Reforestation procedure

Reforestation of cut forest regions is effected by broadcasting comminuted slash or cone-bearing roadside logging residue from delimbing of freshly-cut trees over the region from which the trees are cut. By comminuting the slash live seeds are released from cones contained in the slash and are returned to the forested area. In this way, an inexpensive reforestation procedure is provided and biodiversity is retained.

FIELD OF INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a novel reforestation procedure which 
avoids the current high cost procedures adopted for such purposes. 
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
Current reforestation procedures involve collection of cones, release of 
seeds from the cones, sowing and producing seedlings, which then are 
transported to the site of reforestation. This procedure is 
labor-intensive and expensive and seedling production capacity is well 
below that required to replant cut overs. In addition, the genetic 
diversity of the cut stand is lost and replaced by a foreign progeny. 
Alternative methods of reforestation, such as aerial direct seeding, are 
not highly attractive options because of limitations in the amount of 
expensive purified seeds available, airplane distribution costs and the 
modest result obtained. 
Low profit margins and the old, declining or senescing nature of many 
Canada's boreal forests makes large strip cuts or clear cuts an 
economically attractive alternative to selection cutting. This procedure 
is an extensive, highly automated process where trees are often 
mechanically felled, transported to roadside and delimbed. Workers and 
equipment are only transported to the cut site once. In contrast, present 
methods of reforestation are very expensive, labor intensive and require 
that planting crews and equipment return to the cut over after the harvest 
crews have left. 
What is required is a low cost, highly extensive method for reforesting all 
cut overs using the workers and equipment on site during the harvest 
operation with little additional cost. We now have found an entirely 
unique way of achieving reforestation which conforms to this requirement. 
In this invention, inexpensive crude seed extracted from forest residues 
using a rapid mechanical process is employed for reforestation and a very 
high direct seeding germination density can be achieved. 
SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 
method of effecting reforestation, which comprises extracting from forest 
residues a crude seed extract, and seeding a deforested area with the 
crude seed extract. 
Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of effecting 
forest management, which comprises effecting a strip cut or clear cut of a 
mixed conifer forest in which trees are felled, transported to a delimbing 
site or full-tree chipping site and delimbed to form cone-bearing roadside 
logging debris; comminuting the logging debris to release live seeds from 
the cones; and broadcasting the comminuted logging debris over the area of 
the boreal forest in which the strip cut or clear cut was made.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
In the present invention, therefore, the slash or cone-bearing roadside 
logging debris from the tree delimbing procedure or a full-tree chipping 
procedure, including branches, needles and cones, is chipped, ground or 
otherwise comminuted sufficiently to release live seeds from the cones, 
which then germinate when distributed in the deforested area. A large 
number of seeds are released from the cones when such comminution is 
effected, for example, more than 2500 seeds/Kg of black spruce limbs and 
tops. The seed-bearing cones first may be separated and processed alone to 
release the seeds, but this procedure adds to the cost. 
The procedure permits a more natural method of achieving sustainable 
development and maintenance of biodiversity in boreal or mixed conifer 
forests, in an inexpensive manner. Such mixed conifer forest may contain a 
variety of cone-bearing species, including black spruce, white spruce, 
jack pine and Douglas fir. At the rate of delimbing, the slash or 
cone-bearing roadside logging debris simply is comminuted to release the 
seeds and then the comminuted material is broadcast over the area of the 
strip cut or clear cut. As such, the procedure has significant economic 
and ecological impact on forest management. 
SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE 
In summary of this disclosure, the present invention provides a novel, 
inexpensive procedure for achieving reforestation from materials collected 
during deforestation. Modifications are possible within the scope of the 
invention.