 |
You are here: PFRA Online > Shelterbelt Centre > Publications
FOREST BELTS
What is a Forest Belt?
A forest belt is a field shelterbelt consisting of at least 3
rows of trees or
shrubs. Forest belts serve the same purpose as field
shelterbelts, but create
a forest environment between the rows when the tree canopy
closes. The PFRA
Shelterbelt Centre in Indian Head is currently conducting a Green
Plan project
to establish 10 demonstration forest belts in Saskatchewan.
Why would I want a Forest Belt?
- Forest belts reduce soil erosion, trap snow, and increase
crop yields better
than regular shelterbelts, because they are denser and are less
likely to have
gaps in them.
- Increase Biodiversity - Forest belts harbour insects, birds,
wild flowers,
mammals and mushrooms.
- Reduce Global Warming - Forest belts use much more C02 (the
No. 1 greenhouse
gas) than regular shelterbelts.
- Provide Direct Income - Forest belts give the farmer
opportunity to harvest
fruit products, pulp, lumber, maple syrup and much more.
- Long Term Shelter - Forest belts are comprised of many
species with varied
lifespans. Dead trees can be removed and replaced without
leaving gaps, so
shelter is maintained.
What does a Forest Belt look like?
A typical forest belt is designed so that taller species are in
the middle and
shorter species are on the outside. For easy maintenance,
demonstration forest
belts are planted into plastic mulch and grass is sown between
the rows.
What species are planted in a Forest Belt?
Forest belts are designed to include both fast-growing and
long-lived species
to ensure they provide shelter benefits for the longest possible
time. Some
species included in forest belts are:
| Species | Use |
|---|
| Scots pine | lumber,wildlife, crop shelter |
| White spruce | lumber,wildlife, crop shelter |
| Colorado spruce | lumber,wildlife, crop shelter |
| Siberian larch | lumber, rails, posts |
| Green ash | specialty wood, crop shelter |
| Manitoba Maple | specialty wood, maple syrup,crop shelter, nesting
|
| Siberian elm | specialty wood, crop shelter, nesting |
| Hybrid poplar | lumber, pulp |
| Bur oak | specialty wood |
| Russian olive | specialty wood, wildlife |
| Caragana | specialty wood, crop shelter, wildlife |
| Choke Cherry | specialty wood, fruit, wildlife |
| Buffaloberry | fruit, wildlife |
| Sea-buckthorn | fruit, wildlife |
| Mongolian cherry | fruit, wildlife |
| High bush cranberry | fruit, wildlife |
| Hazelnut | fruit, wildlife |
| Rose | fruit, wildlife |
| Saskatoon | fruit, wildlife |
| Pin cherry | fruit, wildlife |
Note: Some species listed above are not produced by the
Shelterbelt Centre
Where can I see a Forest Belt?
Ten demonstration forest belts have been established in the
province. They can be seen at:
- Canwood - 5 miles Northeast of town - 1993
- Birch Hills - 1 mile East on Highway #3
- Zealandia - 2 miles North on Highway #7
- Ruddell - 2 miles West on Highway #16
- Weyburn - 4 miles East on Highway #13
- Weyburn - 12 miles South on Highway #39
- Kenaston - mile South on Highway #11
- Duck Lake - 1 miles North on Highway #11
- Fort Qu'Appelle - 2 miles West on Highway #10
- Waldeck - 4 miles East on Highway #1
|
