I have been getting double messages about the benefits/problems with trees as a source of water retention.

On one hand is the arguement that volumns of water are extracted from the ground water and released in the air, thus drying the ground.

On the other hand, and my own experience, is the arguement that trees provide shade, thus cooling the ground and restricting evaporation.

I have seen the results of clear-cutting forests. The ground dries out, ferns die, rhododendrons die, moss' die.....and then when it does rain the water runs off instead of being retained by natural vegetation.

What are your thoughts? beer
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Agendas kill truth.
If it's a crop, plant it.