Both passersby and longtime residents are likely to notice that active forest management efforts will begin in the next few weeks on the grounds of the Alma College Ecological Station, better known as “the Bog,” near the town of Vestaburg.

No need to worry, say Alma faculty. The college is working to restore a more diverse, native ecological community that will sustain and enhance the bog for generations to come and allow students to continue studying an interesting and unique resource in the field of science.

“Sometimes the things we do can look destructive when in fact they are very constructive,” said John Rowe, William R. Angell Professor of Biology at Alma College. “There are many rational questions about why we are doing this, and we want to reassure everyone that it is being done for the right reasons – the most important of which is that we have an aging forest that is evolving in a number of ways that are affecting its ecological value and long-term health.”

Currently, Rowe explained, large portions of the forest consist of deteriorating bigtooth aspens, a sparse number of forest plants and an overabundance of tree species that thrive in shady, static conditions, such as American beech and red maple trees.

If no action is taken, Rowe said, these trees will continue to dominate other species in the forest. However, if sustainable removal of the dying trees is carried out, a greater diversity of tree, shrub and plant species of different ages will develop in areas where sunlight can reach the forest floor and a surge of dynamic, new growth can occur.

Rowe said a key goal is to add more native oaks, hickories and other tree, shrub and plant species – both naturally and through planting – that provide disproportionate benefits throughout the food chain. The end result will be a healthier, more lush forest that supports a greater diversity of wildlife.

The current shady, static conditions also encourage the spread of invasive species in the forest, Rowe said. Removing the invasive species and replacing them with more beneficial native species will improve the diversity of grassland birds and other wildlife, which have declined in recent years. Part of the forest will be managed to be a “legacy forest” that includes some of the oldest and most magnificent trees on the property, Rowe added.

“Until now we have been cautious in our management of the peatland, but the global trend is now towards a more proactive approach to addressing the myriad challenges facing our woodlands today,” said Rowe. “A more diverse environment means a healthier environment, which will lead to a more sustainable peatland that will continue to benefit our students well into the future.”

Work is scheduled to begin in October and be completed in spring 2025. It will be overseen by Natural Capital Forestry, an East Lansing-based forestry consulting firm focused on maximizing long-term forest health. Short-term impacts to the property’s aesthetics from the forest management work will be minimized by establishing adjacent “buffer zones” between the affected areas.

The bog property has been used by Alma College faculty and students since the late 1800s to study animals, fungi, plants and aquatic life, said Brian Doyle, associate professor of biology and biochemistry. The bog is at the center of the college grounds, a dead-ice lake formed by glaciers that acted like giant bulldozers during the Ice Age. The bog is immediately surrounded by the more common wetlands, mature forests with some characteristics of old-growth forests, secondary forest areas and abandoned agricultural fields.

The lake and moor areas were acquired by the university in 1966 and have since been gradually expanded so that they currently cover a total area of ​​222 acres.

“The Bog may be something of a hidden gem for the Central Michigan region,” Doyle said. “But for many years, faculty have brought their students to the site for a variety of courses and research experiences.

“We study everything there from ecology to chemistry to biology. And when we ask the students after they graduate about their best experiences during their time at Alma, they often mention their time at the Bog.

“It’s true that our students learn relevant scientific skills on the bog that they can take into the professional world. But what stands out even more, in my opinion, is that they get hands-on experience, knee-deep in mud. That’s what you really take with you when you leave – and through this proactive forestry work, we hope to preserve it,” Doyle added.

Originally published: August 11, 2024 at 9:53 am