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Post by redraven on Nov 14, 2010 18:18:33 GMT -1
It is interesting that one of the "markers" that signified the movement into the Neolithic in this country was a sudden decline of Elm trees as evidenced from pollen samples from this time. As far as I'm aware, I don't believe people at those times were equipped either technologically or through enough numbers to have singled out Elm for selective culling. And pollen samples are now an established way in which to better interpret conditions at any one time, much like the ice-cores from Greenland. The change of pollen numbers from any one time therefore, shows the natural changes taking place in that environment. Therefore, I'm inclined to think that the variance in tree numbers limitedly indicate prevailing or incoming climatic change, however this change has been arrived at. Of course, as Francis has pointed out, one of the differences this time, apart from more information being available to us for analysis, is the movement of plants and animals over much greater distances and spanning much shorter periods of times. One thing that is new, is our ability to better interpret this information and act upon it, if the will is there to move away from the over-riding economic priorities created by the manufactured North Atlantic recession at this time.
RR
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Post by arth_frown on Nov 14, 2010 18:23:58 GMT -1
Stephen, will it be in the invertebrates, bats, birds and Owls favour with all this dead wood around?
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Post by stefan on Nov 16, 2010 9:21:14 GMT -1
As fare as I'm aware some people are surmising dead forests create more pollution, so I'm not sure if anything will really benefit from loads of dead trees lying around? I guess here in the UK they can be cleared up and used for timber or fire wood. Wood burners may become more popular.
What I have also noticed supporting Francis comments about young trees surviving but dying early is that in hedgerows where the hedge is made up of various bushes, lots of the trees are dead. However where the hedge is trimmed and managed the hedge seems to be quite healthy? I was really puzzled about that?
What I am also wondering about looking at the bigger picture is that trees seem to be dying world wide. On this level I do still wonder how this will impact on human beings? I thought trees were the lungs of the planet?
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Post by Lee on Nov 16, 2010 10:41:17 GMT -1
As fare as I'm aware some people are surmising dead forests create more pollution, so I'm not sure if anything will really benefit from loads of dead trees lying around? I guess here in the UK they can be cleared up and used for timber or fire wood. Wood burners may become more popular. What I have also noticed supporting Francis comments about young trees surviving but dying early is that in hedgerows where the hedge is made up of various bushes, lots of the trees are dead. However where the hedge is trimmed and managed the hedge seems to be quite healthy? I was really puzzled about that? What I am also wondering about looking at the bigger picture is that trees seem to be dying world wide. On this level I do still wonder how this will impact on human beings? I thought trees were the lungs of the planet? dead trees will release CO2, not much esle of concern in terms of pollution and will also provide a nice little habitat for inverts. our we over estimating the impact here? yes trees are struggling that some people have observed, but we arent talking a literal die off of the worlds forests surely? only those in countries like our own where we do a lot of importing etc. yes they are the lungs, or lung, we also have the ocean too.
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Post by redraven on Nov 16, 2010 14:13:42 GMT -1
As fare as I'm aware some people are surmising dead forests create more pollution, so I'm not sure if anything will really benefit from loads of dead trees lying around? It has been shown that decaying timber supports about six times more life-forms than landscapes without any decaying materials. Wood burners may become more popular. Actually, most wood burning stove manufacturers are quoting a minimum of six weeks for delivery because of demand. I thought trees were the lungs of the planet? At best, they could be thought of as a lung, more CO2 is converted by ocean going microbes by far. RR
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