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Friends of the Cawthra Bush & Greater Mississauga Area
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Mississauga News, June 7/94, insert by CVCA, Water Ways, Summer/Fall 1994. Writer unknown. The Cawthra Woodlot: In Desparate Need of Management In carrying out forest management in the 64-acre Cawthra Elliot estate woodlot owned by the City of Mississauga, the Credit Valley Conservation Authority is assisting the city's forestry staff in assuring local residents that the cutting of certain trees is a necessary step toward sustaining perpetual health and longevity of the forest. "We need to make the public aware of the long-term benefits of thinning out the Cawthra woodlot at this time," said Bob Baker, forester for Credit Valley Conservation Authority. "When a woodlot has too many trees, they all grow like toothpicks and are prone to disease and instability. Because these trees are basically weak, they are also more inclined to be damaged if there is any catastrophe of nature." In the summer of '93, when the City of Mississauga decided to pursue forest management practices in the city's woodlots, its primary objective was to protect and revitalize the woodlots through judicial thinning. The CVCA was asked to participate in this objective by the City of Mississauga. Although the CVCA has completed thinning in 40 per cent of the Cawthra woodlot, some concerned residents living in the area still need reassurance of the benefits of forest management. "Residents are concerned about cutting down the trees because they believe the forest should be left to look after itself, with no interferences," added Baker. Baker also said that the residents of Mississauga must realize the Cawthra forest is situated in the heart of the city where it is exposed to urban pressures and stresses. "One aim in management is to protect against these pressures and to avoid neglect," said Baker. "To do nothing in the matter of the Cawthra woodlot could be neglect." "Thinning involves the cutting of dead and dangerous trees, and the removal of some trees to establish proper spacing in the forest," said Baker. "By removing such trees, we create holes in the in 'roof' of the forest, thus allowing sunlight in to stimulate regeneration of the woodlot." Baker said that as time passes, instead of growing an 'even-age' woodlot where the oldest to youngest trees are consistently within a 20-year span, the forest management project will encourage an ideal 'all-age' stand of trees, with a number of trees ranging 100 years to 80 years to 40 years, right down to seedlings, all growing in the same forested area. "We regard the interaction in the forest as being similar to that of human society, where the older members look out for the younger members," said Baker. During the summer of '94, the City of Mississauga will be receiving input from local botanists regarding existing biological considerations that may need to be taken into account prior to completing forest management of the Cawthra woodlot. Baker said, "So far, the sale of recovered logs and fuelwood has offset the cost of the thinning project." The City of Mississauga and the Authority hope to carry out thinning of the remaining acreage in the early part of '95, when the ground is frozen and the forest floor is well protected. "It is our hope the public will be well informed of the advantages of thinning the Cawthra woodlot by the time forest management is resumed in the area." PHOTO; of logging and logs being stacked, somewhere CAPTION; The Cawthra Woodlot management program ensures the forest will continue to be a healthy part of the community for future generations.
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