A collection of articles, videos, and resources that inform our practice and keep us excited about forest regeneration and silvopasture systems.
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Structurally complex forests are better at carbon sequestration
Forests in the eastern United States that are structurally complex sequester more carbon than structurally simple forests.
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10+ years of forest restoration with the Flock Finger Lakes
See what a 10+ year sequential restoration looks like with the Director of Natural Areas of Cornell Botanic Gardens, Todd Bittner.
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Bringing back an American icon: the Chestnut tree
Billions of American Chestnut trees used to grow in America—and then a fungal blight spread throughout its native range. Efforts are underway to bring them back.
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How to accelerate forest succession
Learn more about the stages of converting a homogenous forest into a thriving ecosystem.
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Integrating sheep into timber stands
This 7min video shows how to integrate sheep into a regenerative pine timber operation and utilize forage in power easements.
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The many benefits of forest thinning
The second half of this video shows how regenerating forests benefits native ecosystems.
More on silvopasture
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Shade options for pasture-based grazing systems
Shade is a must for pasture-based grazing systems. It curtails heat stress, which is detrimental to cattle and causes a decrease in milk production, feed intake, weight gains, and fertility.
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The Impact of Shade on Cattle Performance in the Florida Panhandle
This study shows a marked effect on animal performance when cattle are provided with some basic heat mitigation options.
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Evaluating the potential and soil carbon sequestration in silvopastures
The adoption of silvopasture is used on both small and large scales in meeting high global demand in forage productivity for human and livestock consumption.
In progress
This is a stand of pine trees on my own property. The forest structure used to be very uniform — there were only three species of trees, and they were mostly the same height. Many had dead tops. I felled the undesirable trees, rotated my pigs through, and seeded five species of grasses behind them. New trees — including persimmons and oaks — have already begun to sprout from the ground.
In a few years, the remaining pine trees will be excellent for timber. The native ecosystem in this patch of woods is already more complex and diverse than it was before management.