In 1989 Harvard University Press published the book A Forest Journey, a history of human civilizations from the Sumerians to the present _revealing that without vast supplies of wood from forests, the great civilizations of Sumer, Assyria, Egypt, Crete, Greece, Rome, the Islamic World, Western Europe, and North America would never have emerged. Never. The book was recognized as a Harvard Classic in Science and World History and listed as one of the university’s One Hundred Great Books. Its author, John Perlin, continued his research and field work over the next 25 years and when asked by Patagonia to update the book in light of the escalating climate crisis, he was well prepared to do so.
In this talk, John Perlin presents his book ‘A Forest Journey: The Role of Trees in the Fate of Civilization’. The 2023 edition of the book concludes with two new chapters on the importance of mature and old-growth forests for our survival. The ability of trees to remove co2 from the atmosphere and sequester it safely in soils and roots is now well known. But the role of trees in keeping the Earth temperate by emitting water into the atmosphere, reducing heat and supplying rain to distant areas cannot be underestimated in a world where drought and warming increase exponentially. John Perlin reminds us, “Humanity needs trees more than ever before. But this time intact.”
Presented by Biodiversity for a Livable Climate and GBH Forum Network
– Contents of the video –
0:00:00 – Introduction
0:01:00 – Welcome Remarks
0:04:00 – John Perlin Presentation
0:17:57 – Discussion Start
1:11:09 – Closing Remarks
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An interesting topic. The turpentine industry of the early 19th century decimated the pine forests here in the Carolinas, and the environmental impact remains today. I know that prehistoric ocean sediments played a large role in shaping our Carolina Sandhills ecosystem, but I wouldn't be surprised if desertification resulting from 18th and 19th century logging practices wasn't a contributing factor, too. Thanks for sharing this. 🌳🍃