Section 3 Introduction
Completion requirements
Targets
At the end of this Unit you should be able to answer the following questions
3. What effect do people have on trees and forests?
3.1 Why have people changed the way they use forests?
3.2 How do we best manage forest resources?
"Cedar forests stretched for ten thousand leagues in every direction...they stood and gazed at the forest, at the mountain of cedars, at the dwelling place of the gods. The hugeness of the cedar rose in front of the mountain, its shade was beautiful, mountain and glen were green with brushwood."
Pixabay
Pixabay
While the above sounds like a description of the West Coast of British Columbia, in fact, the quotation is from the Epic of Gilgamesh. It describes Iraq (Mesopotamia) in 2750 BCE, about 5,000 years ago.
What happened to the trees in Iraq? In the story, Gilgamesh cut down the trees and Sumeria was cursed with fire and drought.
Therefore, in 2700 BCE, the first forest protection laws were made in Ur, Abraham's home. The laws were not enough to protect the forests because in 2100 BCE, Iraq was troubled by soil erosion and salt build up. Perhaps this is because when soldiers attacked a city, they killed the people, cut down the trees, and sowed the land with salt to prevent regrowth. The Iraq we know today is a desert.
What happened to the trees in Iraq? In the story, Gilgamesh cut down the trees and Sumeria was cursed with fire and drought.
Therefore, in 2700 BCE, the first forest protection laws were made in Ur, Abraham's home. The laws were not enough to protect the forests because in 2100 BCE, Iraq was troubled by soil erosion and salt build up. Perhaps this is because when soldiers attacked a city, they killed the people, cut down the trees, and sowed the land with salt to prevent regrowth. The Iraq we know today is a desert.
Pixabay
Pixabay
On the other hand, in the 1100s, England protected its forests. On its Crown land (land belonging to the king or queen), no one was allowed to hunt or cut down trees. The forests were preserved. England still has many trees today.
In some ways, the values we hold toward forests today are the same as various historical peoples. There is nothing new under the Sun. Yet, in other ways, we are learning more about trees every day. Our practices are always improving and changing as our knowledge increases. In this section, you will learn more about human impact on forests both positive and negative.
In some ways, the values we hold toward forests today are the same as various historical peoples. There is nothing new under the Sun. Yet, in other ways, we are learning more about trees every day. Our practices are always improving and changing as our knowledge increases. In this section, you will learn more about human impact on forests both positive and negative.