02 Feb More on the State of Texas Trees

In December I offered to drive with a friend who was moving to a new home in Arizona.  The day we left there was a heavy fog and as we headed west out of Fredericksberg I was amazed by the number of dead trees on either side of the road.  It was surreal … like a tree mortuary on an eerie Halloween night … beware the Ents of Middle-earth have fought a great battle and lost. In the early evening dusk I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it, if I was just seeing dormant winter trees or if there were truly an unusual number of dead trees.

Then after returning from my holiday I read in Chris Searles Blog on Austin EcoNetwork about the Texas 2011 Drought and $93 Billion in Tree Losses.  It confirmed that I had not let my imagination run wild and indeed there were a huge number of dead trees in Texas.  In the blog he referenced the Texas Forest Service report concluding that “As many as 500 million trees scattered across the Lone Star State have died this year as a result of the unrelenting drought, according to preliminary estimates from Texas Forest Service.”  In the Texas Forest Service article Burl Carraway, Sustainable Forestry department head said, “Large numbers of trees in both urban communities and rural forests have died or are struggling to survive. The impacts are numerous and widespread.”

From his research Chris concludes a reasonable estimate is that an average tree represents a $932.50 value. Who among us hasn’t gone for a long walk in a forest, found peace and solace and recognize the value of trees? Trees sequester excess CO2 from automobiles, help build soil resources and prevent soil erosion.  Trees are not only part of the living web of organisms they represent long life and endurance.  

In the last few months of 2011 I heard an interview with Bernie Krause of Wild Sanctuary who shared the sounds from inside a living Cottonwood tree … it is worth a listen! It brings home the reality that great living organisms have been lost to us and considered along with other insect and animal species that are threatened or diminishing it highlights the need for environmental stewardship and awareness of the threats to our country and its natural resources.

Events in the past year show clearly that living patterns of today are not sustainable.  Change is necessary … it cannot be business as usual and yet that is exactly our weakness.  It is concerning to see industry’s huge sway over politicians. The water is starting to boil …