Ecology 101: Our Living Ancestors - the History and Ecology of Old-growth Forests in Wisconsin

This session was held at the 2019 Wisconsin Lakes Partnership Convention and Water Action Volunteers Symposium.
Session Description:
With less than 1% of our original pre-settlement forests still intact in Wisconsin, old-growth forests are a treasure to explore. But where can you find them? Join John Bates to explore the history of old-growth forests in Wisconsin, discover where the best sites still remain, and learn what makes old-growth so ecologically and aesthetically remarkable.
Presenter: John Bates, Author and Naturalist

[@StressRUs]

What a fabulous presentation by a true environmentalist and a testimony to WI rural citizenry. Thank you, Sir.

[@StressRUs]

I recently returned to the Wisconsin where I went to medical school and lived in several different areas of SW WI, before moving back to my native Ohio. My ashes are to be scattered under a 120', 6' dia. white pine. I found many small OG forest stands, but I sure as hell won't tell you where.

[@pauls126]

Well done. I'm researching for a future tree road trip. They hold the planet's wisdom. The chaos of nature so beautiful.

[@vinsanity488]

Very informative presentation, wonderful perspectives on conservation and responsibilities. Thanks for making available

[@c1w2e3g4n5e6r]

Learned a lot. Thanks for posting this online.

[@NS-sq8yp]

Wonderful video

[@jmy7622]

Most common tree in WI are Christmas Trees. It's kind of a disappointment , go up north anywhere wild trees are usually small and look very sickly. Hard work back then, no chainsaws.

[@StressRUs]

Sadly, this fine fellow is inadvertently promoting automobile travel, in a nation where we already burn 13.3 million barrels of oil/day and, thus, are generating the very heat energy that is driving our racing climate collapse. With any luck, the OG that survives our species will flourish, once our mindless, spiritless swarm has been wiped from the evolutionary record book. BTW. Hartwick Pines State Park off I-75 in MI has a stand of white pines 200' tall and 6' in diameter, and there are 66,000 ac. of OG white pine forest in the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness Area in the far western extent of the UP, not far from WI. I detest MI, so you may drive there. If you visit Mackinaw Island, and ride your bike to the Niagara Escarpment there, you can see some of the ancient gnarly cedars clinging to the cliffs, but the best views are on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, if you have a passport to get into Canada. Enjoy the endtime!