So called "SALVAGE and RESTORATION (of a forest) by my good friend critic
from - Texas Don Staples who keeps taking me to task is addressed here.

As the story goes with respect to the plight of the Koala, humans are
breaking too many connections too fast. As a result many living things are
leaving this earth. If this trend continues, only microscopic living things
will remain, and the circle of life will go back to beginning. Dr. Alex L.
Shigo. The

The plight of this partially blind koala [see picture he #431
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT20...itis/fire.html ] is due to
ignorance of tree basics. Koalas eat the leaves of only about six species
of Eucalyptus. Man loved the koala's so much, he built his homes close to
the Eucalyptus Groves because he wanted to be close to them. But, the
Eucalyptus Groves go up very fast and burn very hot. So, out of the
ignorance of tree biology, man dug fire trenches. In doing so, the trees
were injured below ground (woody and non-woody roots - for starters). When
trees are threatened or injured - they do something - they respond. Because
of the fire ditches to reduce the threat of fire and over development, most
of the leaves on the declining trees in the area tanned. Tanning is a
chemical process of combining phenol-based substances with proteins, and the
disruption of hydrogen bonds leaves the protein indigestible. In one sense
the hydrogen bonds, are held open by toothpicks. The enzymes of the koala
would enter to digest the leaves. Tanning is like, removing the toothpicks.
The animals ate and ate, but received little nutrition. Lots of moisture,
wet spot developed. A spirochete similar to syphilis entered and was passed
along by mating. Many koalas died. The good news is that development in the
area was not only stopped, but many developed areas will be returned to
their original state.

With that said, I think the treatment to once fertile forest, yes even in
Texas, such as Don Staples refers to as "SALVAGE AND RESTORATION" per his
website, is deforestation. You cannot plant a forest. Yes, I claim he is a
crook, to sell people removing everything remaining is restoration by means
of salvaging and leads to some sort of improvement of health of trees as
well as associates. http://www.livingston.net/dstaples/Services/salvage.htm

I wondered what function wood would play in PROTECTING A FOREST containing
any species of trees. So I read some publications that were peer-reviewed
in refereed journals. The US FOREST SERVICE has a awesome library system.
The researchers are some of the finest in the world. So I decided to
document these findings. I prophesize that negative results will happen if
Don's salvaging plans are carried out.
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT20...tis/index.html I tried to
give page, paragraph and so forth where quotes can be found.

Please think. There is no reason why you cannot think. BTW, all parts of a
tree are born alive and trees only absorb water when the roots are growing.
This is the beginning of a response to a year of negative criticism from Don
Staples and company. There has been a long time battle between Modern
Arboriculture and Old Arboriculture in Texas.

--
Do to the overwhelming amount a negative criticism by a few individuals on
this list, I am "only" willing to get into debate by way of email. I have a
background in tree biology, my negative critics do not. I am willing to
answer any questions you may have. If I do not have the answer I know where
to get it, based on a thorough understanding of tree biology. Contact me at
A good foundation for understanding trees,
associates and treatments, can be found he www.shigoandtrees.com Most
topics, correct planting, mulching, pruning and fertilization can be found
at www.treedictionary.com

Happy gardening!

Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Tree Biologist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.
Some people will buy products they do not understand and not buy books that
will give them understanding.