The Trees are Sick

We’re even seeing the effects of this here in South Carolina, with our ash trees that have been decimated. It’s incredibly sad to think about how forests in North America have undergone so much transition already because of human effects, from farming and development to unintended consequences of our capitalist culture. I do worry about what forests might look like in the coming decades if we don’t intentionally think about our own actions and figure out a way (besides just using pesticides) to address these issues.

The Overlapping Plagues Quietly Devastating American Forests – The New York Times:

The trees are sick.

Epidemics are escalating, across numerous species, as more and more pests and pathogens invade forests. Their entryway is global trade — in live plants, and in the countless products that are shipped in wooden pallets, crates and other packaging. As trade has boomed, so have the opportunities for tiny stowaways to wreak havoc.