Ecological Principles
Working with Nature: Lomakatsi’s Forest Restoration Philosophy : Ecological Principles for Fuel Load Reduction and Tree Planting(draft)
Nature does the real restoration work. We are just trying to learn how to do things that help, without causing additional problems. Here’s what we’ve learned so far.
Act conservatively. Don’t change things too much at once.
Respect what is already on site.
– Maintain shaded areas and 70 – 80% over-story canopy coverage in mixed conifer forests. (Adjust for differences in regional biodiversity, as in pine-oak savanna)
– Retain large trees.
– Leave a diversity of tree and plant species, maintain uneven-aged stands.
– In restoration work, plant only native species on site.
– Include indigenous traditional ecological knowledge as a reference point in ecosystem restoration
Remember the wildlife.
– Leave some places undisturbed, for the birds and wildlife currently using the area.
– Leave some small piles of cut material un-burned, as habitat for wildlife.
– Leave buffers of undisturbed vegetation in streamside riparian areas.
– Retain snags for wildlife habitat. Chart their locations for monitoring, and fire safety precautions.
Remember the soil.
– Leave some of the cut materials on the ground, perpendicular to the slope, to catch upslope erosion and contribute to future soil.
Remember people.
– Listen to residents and neighbors. They know the ways in which each site is unique.
– Match site diversity with worker diversity. Hispanic, Native American, and current youth cultures each have their own ways of understanding the complex diversity of nature.
– Train workers about ecological principles, and how to see the special characteristics of each place.
– Pay workers according to their training, experience, and quality of work.
– Pay workers well, and listen to them. Happy, respected people do the best work.
– Look for useable material to carry from the site for poles, furniture, spoons, fuels, etc.
Learn
– Keep complete records of prior conditions, work accomplished, and the time, money, and people that it took.
– Review information about similar sites before deciding how to treat new ones.
Lomakatsi is the Hopi word for ‘Life in Balance’