Canadian Gardening: Global warming and gardeners, 1 by Chilko

Chilko wrote:
Hey, growin...just got our satellite internet back so can spend time on line again (our pitiful telus connection was on a rampage of anywhere from 9 to 16 Kbps!!!).

Your question about re-planting is a good one and one that many people ask. The thing that no one who isn't directly involved can appreciate is the SCALE of the infestation. Literally millions and millions of hectares in B.C. alone...in fact, several million just in the Cariboo region. Replanting on that scale is physically impossible and economically unviable. Not only that, conifers planted now will take a minimum of 60 - 80 years to mature and with the planet changing so rapidy, no one can guess what species will be able to adapt.

For those who haven't seen a beetle-attacked forest, I've attached a picture taken about 4 years ago in the Vanderhoof area, when that area was first impacted. It's a lot worse now, of course.

The Boreal forest accounts for 1/3 of the world's conifers. Losing any large percentage will cause a drastic increase in global warming.

We have done a terrible thing to Gaia but she will survive our stupidity...will we?

Rosemary