Where does Starker Forests get its tree seedlings for reforestation? The short answer is that “We grow them!” However, that doesn’t really tell the whole story. In fact the process is is somewhat complex, and requires a fair amount of outside help, but in the end, we believe that the seedling production program we follow provides Starker Forests with the highest quality seeding stock for reforestation.
All of our tree seedlings start out as seed that was originally collected from mature ‘Parent” trees from the specific locale in which they will ultimately be replanted. For example, seedlings that will be used to reforest a harvest unit near Blodgett Oregon, will be grown from seed that came from the Blodgett area. This is done so that the seedlings will be adapted to their locale , and will have the best chance for survival and optimum growth.
Additionally, some of our collections of Douglas-fir seed from various parts of our ownership have been evaluated over time for performance by watching how the trees that were grown from the seed have survived and grown in the forest. The individual trees that have the best characteristics for survival, growth and form are identified and seed is collected from those for use in further testing. In forestry, we call this “Tree Improvement”. The process is repeated, each time selecting the “best of the best”, providing higher quality seed with each cycle. Currently, nearly all of our Douglas-fir and some of the other coniferous species the we regularly plant are grown from “Improved” seed.
We provide this seed to several nursery grower partners located primarily on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The climate, day length and greenhouse technology are important factors in seedling production. Starker Forests believes that the growing conditions found in this locale help to produce some of the highest quality seedings for reforestation. Each year our growers sow our seed and produce seedling crops according to our specifications. Starker Forests grows and plants between 500,000 and 1,000,000 tree seedlings each year. Approximately 85% of our seedling production is Douglas-fir, the remainder is comprised of other species such as western red cedar, western hemlock, grand fir, incense-cedar, Ponderosa pine, and Port Orford cedar.
In the end, Starker Forests, Inc. is committed to the long term productivity of our forests. Starting each harvest/regeneration cycle with the highest quality seedlings we can produce, is a small but important part of that commitment to the future.