process.
I'll do something with it. Just breaks my heart to toss it in the 20 yarder.
What you present here hits me in the soul. I deeply love the woods and walk in it with greater awe.
Keep saving them
Please don’t tell me that contractors and homeowners throw away old growth wood during ‘remodeling’ because nobody wants it, or what?
Theres some incredible old growth beeches, white oak, and sugar maple in southwestern CT
Beautiful fall forest in New England I’d love to see them in real time not just video but it looks amazingly awesome!
The hermitage is the oldest old growth in Maine. It’s only accessible via the Appalachian Trail. Pine as wide as an suv
I fish there
We have pockets of American chestnut growing in Michigan. Great stand of old Growth in Aral Michigan. It was a park so it didn't get cut down.
A most informative piece. Many Thanks to all involved. It was excellent to here and see from a diverse gathering of knowledgeable presenters, experts, historians, videographers...really, all involved in preserving these precious records... As a Bonsai practitioner, much of the details this video has got me nodding my head.... I’ve seen on a much smaller scale, of course, many of the forest observations, of this video, through Bonsai practices. Thank You for the brilliantly clear window, into this and all forest, really...🙏 👍👍👍
Very informative video. I enjoyed it and really made me think of all the different forests I’ve been in throughout New England. Definitely a different feel the older the forest. More jungle 👍🏻
A highly interesting and informative look at a region my ancestors knew well.
Awesome. I live in Massachusetts! I've seen some of these environments.. amazing how much rain these forests can hold.
Excellent and informative, thanks for posting.
Superb video, thank you very much. I love forests and i am joyed by the level of understanding humans finally got about the meaning of a old growth or virgin forest so that they will recognize its value and save its habitats for birds species and many animals.
Great , informative.....the use of different speakers is a great teaching tool...
Thank you for your efforts in research, production of this video.
These are precious places. To be protected. No replacement cost.
I grew up in Western Mass., some places in this video reminded me of places I tramped around and spent time in the forest there, as a young man in the 1970s. Up around Leverett, North of Amherst, looked a lot like your old growth scenes. 🤫 😉
A very informative study / video… I love and appreciate forests and timber, and I have a much greater understanding now. Thank you!
Beautiful! Great work...
"Step off trail." Old Growth Forests, a sense of place. Thank you for this thoughtful primer.
Really great video! I lived on an abandoned 300 acre farm in Mansfield, Ct. one mile away from UCONN in the early 1980's.there was a grove of White Pines (5 trees) that were around 100 years old. Second growth for sure but magical! On a scorching, hot day I would seek refuge from the heat. Just these 5 trees shaded about 1/4th of an acre. The cooling effect was about 10 degrees cooler. The most amazing tree on the whole property was a dead and standing Chestnut tree that I theorized was grown in an open clearing and even though the blight killed it in 1916-7, it still stood mighty with branches sticking out almost vertical from it's trunk, 3 or 4 feet thick where they left the trunk. I got a surveyor's tape to measure the circumference of the trunk and it was 68' 2''. I have no idea how old tree was but it had to be pre settlement. I was young then and thought that if I went to the Botanical Department at UCONN and told them about this tree and it's girth that they would smirk and say "Yep, we know", so I passed.I walked this land day and night and one night on a full moon an owl landed on a high branch of this standing Chestnut, perfectly framed in the center of that full moon. The image was magnificent! By 1987 the farm was sold and the whole area bulldozed for development. I wish I knew of any old growth in Connecticut, but I don't.
Hi Robert...68 feet?? Is that a typo?
You might like to watch “The Cathedral Pines of Cornwall, CT” on this channel at ua-cam.com/video/PSGAvGZsYVU/v-deo.html
such a shame. equally your fault for not buying and preserving it
Very Sad
A tree of 68 feet circumference would be approximately 21.6 feet in diameter (circumference is "pi" (ie, 3.14) times diameter). That still puts the tree well beyond what I'd believe grew in CT. But I could be wrong.
@@NewEnglandForests Had I known that my post would have the reaction it has received, in hindsight, I should have have grabbed my camera and photographed the dead Chestnut tree and driven the whole mile to UCONN Agriculture Station and said "You want to see a big, dead tree"? I guess I just wasn't thinking about trees, I was more into Archaeological thinking at that point. My thought process went like this: 1)This is the thickest tree i have ever seen. 2) This is a field grown tree, probably from slash and burn Agriculture. 3)This tree Caught the Blight when it came through the area 1916/7. 4) This tree is still standing in 1982, 65 years after it caught the Blight. Another regret I have is making the original post on your web site. I won't be making any more. Good luck, New England Forests. No malice on my part.
I find pockets of old growth while bushwacking for native trout, It's astounding the complexity and thickness of the floor mat. These areas have a very primal feel and of course the trout are keenly aware of any creature that appears as a predator. for me it is a spiritual experience
We're working on a film about eastern old growth characteristics, which should help you to recognize old forests.
Very interesting and beautiful footage!
Same as the others thanks to all you people who have shown the energy to identify and help preserve and renew old forests
Fantastic video. In Arizona, commercial logging companies are still cutting down old growth Ponderosa Pines near the Grand Canyon. Some trees more than 300 years old have been felled. The US Forest Service overlooks the deforestation program.
Nauseating to know that.
The fox watching the hen house
So sad
Similar situation out west when the National Parks were being developed and all it took was citizens calling their state senators to get action to stop and it did. Unlike today, back then people held their elected officials accountable to do their job for the people & I hope more people today realize that.
That was beautifully done. Fascinating. Thankyou!!!
Beautiful old growth so important.
Thank you for this from southern Maine, I walk these woods and have seen such trees, never recognized them then ...
This was so informative! We purchased land in central Mass and have placed it in Chapter 61A (I think that’s correct) I want to be a caretaker of this land. It’s a slice of paradise and I feel honored to care for it 😊
Kathy, you may really appreciate the Tom Wessels series on this channel as well. Best of luck enjoying your land.
Great video, thanks for sharing.
I loved this! What beautiful treasures these old growth forests are. I particularly enjoyed learning about how you can tell the age of many trees by examining how gnarled the bark is. Thank you for such a fascinating look at the forests of New England 🌲
The old growth forests are not only valuable ecologically, they’re inspirational as well, and are so good for the human spirit. When you’re in them, you feel that “this is how it should be.”
You may also appreciate “The Return of Old Growth Forests” and “Eastern White Pine - the Tree Rooted in American History” on this channel.
The northeast is such beautiful and historic place filled with sm history and natural beauty. It reminds me of the mata atlántica or Atlantic forest running along Brazil’s and South Americas east coast. Basically at the opposite end of the North Americas eastern deciduous forest but with similar history of plagued by colonization and sprawling urbanization