DEMONSTRATION FOREST
Seas of Trees will be planting a 2,000 tree demonstration forest on private land adjacent to the Telluride Airport. Telluride Arborist will oversee the project and the permaculture design plan. Co-owner, Natalie Fijalkowski, of Telluride Arborist says,
“We are happy to be partnered with Seas Of Trees and the demonstration planting. Our strategy is to oversee the project to ensure the tree planting is successful. First, we want to make sure we get the right trees, in the right place. Second, we will make sure they are planted properly. Third, we will monitor their care. Tree planting requires a long-term commitment of resources and many years of monitoring. Some species in our region take five or more years to become established. We don’t see the project as just about tree planting. We see it as tree-growing.”
Forests everywhere are in jeopardy and here in Telluride sudden aspen decline, the invasive bark beetle, wildfires, and drought significantly threaten our forests. Even though it looks like you are surrounded by trees everywhere, if you look closer, the forests need our help. The demonstration forest will consist of local species including native quaking aspen, blue spruce, douglas fir, lodge pole, and ponderosa pine, and a few heritage apple trees grafted by the Apple Core project. Most of the saplings will be coming from the Colorado State University Extension Nursery.
Tim Erdman has offered his land, water and time to give root to the project adjacent to his Last Dollar Solar Garden.
Erdman is no stranger to efforts towards sustainability, renewable energy, and conservation. He has been supportive of all things carbon neutral in Telluride and beyond since the 1970’s. The energy generated from his 274Kw community solar garden on the property helps power the Telluride Airport, KOTO Radio, the Mountain School and several other local nonprofit organizations with renewable energy. “Demonstrating real, functioning, well-considered projects contribute to making our world better and help show the way to a brighter future.” Erdam notes. The demonstration forest will also be protected by an artful, one-of-a-kind photovoltaic fence system that will help to keep the resident Elk from grazing on the tender saplings in their first few years, while generating renewable, off-grid electricity as well.
It will be a community effort! Local Telluride Academy campers, and Telluride school students, and hopefully many other volunteers will be helping to plant and learn about reforestation while taking climate action. There will also be various planting events to allow locals and visitors to come up to the solar garden and get their hands in the dirt while helping Seas of Trees reach their goal of 2,000 trees planted locally this summer.
Planet Bluegrass has always been a huge supporter of Telluride valley, and continues to be longtime supporters of local organizations long after the final encore in the park each summer. This year's contribution will not only help offset some of the emissions created in producing the event, but also, the demonstration forest will leave a legacy, continue to sequester carbon, be a place of education and give us a new growth forest to study as the climate changes around us.