Robinson Tract Town Whitchurch-Stouffville

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 312 - 365

Spending time in nature can relieve stress and improve your memory performance and attention span.


The York Regional Forest Ontario Canada is open to the public 365 days per year with no cost to enter. The York Regional Forest is made up of 2,300 hectares of protected land, located in different parts of the Region. Eighteen properties with more than 120 kilometres of trail are available to the public


Robinson Tract  Address: 14989 Warden Ave, Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON L4A 7X5


Maps of the tracts available for the public are available free of charge at the entrance of the tracts and on the internet


The York Regional Forest is our legacy for future generations.


Nature appreciation including wildlife watching is a welcome activity in the York Regional Forest. In the forest people can see red squirrels and chipmunks, woodpeckers, nuthatches and warblers, garter snakes toads and frogs, deer fox and raccoons.

Red pine plantations make up part of the York Regional Forest.

Environment conditions have led to the roots of red pine trees becoming infected with root rotting fungi. Over the past several years, this infection has caused the death and decline of plantations in the region.

York Region is:

• Monitoring the condition’s status
• Removing dead or declining red pine trees that pose a hazard to trails
• Planting new trees in infected plantations
• Changing tree removal operations to reduce the impact on infected areas and reduce the spread into other areas
• Converting heavily infected areas to young hardwood forests

York Region organize events for the public.


Here are some sample events in the forest for 2015

Saturday, April 25, 2015 | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
North Tract, 17054 Hwy. 48, Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Celebrate Earth Week and discover the many health benefits of walking in the forest. Learn tips to decrease your impact on the wild places you love.  Registration required.

Migratory Bird Day

Saturday, May 9, 2015 | 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Happy Valley Forest Tract, 15430 7th Concession, Township of King
Site is challenging to find. In Pottageville, turn south from Lloydtown-Aurora Rd. onto 7th Concession, drive for 2.4 kilometres, location on west side.
Celebrate Migratory Bird Day in the rolling hills of the Happy Valley Forest. Learn bird calls and identification tips from bird experts and staff from the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Registration required.

Spring Forest Festival and Tree Planting

Saturday, May 30, 2015 | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
North Tract, 17054 Hwy. 48, Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Celebrate spring by planting trees! Take a horse-drawn wagon ride, hold slithering snakes, see birds of prey, take home a tree seedling to plant and much more. Learn about the Region’s Greening Strategy and our forest partners. Don’t forget your work gloves and shovel! Open to all.

Learn-to-Hike

Saturday, June 6, 2015 | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Porritt Tract, 15470 Kennedy Road, Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
Learn how to stay safe and comfortable while hiking in the forest. Find out how easy and fun a hike can be for the whole family. Meet hike leaders from the Oak Ridges Trail Association. Registration required.

Native Plants Walk

Saturday, July 11, 2015 | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Bendor and Graves Tract, 17689 Kennedy Road, Town of East Gwillimbury
Learn how to identify common native and invasive plants found in our forest. Discover beautiful native plants you can grow in your garden and learn what plants to avoid. Registration required.

Links

http://www.york.ca/wps/portal/yorkhome/environment/yr/forests/outdooreducation/yorkregionalforestwalksandevents

http://www.york.ca/wps/portal/yorkhome/environment/yr/environmentresources

http://www.york.ca/wps/portal/yorkhome/environment/yr/forests/yorkregionalforest

https://youtu.be/0cq7o08INTo

Reforestation in Europe

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 311 - 365

There are many forests in Europe, most of which are used for commercial logging purposes and which are no longer left to develop in a natural way. In particular this interference includes the cultivation of trees at an accelerated pace and the introduction of non-indigenous species to an area.

Nature is used and abused in my opinion and not treated with respect it deserves for sustaining life.

The result of this are forests which are lacking in variety, or monospecific forests. In a joint venture, Naturefund and Michelin campaigned for natural reforestation across Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

Beech trees in Germany

Michelin and Naturefund have together planted around 25,000 Beech trees in the Spessart region. In this area, on a slope close to the city of Bad Orb, a Spruce forest extends over a total of 24 hectares.

Droughts, storms and Bark beetles have caused some damage to the Spruce trees which are not local to this area. It is rather the hardier Beech tree which occurs naturally here and which is considerably more resistant to such conditions.

Therefore in barren areas, Beech trees are being planted with the aim that Beech forests will become established and will last long into the future.

Austria

In Austria, together with the local government forestry department, we have begun a project to plant rare and almost extinct tree varieties.

This includes the very rare wildfruit Sorbus tree, as well as Yew trees and a very rare type of Oak tree that is indigenous to Austria. In total around 3,000 trees have been planted.

Within the last 100 years, Europe has experienced two World Wars, the end of communism, the emergence of the European Union and a series of other transformative political and economic developments. A team of scientists has now been able to visualize the impact of historical events in maps that show the growth and decline of settlements, forests and croplands.

"More than 100 years ago, timber was used for almost everything: as fuel wood, for metal production, furniture, house construction. Hence, at around 1900 there was hardly any forest areas left in Europe. Especially after World War II, many countries started massive afforestation programs which are still running today," Fuchs told The Washington Post.

As a result, Europe's forests grew by a third over the last 100 years. At the same time, cropland decreased due to technological innovations such as motorization, better drainage and irrigation systems: Relatively fewer area was needed to produce the same amount of food. Furthermore, many people migrated from rural to urban areas, or overseas.

Fuchs' fascinating conclusion: Forests and settlements grew at the same time and Europe is a much greener continent today than it was 100 years ago. A closer look at different regions and countries reveals Europe's recovery from the deforestation of past centuries.

Denmark

Today, forest area covers 11% of total area in Denmark. Forests smaller than two hectares make up 35% of the Danish forest estates, but they only make up 2% of the forest area. 70% of the forest area is privately owned. The development shows that the number of forest estates larger than 20 hectares and smaller than 250 hectares has increased. 

Finland

78% of the land area is forest area. During the last 70 years, the structure of Finnish forests has changed significantly. They have now a more even-aged structure. Scotch pine is the most common tree species with 45% of growing stock. 62% of the forest area is owned by private, non-industrial owners and 8% by private industry. The state owns 25% of the forest area. 

Conclusion

Deforestation caused by humans is mainly related to coal production (through the burning of wood) and the expansion of agricultural lands (primarily in the tropics). Currently, 13 million hectares of forest disappear every year, an area the size of Portugal. 

While in Europe more trees are planted than are cut down, Africa has the highest rate of deforestation in the world with 0.5% of its forests disappearing each year.

The differences in behavior relating to forests can be explained by how forests are utilized. In Europe, the forest is mainly harvested in a way to maintain durable development because forests are viewed as a source of economic development. Preservation ensures sustainable harvest of available resources.

In Africa for example, the forest is used by the villagers to make carbon (an essential resource for their daily life), and viewed as potential and lucrative agricultural land. It is therefore destroyed to satisfy their daily energy needs and to create space for crops.

Agroforestry

A farmer who has a single field of cotton or grain has a source of immediate income, but it is limited.

Planting fruit trees in the middle of his field with a hedge all around it, allows him to continue to earn his traditional annual income while waiting for the trees to bear fruit, which will be more profitable in the market than his original products.  In addition, the hedges will protect his fields from foraging animals and improve the soil quality as well as increase his overall crop yield.

Agroforestry provides a solution for both challenges: ensuring the durability of newly planted trees and improving the living conditions for villagers.   

In order for this to succeed, we must provide all the resources needed to start up the project and the farmers must be trained to plant the trees and use them in a sustainable way.

Planting a tree is universally recognized as a a strong, symbolic gesture and there are many reasons to believe that things will move in the right direction.  After all, for the Earth to return to the same amount of forest cover as in the year 1950, we have to plant or protect 15 billion trees, only 2 trees per person ! 

Links

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/12/04/watch-how-europe-is-greener-now-than-100-years-ago/

http://noltfox.metla.fi/nordic.htm

http://www.cabi.org/cabebooks/ebook/20013065210

http://www.reforestaction.com/reforestation.php?l=en

http://theredddesk.org/encyclopaedia/afforestationreforestation-cdm

Staghorn Sumac Used for Allergies Respiratory Infections

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 311 - 365

Sumac is any one of about 35 species of flowering plants in the genus Rhus and related genera, in the family Anacardiaceae. 

A decoction of the cambium or an infusion of the leaves has been used for diarrhea, dysentery, asthma, urinary tract infections, sore throat, chronic gum problems, and cold sores. 

The Native Americans chewed the root to ease swollen or infected gums and to stop kids' bed-wetting, and they applied sumac compresses to burns and cuts, to stop bleeding, and reduce swelling. This plant certainly merits scientific testing.

Location:
Often found in dry, rocky soils. Ranges from Southern Canada through Northeastern United States, west to the Great Lakes region.

Sumacs also grow in subtropical and temperate regions throughout the world, especially in Africa and North America.

Description:
Shrub or small tree, 1.22-4.47 meters (4-15ft) high. Twigs and leafstalks hairy. Leaves have 11 to 13 toothed leaflets. Fruits are hairy, red, and arranged in a pyramidal structure. Fruits present June through September. Autumn leaves are deep red.

The flowers are in dense panicles or spikes 5–30 cm (2.0–11.8 in) long, each flower very small, greenish, creamy white or red, with five petals. The fruits form dense clusters of reddish drupes called sumac bobs. The dried drupes of some species are ground to produce a tangy crimson spice.

Medicinal use

• Heals Inflammation 
• Boosts Circulation

Sumac was used as a treatment for half a dozen different ailments in medieval medicine, primarily in Middle-Eastern countries (where sumac was more readily available than in Europe). 

An 11th-century shipwreck off the coast of Rhodes, excavated by archeologists in the 1970s, contained commercial quantities of sumac drupes. These could have been intended for use as medicine, as a culinary spice, or as a dye. Staghorn sumac is a powerful antioxidant, with ORAC rating over 1500 μmol.

Fruits:Native Americans used fruits in cough syrup. Gargled for sore throat and tonsillitis.

Bark: Root bark used as an astringent and to staunch bleeding.

Staghorn sumac is an excellent herb for 

• the treatment of inflammatory conditions of the urinary tract whether or not they are due to infection. 
• It will reduce inflammation, promote tissue healing, and 
• help reduce infection due to many kinds of bacteria as well as 
• Candida albicans. 
• is beneficial in the treatment of rheumatic conditions such as 
• rheumatoid 
• arthritis and 
• gout.
• Sumac is helpful for the treatment of fever and respiratory infections. 
• It helps to dry out the sinuses in colds, 
• sinus infections and 
• allergies. 
• It is a very safe herb and can be used for the
• such as chicken pox and 
• measles.
• Sumac is an excellent herb for the treatment of cardiovascular conditions. 
• It improves circulation, 
• helps lower blood pressure and is a mild heart tonic. 
• It reduces inflammation of the blood vessels in conditions like varicose veins,
•  hemorrhoids, and even more serious conditions such as 
• arteriosclerosis.
• Another traditional use of sumac is for the treatment of diabetes.
• Sumac has a moderate effect on the nervous system. 
• It helps reduce nervousness,
•  anxiety, 
• tension 
• headaches and 
• general tension throughout the body. 
• It also improves concentration and reduces mental fatigue.
• It is excellent for the treatment of burns

PREPARATION AND DOSAGES (SUMAC SUN TEA)

The fruits can be dried and taken as a tea, or used fresh or dried to make a tincture. To make a tincture, use about 30% alcohol (three parts vodka to one part water). As with most herbs, use the tincture of the fresh fruits. For topical use sumac can be used as a compress.

When using sumac as a medicine, the usual dosage is one cup of tea or 3-4 ml of either the 1:5 fresh fruit tincture, or 1:7 dried fruit tincture. These should be taken three times per day on an empty stomach, preferably 10-15 minutes before meals. To make the tea, add 2-3 teaspoons of the fresh or 1-2 teaspoons of the dried fruits to boiled water and allow it to steep for 15-20 minutes. It will taste much stronger than when it is prepared as a beverage.

Raw Tabouli Salad

• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 cucumber, seeds removed (and saved for smoothies or juices), chopped
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1/2 tsp dried sumac seasoning
• bunch of parsley leaves, chopped
• 1 Tbsp dried mint, crumbled and added
• 1 Tbsp (or more, to taste) onion, chopped very small
• 1/2 red pepper, chopped
• salt and pepper to taste
• drizzle olive oil (about 1 Tbsp)

The fun thing about sumac is that even if you missed harvesting it last fall, it’s available all winter. As long as you can find those red bundles on the otherwise bare trees, you can harvest and use sumac, which tastes fresh and lemony and is high in vitamin C.

The warm days of summer are a great time to make a commitment to spend a bit more time outdoors and connect with this beautiful world that we live in. If you happen to be out there mid summer and see some of those clusters of fuzzy red fruits growing on top of the sumac trees, take one home and try a sun tea. Hot or cold it’s a refreshing summer drink. Enjoy!

Harvesting

The best time to harvest the ripe berries is after a prolonged dry spell. The worst time is the day after it's rained, when most of the flavor has been washed away.
The best berries are brightly colored and dotted with whitish deposits of tasty acid. Pinch a berry and touch your finger to your tongue. You should detect a strong, sour flavor. This means it's harvest time.
Cut off the red seed heads with garden shears or a knife and transfer them to a bag, or twist and break them off with your hands.

Food Preparation

Don't rinse off these berries before use or you'll wash all the flavor down the drain. The best-known way to use sumac is by making a wonderfully flavored pink lemonade with it. 

Submerge the berry cluster (minus any six- or eight-legged stragglers) in a bowl of room temperature or warm water, and squeeze and twist it with your hands for a minute or so (you may also steep the clusters in hot water, but lemonade is better cold). Strain out the berries through a fine sieve or cheesecloth-lined colander, sweeten to taste, and enjoy.

You can also make sumac concentrate, which you can use like lemon or lime juice.

The young growth at the tips of the plants—the shoots, are also edible, raw or cooked, after you peel them. They make quite a tasty vegetable you can use in a variety of dishes.

Links

http://foodunderfoot.com/tag/staghorn-sumac

http://www.treesandseeds.com/meadowview/staghornsumac.htm

http://globalbiology.wikispaces.com/Kelsey

http://vitalitymagazine.com/article/staghorn-sumac/