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A review by renae064
Trees in Trouble: Wildfires, Infestations, and Climate Change by Daniel Mathews
I picked up this book because I'm interested in how climate change affects wildfires and because I live in the American West, but I really knew nothing about trees or forest management. I couldn't even tell the difference between pine, spruce, cedar, and fir.
That said, this book was incredibly informative. I got lost once in a while, especially when "low-severity," "mixed-severity," and "high-severity" got thrown around with all the other fire terms, and I had to image search many, many trees, plants, and birds to better visualize what was going on (but I enjoyed that part). However, I loved the chapters on bark beetles, how scientists are breeding resistant trees, dendrochronology, and the longevity of the Great Basin bristlecone pines. I also appreciated discussions of how best to fire-proof homes and reduce wildfire risk to communities.
This is a book everyone should read, especially those who live in the West. Even if you think it doesn't, wildfire affects everyone, whether directly from fire or less directly from air pollution and wildfire smoke or contaminated water supplies. Also, trees are just interesting :)
As an aside, I loved the ending reference to shinrin'yoku. I've studied Japanese culture for years and never heard of this.
That said, this book was incredibly informative. I got lost once in a while, especially when "low-severity," "mixed-severity," and "high-severity" got thrown around with all the other fire terms, and I had to image search many, many trees, plants, and birds to better visualize what was going on (but I enjoyed that part). However, I loved the chapters on bark beetles, how scientists are breeding resistant trees, dendrochronology, and the longevity of the Great Basin bristlecone pines. I also appreciated discussions of how best to fire-proof homes and reduce wildfire risk to communities.
This is a book everyone should read, especially those who live in the West. Even if you think it doesn't, wildfire affects everyone, whether directly from fire or less directly from air pollution and wildfire smoke or contaminated water supplies. Also, trees are just interesting :)
As an aside, I loved the ending reference to shinrin'yoku. I've studied Japanese culture for years and never heard of this.