Smithsonian - Perishable Pundit

--^i'liunterw eight jihI ...itl jibAAAAAAAAAAAAAAÁÁAAAAAAyWVWWX,[40]The leafy tops of tall trees in an old-growth forest form a canopy, a nurturing shelter for the life below Canopycranes allow scientists to research this hard-to-reach environment. There are currently 10 canopy cranes aroundthe world, but the Wind River Canopy Crane in Washington State is the tallest at 282 feet, and covers six acresunder its swing. Illustration by Bob Van Pelt, courtesy Wind River Canopy Crane Research FacilityTREE DOCTORSMany Forest Service scientists arc ac tivcbinvolved in research to promote the health oítrees and other plants, covering the fields ofbotany, chemistry, ecology, silviculture, plantand animal interactions, vegetation dynamics,invasive plants, insect population, and moleculargenetics These researchers often act as treedoctors, tackling threats to plants and trees innational forests and grasslands, and employinga variety of tools. |ust as your personal physi-( 1 .1 1 1 has to look at your entire body and lifestyleto understand your health problems, treedoctors need to look at the forest as a whole.For example, the Pacific NorthwestResearch Station and GifFord Pinchot NationalI orest work 111 partnership with the Universityof Washington to conduct research at the WindRiver Canopy Crane. From the gondola of a250-toot (25-story) crane, employees such asKick Meinzer and David Shaw conduct experiments111 the canopies ot trees as tall as 220 feet.They look at the place where the forest is opento the sky, because that's where trees bud andphotosynthesis occurs. Scientists study the effectot lichens and fungi, and measure the effectsof pollutants on trees. For Meinzer, the canopycrane provides an opportunity for understandinghow plants work. "A lot ot people tend to regardplants as inert objects, and they're surprisedthey have aphysiology. But when you reallyget into it. it's amazing how complex and howintegrated plants are. That's what fascinates me."DEVELOPING FOREST PRODUCTSScientific research often contributes to thedevelopment ot new forest products. Theforest product that most often comes tomind is lumber, but there are a number otnon-timber forest products as well, winch areused by the residents ot forest communities.Examples include foods such as mushrooms;medicinal plants such as ginseng and ginkgo:floral products that include moss, vines, ferns,and evergreens; and the wood used in decorationsand crafts. In some places, non-timberforestproducts provide more employmenttor a local community than timber cutting.SMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL