Woodland Restoration

Historic Woodlands of the Midwest

"... on the fertile Corn Belt soils, all of our oaks are headed for oblivion, except where ecological restoration or other intentional management protects them."
Stephen Packard
The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook

As the glaciers receded from our region over 12,000 years ago, Native Americans moved into the landscape, and began shaping it with fire. They burned the woodlands, savannas, wetlands and prairies regularly to promote the growth of food plants and to attract game species. These fires ensured that fire tolerant oaks and hickories dominated the landscape. During the in the Public Land Survey of our region in the 1830’s, up to 95% of all trees were oaks. In southern Wisconsin, woodlands covered about 40% of the landscape and savannas covered about 30% of the land. The open canopy of these habitats allowed plenty of sunlight to reach the ground so that a diversity of fire tolerant wildflowers, grasses and shrubs could thrive. These plants in turn supported a diverse array of wildlife including beneficial insects, songbirds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Native Americans also “sustainably harvested” various plants for building materials, food and medicine.

Woodlots in Peril

The first Euro-American settlers described midwestern woodlands as “open” and “park-like” with large stately oaks, and a widely spaced open canopy. They often settled in these attractive sites which had easy access to resources such as wood and pasture. Some woodlands were harvested for wood and then converted to crop land. Without fire, the remaining woodlands were invaded by aggressive, shade tolerant understory trees which closed the canopy creating a darker, more forest-like environment. No one had actively set out to alter the woodlands in the midwest; they were simply taken for granted and neglected. Today, only 4% of the landscape is still covered by oak-hickory woodland. Oak savannas are now a “globally imperiled” ecosystem with just .01% remaining of the original oak savanna in Wisconsin. In the woodlands that do remain, aggressive understory trees such as maple, box elder, walnut, ash, cherry, basswood and elm cast dense shade on the forest floor, leaving little light remaining for oak seedlings and diverse ground layer plants. These unbalanced ecosystems are ripe for invasion by non-native species. Eurasian plants such as buckthorn, honeysuckle and garlic mustard, free of the pest species that would have kept them in check in the Old World, thrive in the shaded and disturbed woodlands further impacting our native wildlife.

Our oak-hickory woodlands are now nearing a breaking point. There is too much shade for oak seedlings to sprout and survive; once the old trees die, the oak woodland will be no more. In order to save our woodlands and savannas we must remove the invasive species, thin out aggressive native tree species, initiate a regular fire regime and reestablish and promote native woodland plants. The alternative is that we lose these beautiful woodlands, with their dramatic open grown oaks, rich wildlife and beautiful wildflowers, forever.

Did you know that buckthorn is the overwintering host to soybean aphids, which cause major crop damage throughout the midwest?

Five Reasons to Restore Your Woodland

For the Next Generation

In most of our woodlands there is simply too much shade and too many weeds for oak and hickory saplings to grow. Though grand old oak remain, they will not live forever, and there are very few young oaks growing up to replace them. If we don’t act now our woodlands will be forever changed and the oaks will be lost.

Wildlife Habitat

A healthy oak-hickory woodland supports thousands of species of animals from beneficial insects to song birds and wild game. Songbird species are of particular concern since their populations have dropped 50% in the past 50 years.

Natural Education

Studies have shown that a twelve year old child can identify 1,000 corporate logos. How many wildflowers can they identify? A healthy woodland supports many more interesting and beautiful wild plants and animals that we can enjoy.

Pollution Control

A healthy woodland does not have bare soil. Instead the ground is covered with healthy wildflowers, grasses and shrubs. All these plants and their roots hold the soil in place and help prevent erosion. These plants can also absorb many fertilizers and pesticides from surrounding agricultural land, chemicals which might otherwise find their way into wetlands and ground water. Trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere helping to moderate CO2 in the atmosphere and thus reduce climate change.

Natural Beauty

A healthy oak woodland is a sight to behold. Rugged oaks and other trees are the pillars of the woodland cathedral providing winter interest, summer shade and fall color. Dozens of species of wildflowers, from the first hepatica and Dutchman’s breeches in the spring to the last asters and goldenrods of fall, provide beauty, color and something new to explore every time you step into the woods.

Restoring Diversity, Beauty and Function

We have years of experience restoring woodlands to a healthy and natural condition. Here are a few of the methods we can use to help you with your property:

Brush Clearing: Non-native brush species such as buckthorn, honeysuckle and multiflora rose can devastate our woodlands. Because of fire suppression, native brush species can also get out of control at times. We can clear this brush from your woods in an efficient and ecologically sensitive manner.

Seeding and Planting: In some woodlands the ground layer of grasses and wildflowers will return once the overstory has been restored. However many woodlands have suffered the impacts of grazing and/or dense shade and the ground layer plants been have been wiped out. In these woodlands we work to spread seeds and install plugs of a diversity of native perennials and woody species.

Selective Thinning: Most woodlands in our region have far too many trees which create dense shade and prevent oaks, wildflowers and grasses from surviving. Selective thinning and sustainable timber harvesting may be some of the steps we take to keep your woodland healthy for future generations.

Prescribed Burns: Fire is essential to restore and maintain our midwestern ecosystems. Safe, well planned and expertly executed prescribed fires are a critical tool used to restore and maintain the savanna or woodland on your property.

Invasive Species Control: Many non-native noxious weeds grow out of control in our natural areas. Garlic mustard, dames rocket, Oriental bittersweet and Japanese hedge parsley are just a few of the problem species that we can get under control for you.

Ecological Consulting: Want to do it yourself? We’ll give you the guidance you need.