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Old-growth forests program Wayne County Trail Works announces a program at Williamson Library on Wednesday, March 4 at 7 p.m. Dr. Bruce Gilman will share his knowledge and insights on Old Growth Forests. Dr. Gilman is a Professor of Environmental Conservation and Director of the Environmental Studies Program at Finger Lakes Community College. In recent years, the public has gained a heightened awareness regarding the ecology, conservation, and preservation of our natural resources. New technology and increased media coverage have brought biology into the living rooms of most American families. The high profile of the old-growth debate in the Pacific Northwest has generated a renewed interest among Easterners in their old-growth forests. Historical records paint a dramatically different picture of our landscape from that of the present. Colonists of the 1600s were presented with vast stands of large trees and continuous cover. Most historians agree that this country was settled largely because of its enormous timber resource. The needs of a colonist were simple: a roof over one's head, food on the table, and warmth in the cold months. As a result, forests were cleared for settlement, saw timber, agriculture, and fuel wood. Today, virtually all old-growth forest that remains in the eastern U.S. consists of small tracts of land (10 to 100 acres) that resulted from surveying errors or private family preservation. While these tracts pale in comparison to western old-growth forests, they remain a vitally important resource. One of these valuable forests, the Gosnell Big Woods Preserve, is located in Webster. Check www.trailworks.org for additional information on forests and a nature walk. Copyright
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