 .:SOURIS RIVER/LONG CREEK & FARM PROTECTION PROGRAM
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TREE AND GRASS PLANTING CAMPAIGN FOR RIVER MARGINS & RIPERIAN PROTECTION
PURPOSE OF PROGRAM
Contain erosion and silt movement; absorb nutrient agro-chemical flows; promote watershed health; promote biodiversity; create local wildlife habitat and wildlife corridors; address climate change and landscape beautification; farmyard forestation strategies to lessen multiple contamination risks.
HOW IS THIS ACHIEVED?
Planting multi-variety trees and grass along river margins, water runs, marshes, dugouts, and other watersheds. Forestation at the farmyard including landfill forest caps, effluent irrigation woodlots, salinity reversal forestation, farmyard run off forest filters and wind breaks.
HELP International partnership with urban municipality programming in the watershed includes:
>River and stream margin forestation
>Salinity control forestation around municipal lagoons
>Living landfill forest caps and forest filters
>Effluent irrigation woodlots
>Biodiversity forest blocks
>Tree seedlings planted and mulched with
>Grass seeded in the inter-row space
BENEFITS
Water protection, reduced erosion, increased bio-diversity and beautification. Future industries for the farmer (native tree species can be harvested for health food and/or fruits. These include rose, saskatoon, buffaloberry, chokecherry, and many others). Other trees are being planted with wood harvesting in mind.
WHY IS THE PROGRAM POPULAR AND SUCCESSFUL?
Designed by farmers for farmers
Offers more varieties of trees than have ever been available: 30 species of native trees. These include deciduous shrubs (Rose, Caragana, Dogwood, Hawthorne, Lilac, Red elder, Seabuckthorn, Shrub Willow, Wolf Willow), berry trees (Buffaloberry, Chokecherry, Saskatoon, etc.), large deciduous (Green ash, Aspen, Cottonwood, Poplar-Walker-Manitou-Assiniboine, Oak, Maple, Acute Willow, Red Cedar, Paper Birch, Russian Olive, Siberian Crabapple, etc.), and evergreens (Blue and White Spruce, Pine, and Larch.)
Close to zero-maintenance tree program: To achieve zero-maintenance, plastic mulch is applied on top of trees at the time of planting.
At the same time, grass (typically creeping red fescue) is seeded between rows of trees. The high grass application rate (20lbs per acre) serves to create dense cover that will stop weed encroachment. The grass does not, however, compete with trees, as it becomes quickly root bound and goes dormant for most of the year.
HELP International provides:
>Machinery (tree planter, mulch machine)
>Delivery of trees on the day of planting
>Free technical advice and free books
>Two experienced laborers
>Free trees and grass seed
ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR
With the participation of more than 100 farmers, the program has successfully protected 250 km of stream margins. This is done by planting trees and grass or grass alone along watersheds.
LITERATURE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Books and pamphlets on trees and grass are available and will be provided to farmers free. These will help in the selection of tree species that best suit local conditions and outline the benefits associated with each tree variety.
WHAT IS A TYPICAL FARM TREE PLANTING?
To be effective, a minimum of 3 rows of trees is recommended: First Row: brush trees (plants); Second Row: berry trees; Third Row: large trees with brush trees in between.
TERMS OF AGREEMENT
No end use restriction, no caveats
Landowners agree to keep trees for at least 10 years.
A typical tree planting along a 1 km margin is 3 rows of trees that would convert one hectare of land to tree use. Typical distance between tree rows is 15 ft. Therefore, 3 rows of trees would require 40 Ft to be very well worked the fall before.
IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS:
Only land which is very well fine-tilled will qualify for this program. Rototilling is ideal. Otherwise, cultivating followed by 2-3 disc operations is required on stubble. Land MUST be as mellow as a well-worked garden.
Landowner is expected to provide:
>Two or three tractors to carry out tree planting, mulching and grass planting in one day.
>Four labourers.
>Fall and spring pre-cultivation, mowing between tree rows for the first year.
>Landowner allows donor sign and post-planting educational visits by donors/students.
>Landowner contributes 5 cents per foot per tree planting row. (1 km of 3 rows of trees would cost $ 487.50.)
Donor contribution of trees, mulch, grass seeds, labour and technical assistance for the same km equals:
$ 3,270.00 in trees
$ 800.00 in plastic mulch
$ 600.00 in labour/technical support
$ 4,670.00 Total
DONORS
This Program receives generous technical, material, or financial support from Environment Canada, CARDS/AESI, Saskatchewan Environment, Pheasants Forever, Shand Greenhouse, PFRA Shelterbelt Centre, Saskatchewan Watershed Authority, SaskEnergy, TD Friends of the Environment and other private donors.
Call now for a farm visit to help plan your tree program for the coming season!
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