Honey locust forests in 100-year perspective

Honey locust forests in 100-year perspective

The Role of Old Trees in the DREVO Living Mountains System

If honey locusts are not given a short cutting period, but rather allowed to develop for decades, they can function as large veteran trees:

form a permanent shadow;

create a large volume of leaf litter;

hold the soil with roots;

serve as a nesting site;

give hollows and dead wood;

support insects, birds and small animals;

save carbon;

create your own forest plot history.

But the ability of an individual tree to live for a long time does not mean thata monoculture forest of this species will be sustainable for centuries.

1. Honey locust in the 100–150 year perspective

Real durability

For honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) the average life expectancy is indicated at approximately the level125 yearsIt can bear fruit until approximately one hundred years of age. This means that a well-formed tree is truly capable of completing a full century-long cycle.

Therefore, honey locust can be considered not only as a temporary pioneer, but also as:

permanent component of mixed forest;

forest edge tree;

element of pasture forest;

fodder tree;

protective and prickly belt;

source of durable wood;

veteran tree of the future.

What does an old honey locust look like?

Given enough space, the tree can form:

height of about 15–30 m;

wide openwork crown;

powerful root system;

large trunk;

deep shade, but not completely closed canopy;

a large number of beans;

natural cavities and lesions that are useful to animals.

Honey locust is a light-loving plant and does not regenerate well under dense canopies. In natural forests, it usually remains a secondary species, found at forest edges, in canopy breaks, and in disturbed areas, rather than forming a stable, shaded, climax forest.

2. Can a pure honey locust forest exist?

Physically, yes. Environmentally, it's not the best final option.

A pure honey locust forest can:

spread intensively by seeds;

become impassable due to thorns;

inhibit access by people and large animals;

create an excess of the same type of litter;

have low species diversity;

gradually grow old at the same time;

be vulnerable to a single pest or disease.

Honey locust seeds have a hard shell, remain viable for a long time, and are dispersed by animals. Passage through the digestive tract can improve germination. Therefore, honey locusts can quickly expand their presence in pasture systems.

The right share

For DREVO, it is not monoculture that is optimal, but fate:

5–15%- in a natural mixed forest;

10–25%- in an agroforestry or pasture system;

up to 30–40%- in temporary protective strips;

more than 50%- only in a controlled production area.

3. Important note: honey locust does not fix nitrogen.

Despite belonging to the legume family, Gleditsia triacanthus is usuallydoes not form Rhizobium root nodules and is not considered a nitrogen-fixing treeTherefore, it cannot be placed on the same level as robinia, alder, or caragana as a source of biological nitrogen.

It improves the soil in other ways:

creates a large volume of leaf litter;

shades the surface;

forms root canals;

protects the soil from the wind;

retains organic matter;

feeds animals with fruits;

promotes the transfer of organic matter through manure.

For real nitrogen enrichment, the following are needed nearby:

alder;

to look at;

local leguminous shrubs;

clover;

alfalfa;

other regional nitrogen fixers.

4. The value of century-old honey locust

An old honey locust can be more useful than a young one not only in terms of the volume of wood.

She becomes:

large seed tree;

animal feeding center;

constant point of shadow;

nesting tree;

support for vines and epiphytic organisms;

carbon storage;

future source of large timber;

source of large branches and cavities;

part of the cultural landscape.

Not all old trees should be harvested. Some should be left to die naturally.WOOD Veteran Trees.

5. Old honey locust wood

Honey locust wood:

dense;

heavy;

solid;

durable;

tough;

shock-resistant;

relatively durable in contact with soil;

Suitable for poles, furniture, interior decoration and general construction.

If a tree is grown for 80-120 years, you can get:

large beams;

wide boards;

heavy furniture;

stairs;

pillars;

handles;

turned products;

decorative veneer;

massive interior elements.

However, the tree often forms a short or early-branching trunk. Therefore, for future construction timber, the formation of the central conductor must begin at a young age.

6. Comparison over a 100-year horizon

7. Combined forest of honey locust and paulownia

Joint planting is only possible astransitional system.

The first 10–20 years

Paulownia:

quickly creates height;

forms a temporary shadow;

produces leaf mass;

provides early wood.

Gledichiya:

creates a long-lasting skeleton;

forms deep roots;

provides food for animals;

creates a prickly defense.

20–50 years

some of the paulownia is being harvested;

Gleditsia becomes a large permanent tree;

oak, elm, linden, maple and other target species are introduced under the canopy;

the density of both pioneer species decreases.

50–100 years

Gleditsia remains as 5–15% of the forest stand;

individual paulownias are preserved as veterans;

the basis of the forest becomes local long-lived species;

a multi-age structure appears;

a network of old trees and dead wood is formed.

13. Proposed structure of a centenarian forest

This is not a universal recipe, but a target model for regions where both types are permitted and environmentally manageable.

14. Which trees should be left for 100 years?

Gledichiya

Remaining:

well formed;

wind resistant;

with one powerful barrel;

without dangerous tilt;

with high bean yield;

with a valuable crown shape;

used by birds;

promising for large timber;

genetically interesting trees.

Paulownia

Only the following are left:

single stable trees;

non-fertile or controlled forms;

specimens without active self-seeding;

historical trees;

trees of outstanding shape;

valuable honey-bearing specimens;

trees used by birds and other animals;

experimental objects for long-term observation.

15. Certification of old trees

After reaching the established age, trees receive:

WOOD Veteran Tree Passport

It includes:

species and clone;

origin;

age;

diameter;

height;

crown shape;

barrel condition;

cavities;

nests;

insects and fungi;

seed productivity;

root stability;

damage history;

risk of spread;

the future fate of timber.

For paulownia additionally:

formation of viable seeds;

self-seeding map;

root shoots;

distance to natural areas.

16. Harvesting after 80–120 years

Gledichiya

The old trunk can be sent to:

B-Air;

A-Air;

B-Structural;

A-Heritage;

furniture reserve;

reserve of durable pillars;

artistic reserve.

Paulownia

The old trunk can be sent to:

B-Air Special;

Tonewood Reserve;

Artistic Reserve;

Heritage Wood;

wide-format panels;

lightweight furniture products.

Paulownias rarely receive a full Class A rating based on age alone. This requires additional historical, acoustic, artistic, or genetic value.

17. Final assessment

Gledichiya

Yes, it makes sense to leave it for more than 100 years.

She can become:

long-term component of mixed forest;

old fodder tree;

habitat tree;

a source of large, durable timber;

element of the pasture forest.

But its distribution must be controlled and its share in the forest limited.

Paulownia

Individual trees can be preserved for as long as possible, but a century-long forest strategy cannot be built on this.

Her optimal role:

fast first tier;

early wood;

temporary shadow;

nanny tree;

then gradual replacement;

preservation of individual veterans.

The main principle

Honey locust can enter the old forest as a permanent member. Paulownia must enter as a temporary condition-creator and remain only as isolated memory trees.

A century-old DREVO forest doesn't have to consist of a single fast-growing species. Its sustainability is achieved through a combination of:

pioneers;

long-lived forest-forming trees;

fruit and fodder species;

shrubs;

old trees;

dead wood;

several generations of plants.