Landscape culture. The ten students in the maple production program at the Coatecoek Vocational Training Center – CRIFA will soon discover their new playground, the Forêt Hereford martelodrome.
For the uninitiated, a hammerhead is a forested area identified after proper inventory. The construction at Chemin de la Slouce was completed at the end of September. “It’s basically an outdoor laboratory for our students,” says Barbara LeBlanc, maple production teacher. The goal is to notice the defects and diseases that affect trees in a tangible way so that we can identify them and know their danger. In our case, we also want to study the impact of these diseases on spring flows. »
The site is divided into two half-acre lots. There are 98 trees in each. Maple is found in the majority, along with companion species, such as yellow birch, cherry and ash.
This part that was theoretical in the classroom can now largely be taught in the field. “The practical aspect is really important. If students can identify and care for healthy trees, they will have a balanced maple grove. Being on the ground will help us understand the ecosystem better.”
The Hammerodrome is set back from the Forêt Hereford footpaths. However, if people venture there, they should not be surprised to see that each of the trees in this area is numbered. “We might want to develop a little itinerary for our site to explain what we’re doing. We could put up a sign and tell us the goal of the project,” the teacher says.
work as one team
The creation of Hammer is the result of teamwork. The Coaticook CFP team received assistance from forest technologists and technicians from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Sylvain Gagnon and Jean-Marc Bilodeau. The Appalachian Forest Development Organization, cooperatives, and forest technician Arno Martin also participated in its creation. “By drawing on everyone’s strengths, we succeed in putting together a strong project,” believes Barbara LeBlanc.
The project may also undergo a second phase. “In the meantime, the University of Sherbrooke and the Faculty of Applied Geography can help us by creating a database at each of our sites. This will enrich our project and push our data collection even further.”
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