Environment Effects

A full half-page news photo shows author Harley Rustad in the logged forest

on Vancouver Island, visiting the subject of his book,
 the huge ancient Douglas Fir.

Big Lonely Doug is a story about the second largest Douglas Fir tree in Canada,

that is about much more than one tree.

It is an education in modern forestry and an insight into how naturally occurring forests work versus the second-growth versions that are planted by the hand of humankind.

In Big Lonely Doug, the author paints a picture of a man who has a conscience and a heart, despite his history as a forest surveyor for 'big timber'. Dennis Cronin was responsible for 'fir flagging areas' to be clear cut, One day back in 2011, while surveying a first-growth timber stand near Port Renfrew, on British Columbia's Vancouver Island, he stopped short at the base of a massive Douglas fir. He flogged it for preservation, and by doing so, he managed to change the history of B.C.'s forestry industry.

If you love trees as we do, you will be interested to learn

that the forests of British Columbia are denser with biomass

than forests found in the tropics where the greater heat breaks down dead matter more quickly. A fallen log in the B.C. Rainforest can take over a century to break down. Rustad explains that in 1997, a University of B.C. Professor, Susan Simard published a study through her tests, using a Geiger counter that sugars were created by the tree in exchange for carbon dioxide ~ and as the sugars travelled down the tree's trunk into the ground, they were dispersed into a network of nycorrhizal fungi and up into the neighbouring trees. The strands of fungi were, in fact, tubes of a superhighway tunnel system, a massive underground network that connected trees together. Thus it was determined that Big Lonely Doug on his own, supported 42 smaller trees within its underground reach.

Fact is, there is now hope for the remaining old-growth forest

and much of the reforested land across the country.

In reading Harley Rustad's book, we discovered a deeper meaning for saving our forests and every tree...for replenishing 'clear cuts...' and reforesting our cities as well.

Agave's Last Gasp

“Go see it soon before it's out of bloom for another decade,” writes Kathy Renwald

in her recent Special to The Hamilton Spectator.

Go straight past the primulas...scurry left beyond the succulents...and witness the last gasp of the agave. Horticulture people are usually pretty pleased when plants bloom ~ and not so much when they die. That emotion is turned on its head at the Royal Botanical Gardens this month as the Agave is putting on its swan song. This beautiful plant, native to southeastern Mexico, needs a full 8 to 10 years to produce its one flower. “It's right on schedule,” says Alex Henderson, curator of collections, as he notes the RBG added this plant to the Mediterranean Garden in 2008. “This is the first time I've seen this particular plant in flower,” says Henderson (6-foot 4) and the flower stalk on the Agave is twice as tall as he is. It's pushing skyward in the greenhouse, surrounded by gorgeous cacti and succulents.

Clearly, the 'star of the show'

At least 25 clusters bloom from the bottom up...beginning with sulpher yellow wisps. Agaves are too important to go extinct. After all, this is a plant that produces twine, rope, mats, brushes and and also tequila. Nearly the whole plant (including the stalk, flowers, leaves and sap is edible).

The Planting of Trees

Brazilian, Antonio Vicente is a man who cares about nature. He proved that over 4 decades ago, when he used a government grant to start reforestation of a small section of land that was once 'rain forest'. The grant was supposed to be used to promote agriculture, but Vicente could see the danger in clearing land, so he did the opposite: he planted trees on his 31-hectare (77 acres) plot. Through his efforts over the decades, the rainforest reappeared ~ complete with birds, animals and water sources.

Climate Fact (8,000 Years Ago)

Adapted to a Desert Climate

The desert presented an evolutionary challenge for the inhabitants of Sahul, the continent that once united Australia, New Guinea and Tasmania. After the ancestors of modern Aboriginals made the crossing to Sahul around 50,000 years ago, they developed adaptations that allowed them to survive below freezing-temperatures at night ~ and days of often exceeding 100 degrees F.

Nature Consciousness

“For the first time in human history, our environmental impacts are happening at a scale that is affecting all life on Earth. Our list of globally threatened wildlife populations are declining. In Canada, iconic wildlife like caribou are in trouble...and the Atlantic whitefish, perhaps Canada's most endangered species, may be doomed to extinction. Our current environmental issues ~ from climate change to to bio-diversity loss ~ are all the result of many collective impacts. However, there are examples of hope: The number of protected areas continue to grow.

The total area of parks and protected areas now tops over 20 million km, or about 15% of the planet's lands and inland waters.

Historical Investment in Canadian Conservation

The Government of Canada continued to support private land conservation efforts through the Natural Areas Conservation Program. It also announced $1.3 billion over 5 years to protect Canada's lands, oceans and wildlife including a $500-million Canada Nature Fund in helping Canada's commitment to protect at least 17% of our lands and 10% of our oceans by 2020.

Keeping Fish in the Sea

Between 2016 and 2018, the amount of marine protected areas in the world has increased from 10.2 per cent to 16.8 per cent. Many important initiatives were in place to reduce unsustainable practice.

If you Conserve and Restore it, They Will Come

Many species will return if we protect and restore their habitats and reduce critical threats to their populations. Already, we've seen the return of swift foxes in Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Big Hope in a Small Package

Fewer than100 Poweshiek skipperling butterflies remain in Canada. This small butterfly is restricted to southeastern Manitoba and a site near Flint, Michigan. This precarious population got just a little larger when the Assiniboine Park Conservancy Conservation and Research Department successfully released 6 captive-reared butterfles at NCC's Tall Grass Prairie Natural area.

Key Biodiversity Areas to Guide Conservation

Many conflicts between resource development and conservation occur because important areas for nature have not been identified early in the planning process. In Canada, Important Bird Areas and some fresh-water KBA;s were announced with more to be identified by the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada...WWL Canada...and Ducks Unlimited Canada.

Technology can also allow everyone to Participate in Conservation

The foregoing assembled by Merle Baird-Kerr...February 6, 2019

To respond: mbairdkerr@bell.net or inezkate@gmail.com