Dead #trees are not wasted timber dollars - they are sources of food for literally thousands of beings in a #forest #ecosystem, from tiny microscopic beings to insectivorous birds. Standing dead trees are known as snags, while a fallen dead trees are nurse logs. A cut or natural stump can serve the same #ecological function as a #NurseStump.

Nature wastes nothing. If there is a nutrient source to be had, there is a being to benefit from it. Nurse logs, standing snags & nurse stumps play hosts to all sorts of mosses, lichens, fungi, insects & arthropods, many hidden deep inside, as well as other living beings that prey on them.

Nurse #stumps are still deeply rooted; new plant, tree & fungi life grows out of their tops. Nurse stumps & dead stumps that have no new growth atop are like anchor systems for living trees growing in forests. You destabilize the ecosystem when you remove them from their natural #environment.

#NaturalistNotes #Educational #VancouverIsland #nature #wilderness #GetOutside #photography #PacificNorthwest #PNW #Cascadia #VanIsle #mosstodon #Wsanec #CommunityForest #ForestStewardship #ForestProtection #Saanich #VictoriaBC #VancouverIsland #YYJ #ProtectTrees #SaveForests #StopDeforestation #StopEcocide #BCForestryReform #Degrowth

I delved deeper into the southern reaches of the McKay Community Forest, which is still mostly not technically open, but not closed either. It is definitely green.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/05/henderson-gulch-and-ryan-creek.html
#USA #California #HumboldtCounty #McKayCommunityForest

#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #dayhike #communityForest #countyPark #publiclands #optOutside #getOutside #redwoods #forest

Out to see the northernmost reaches of the McKay Community Forest. Probably few know some of these bits even are part of the community forest.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/03/ryan-creek-and-slough.html

#USA #California #HumboldtCounty #McKayCommunityForest #hiking #dayhike #communityForest #nature #landscape #travel #outside #hike #forest #woods #trees #creek #slough #geese #redwoods

I took the first day of spring to go out and see the new McKinleyville Community Forest! Unfortunately, it was a very grey start to the colorful season.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/03/mckinleyville-community-forest.html

#USA #California #HumboldtCounty #McKinleyvilleCommunityForest #McKinleyville #hiking #dayhike #communityForest #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #newplaces

The Beith Creek Loop is a spot to see a big tree or two, but the focus here is closer to the ground where some flowers are finishing up and others just starting.

New blog post: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2024/03/beith-creek-loop.html

#USA #California #HumboldtCounty #ArcataCommunityForest #BeithCreekLoop #hiking #dayhike #communityForest #redwoods #flowers #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside

A second trip to the McKay Community Forest to explore an area I hadn't been. More pictures and information here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2023/01/ryan-creek.html

#hiking #dayhike #communityforest #California #nature #landscape #forest