The biologist’s ambitious plan is to replace the charred trees with English oaks, Quercus robur, which are native to Ukraine and Europe. A virulent root fungus has already wiped out many of Kharkiv’s Scots pines, causing them to shed their orange bark. “Oaks encourage biodiversity. They help mycelium growth and are good for insects and birds,” he said. Bengus, along with a group of volunteers, is now attempting to restore the forest. Why bother, given that Russian forces might come back and with fighting continuing a mere 12 miles away? “The oaks will take 25 years to reach maturity. But I’m certain the forest will survive. I’m more optimistic now than before. Where we are standing will be Ukraine,” he said. To Mr Bengus and all intrepid volunteers: Дякую! https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/31/ukraine-volunteers-saving-kharkiv-war-charred-woodland https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Quercus+robur https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/english-oak/
Just 25 years? Unbelievable! Here the Forest Act forbids cutting of oak forests, that are younger than 100 years. Ukraine is somewhat warmer and oaks probably grow faster, but maturity at 25 years is still very unlikely.
Particularly with horticultural writing - with the reporting of what Bengus said kind of is, since the topic is planted trees rather than spontaneous - sizes or specimens well below full development are rather often deemed "mature". For instance, 10-year-old Japanese maple and conifer cultivars being said to be demonstrating their "mature sizes".
It's not a good idea to plant a forest of only all oaks, or plant a big grove of a hundred oak trees close together. Oaks do not grow like that in nature, and when humans have tried this, it's common for disease to come through and take out all the oaks.
Agree - but it's also true that oaks can start bearing acorns by 25 years (and occasionally even much younger), so they are physiologically mature in the sense of being capable of reproduction.
