Bryant RedHawk wrote:As you mention using plant protectors is a costly affair when talking about using thousands of them.
Jeanine Brought up the most permaculture idea and method, which is to invite natural predators to the area, let them take care of the rodents for you.
This also is a large step in getting the area back to the proper ecosystem, once the rodent population is under control, the excess predators will go else where for hunting,
If you are planting thousands of trees, some will die naturally anyway, so instead of wasting money on an item that will require extra time both to install and then again to remove, why not use those funds for even more trees.
As long as you are providing the right conditions for prey, the predators will come, all they need is an environment that allows them easy hunting. Mulching with leaves, like a natural forest floor has, and a water source nearby, is probably all the environment snakes need to thrive.
Redhawk
This.
I spoke with my forester friend in that part of Peru, and he said the economics of plant protectors just don't make sense there.
He's planted thousands of timber and fruit species in multiple sites, and says that rodents aren't really a problem like they are in North America. He's had more problems with leaf cutter ants defoliating saplings, which usually regrow anyway but can be prevented using a plastic water bottle around the trunk.