Polly Dyer – Seattle • Entered by Penelope Peterson on May 16, 2024
GOB Book Club
March 14, 2024 – March 14, 2024
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | 3.25 |
| Post Admin hours | |
| Activity Hours | 2 |
| Participants | 1 |
| Total Hours | 5.25 |
Key Issue: Climate Change
Activity Type: Education & Outreach (tabling, films & lectures, regional B-walks/works)
Key Partners: Polly Dyer Seattle Broads and a few Broads from other states
Short Description of Activity
For this session, we had read, Trees in Trouble: Wildfires, Infestations, and Climate Change by Daniel Matthews. I prepared the following questions to stimulate discussion:
Questions on Trees in Trouble: Wildfires, Infestations, and Climate Change by Daniel Matthews
In the acknowledgements, Matthews describes where the idea for his book came from. Do you recall that story?
“The idea for this book germinated over dinner with my beloved friend, Gary Braasch, an inspired nature photographer who rededicated his career to documenting the growing climate crisis…The book took a different form after Gary’s untimely death in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef.” He goes on to say that he longs to see the images that Gary would have produced so presumably the book was going to have photos. However, the focus is still on the effects of climate change on trees.
Matthews argues that fires and insects are agents of death for western trees in roughly equal measures. What is the insect that is responsible for 90% of these deaths?
Bark beetles
Are there any effective tools for fighting bark beetles? If so, what?
Aerial spraying of pheromones
Are bark beetles ever beneficial for trees? If so, how?
Pp. 83-85 Pest epidemics, like fires, renew forests, allowing youth and diversity to flourish anew.
Beetle survivors have been shown to be genetically superior to beetle victims.
What are some effects of drought on trees?
Trees are photosynthesizing less. Trees are growing more poorly.
Trees are investing less in plant defense.
In the chapter on “Cookie Cutters,” Matthews describes tree-ring research where researchers take cookie cutter slices of tree trunks. What do researchers use these for? What is a “catface?” Did you learn anything new from the discussion of the tree-ring research?
Are all wildfires equally devastating in their effects on forests? Why or why not? What type of fires are the most devastating? Are any wildfires beneficial?
Does Matthews present an argument for letting wildfires burn? If so, what is his argument? Do you agree or disagree with Matthew’s argument? Why or why not?
What is the most interesting thing you learned from reading this book?
What does Matthews see as the future for forests? What are some questions he thinks need to be addressed?
Do you have a question that you would like to ask the group?
Reflection/Evaluation
Seven Broads participated in this Book Club via Zoom. The book is particularly timely, given the number of devastating wildfires that have occurred over the last few years. We had a lively discussion.