Lynn Keller
The Japanese have been producing wood for 700 years without cutting down trees. In the 14th century, the extraordinary daisugi pruning technique was born in Japan. The cedar trees are pruned as if they are giant bonsai trees; the wood grows uniform, straight and without knots, perfect for construction. No trees are ever cut down.
Dec 15, 2022 at 11:18pmWeb
Show threadThe Muse Of Last ResortDec 16, 2022
@majordopolis Sounds a little like coppicing but more stylish.
Show threadPBorWallDec 16, 2022
@majordopolis No, they don't cut their own trees down, just import loads from the US, China, Indonesia, Vietnam to name a few.
Show threadKyozouDec 16, 2022
@majordopolis @lcorson 👆🏻This. https://wits.worldbank.org/CountryProfile/en/Country/JPN/Year/LTST/TradeFlow/Import/Partner/by-country/Product/44-49_Wood
Japan Wood Imports by country 2020 | WITS Data

Merchandise trade and tariff data for Japan (JPN) Wood import from all countries (trading partner) including Trade Value, Product Share, MFN and Effectively applied tariffs, count of duty free and dutiable products for 2020

Show threadCeriDec 16, 2022
@majordopolis wow
Show thread🦇 Jennie Rigg 🏳️‍🌈 (she/her)Dec 16, 2022
@majordopolis this feels like spaghetti trees, but it's real! It's amazing!
Show threadMysturjiDec 16, 2022
@majordopolis
I literally WTF’d at that photo. 😲
Show threadRobotbeatDec 16, 2022
@majordopolis Some trees reproduce by sending out roots that sprout up new trees and so you can get basically entire stands of trees that are genetically the same tree. Cutting down a tree, then, is really just like cutting off a branch. Bamboo is like this. So it’s essentially the same thing as this but underground.
Show threadSkiBumMeDec 24, 2022

@Robotbeat @majordopolis Aspen trees - so iconic and prevalent here in Colorado - share root systems and stands of trees (clones) are one giant single organism. That’s why they all change color in the fall at the same time.

https://kidadl.com/facts/aspen-tree-facts-explained-for-the-budding-botanist-in-you

Aspen Tree Facts Explained For The Budding Botanist In You | Kidadl

Found across North America, aspen trees are a beautiful species with a distinctive white-gray bark and yellow-green leaves. Here are some aspen tree facts!

Show threadJL Johnson Dec 16, 2022
@majordopolis cc @SacrinNiobe
Show threadMackajDec 16, 2022

@majordopolis

That's a clever idea :)

Show threadJennyDDec 16, 2022
@majordopolis
If the trees are never cut down, then they must be getting wood for construction from other countries.....sort of saving their own but 'culling' from others that let them. Tree deaths done behind closed doors, so to speak, and then taking credit for lush forests. I never knew about this. Almost wish I didn't now.
Show threadmarkDec 16, 2022

@JennyD @majordopolis Well they are, of course, getting lumber from these trees without ever killing the trees. But you're right that they still import trees as well. They are, after all, a large manufacturing nation.

But there are some other issues as well that are generally not as well understood, such as the lack of diversity in some of the forests because they are more like tree farms. It's complicated. They do some things well, other things not as well. We can learn from both.

Show threadJennyDDec 18, 2022
@markrvickers @majordopolis
I loved your reply, Mark, and really thank you for that. It's all probably things I should have known but didn't, so you put my mind to rest in a lot of ways.
I never thought about getting lumber w/o felling the trees, so I imagine they use large branches for whatever products. Am I on the right track with that?
Show threadmarkDec 18, 2022
@JennyD @majordopolis Thanks. I'm not an expert, but I think technically they are shoots rather than branches. In essence, they are giant bonsai trees that are cultivated to have many shoots come up all growing off the same original trunk. They are very straight, pliable and strong, as I understand it. I'd love to see how they work on them in person.
Show threadLorian TaylorDec 16, 2022
@majordopolis
Only the Japanese could figure out how to do something so innovative with trees!!
Show threadmoliverDec 24, 2022

@Lorian68 @majordopolis
A similar technique has been used in Europe since at least the 1st century.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollarding

Pollarding - Wikipedia

Show threadLuís GonçalvesDec 16, 2022
@majordopolis #TIL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wcl4I5EF-do
Ancient Japanese lumber production method without cutting down trees called "Daisugi"

YouTube
Show threadT. E. WadeDec 16, 2022
@majordopolis Wow. Amazing!
Show threadstephaniebleuwolfDec 17, 2022
@majordopolis that’s so cool
Show threadPierreDec 17, 2022
@majordopolis do you believe this ?
Show threadneutronstar21Dec 17, 2022

@majordopolis

What a great technique and info-nugget! Thanks!

Show threadJessicaDec 17, 2022
@majordopolis Why are we not trying to do this in Australia?
Show threadAnathema DeviceDec 17, 2022
@majordopolis astonishing!
Show threadVictoria A.Dec 17, 2022
@majordopolis Wow! I did not know about this type of forestry technique. Thank you for sharing!
Show threadJames CummingsDec 18, 2022

@majordopolis

Isn't this just a form of pollarding or coppicing which lots of cultures have done since pre-history? Or is there something specifically different about it?

Show threadJon RDec 18, 2022
@majordopolis They did a thing like this in Europe, too, called coppicing. IDK if the wood ever got big enough for full size lumber, but it was good for fuel, and poles for fences and thatching and stuff. A very high yield, sustainable way to manage production woodland. (The habitat wouldn’t be anything like a nice wild forest, but getting your wood from a copse kept you from having to cut down wild forest for it, so it’s a good thing overall.)
Show threadScottiedogDec 18, 2022
@majordopolis this is awesome, thank you for sharing.
Show threadShara KronmalDec 18, 2022
@majordopolis wow.
Show threadChris LDec 18, 2022
@majordopolis you cut em Christmas tree farms in the Santa Cruz mountains have a similar method of getting a Christmas tree without killing the tree. It’s a lovely sentiment.
Show threadCarol NelsonDec 18, 2022
@majordopolis That’s remarkable! I sure wish the Pacific Northwest had discovered that. Imagine what the Redwoods would be like today if we had taken that path?
Show threadCashlinDec 22, 2022
@majordopolis known as Pollarding—to the joy of Guided by Voices fans
Show threadStewart RussellDec 22, 2022
@majordopolis we used to pollard and coppice trees like that in Scotland too
Show threadJohn ShirleyDec 23, 2022
@majordopolis thanks was unaware of this wonder!
Show threadmarcusDec 23, 2022
@majordopolis I've just recently learned that the name of a town nearby (Ramersdorf) originates from lat. 'ramus' for 'branch'. They produced timber to be used in vineyards using a similar technique.
Unfortunately Wikipedia only has a German language article covering this: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramholzwirtschaft?wprov=sfla1
Ramholzwirtschaft – Wikipedia

Show threadAdetayoDec 24, 2022
@majordopolis quite interesting. Something others can follow.
Show threadSkiBumMeDec 24, 2022
@majordopolis I had never seen this before! Wow! https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/could-japanese-daisugi-technique-save-the-global-forestry-industry-the-planet/
Could Japan's Daisugi Technique Save The Global Forestry Industry & The Planet?

Covering over 30% of the earth's land surface, the forests of the world are a significant natural resource for the planet and humanity. Their role in our wellbeing is endless. They help to store massive amounts of carbon, ensure the balance of nature

Green Queen
Show threadAutisticMumTo3 She/herDec 24, 2022
@majordopolis
I like Bonsai trees
@AutisticMumTo3
Show threadSĂŠbastien GarnierDec 29, 2022
@majordopolis Sorcery!
Show threadLyndeeDec 30, 2022

@majordopolis

What kind of upside-down Avatar-world is this?