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The Journeys of Trees

a Story About Forests, People, and the Future
Aug 25, 2020JLMason rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
The stories of the Florida Torreya and of the Giant Sequoias are woven throughout the chapters of this book about the threats facing forests and individual trees species, and what this might mean to humanity. Species have come and gone, moved north and south with glaciation, and evolved to succeed under new conditions. However, the speed of change due to climate change, invasive species, introduced pests and diseases, and loss of suitable habitat means that trees are dying because they cannot move or adapt fast enough. The plight of the Torreya and Sequoia, the boreal forest, ashes, elms, and chestnuts illustrates the intervention decisions facing conservationists: assisted migration, relocation, genetic modification, and introduced counterpests - any of which could have unforeseen effects on local ecologies. The Journeys of Trees covers evenhandedly the pros and cons of intervening to save trees, but makes it quite clear what we will be losing.