Wahkohtowin has been pressing forward on HAP since its founding. Learn more about this essential Ecosystem Service that will change the landscape to a more natural healthy state over time.
Equipped with Stihl brushing saws and pruners, the Guardians selectively cut back shrubs and other plants that could hinder the growth of young trees.
This summer, the Wahkohtowin Guardians, together with staff, conducted a HAP research trial focused on manual brushing—a forestry technique that removes competing vegetation around young trees, providing them with more access to sunlight, nutrients, and space to grow.
The trial, initiated in 2020 near Brunswick House First Nation, had Guardians remeasure over 500 tree seedlings four years later to assess the impacts of the manual brushing research trail. By comparing brushed plots with unbrushed (control) plots, they aimed to assess how this technique affects tree growth. Throughout the experiment, the team measured tree height, diameter at the root collar, and recorded plot locations with georeferencing to track the progress of these seedlings over time.
What is Manual Brushing and Why is it Important?
Manual brushing plays a key role in supporting forest regeneration by giving young trees better access to resources they need to grow. Unlike chemical herbicides, this sustainable approach helps maintain the health of surrounding ecosystems.
In practice, manual brushing involves carefully removing vegetation that competes with saplings and young trees. Equipped with Stihl brushing saws and pruners, the Guardians selectively cut back shrubs and other plants that could hinder the growth of young trees. By focusing only on the plants that limit tree development, manual brushing creates a more favorable environment for targeted tree species to thrive—all without using chemical herbicides that kill the surrounding vegetation that could be left standing.
Why is Manual Brushing Important?
Fast-growing shrubs and invasive plant species can crowd saplings, blocking sunlight and absorbing water and nutrients from the soil. By removing this competition, manual brushing gives young trees the best chance to grow strong and healthy. Unlike chemical herbicides, which reduce biodiversity and impact animals’ food sources, manual brushing minimizes harm to the ecosystem.
Using this approach, forest workers can carefully remove invasive species and fast-growing plants while preserving ground cover, medicinal plants, and habitats that wildlife need.
It also helps maintain a balanced ecosystem, supporting a wide variety of plants and animals in the boreal forest.
It Wasn’t All Work!
The manual brushing process also brought an unexpected bonus: an abundance of blueberries! Some of the Guardians were tasked with harvesting them, and these fresh blueberries were used to make cheesecakes for their graduation celebration, adding a personal and delicious touch to the event.
Image 5: Wahkohtowin Guardian Emily picking blueberries for their graduation desert
Takeaway Message!
Sustainability has many interpretations, but from an Indigenous perspective, it centers on the concept of All My Relations. This view emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things, highlighting the importance of respecting natural balance and understanding cause and effect. Recognizing and nurturing these connections is essential for maintaining harmony within the environment
For More Information:
If you're interested in learning more about how long glyphosate persists in the natural environment, take a look at a recent article discussing how glyphosate can remain in forest plant tissues for over a decade: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.698202/full
Written by: Stevie Luzzi, Forest Conservation Coordinator
Chi-miigwech for the fabulous article. It has once again opened the discussion for more positive outlooks. Nanaskomow Bill (Patucayapun)