1) Why do humans like trees/forests?
2) Examples of 3 reasons why past global societies revered trees
Respect for survival, Longevity
Human values codified as behavior rules
Traditional Science, Political, Culture, Religion – transmittal intergeneration knowledge of nature/society/rules of behavior
3) Today we revere pretty things & less past types of reverences
4) Global conflicts over resources/land due to how we revere or see nature:
Conflicting values;
Resource use preferences;
Eviction of indigenous communities
1
Why do humans like trees/forests?
Why do HUMANS value Trees /
Forests and have a
PSYCHOLOGICAL link to them??
OR WE COULD ASK THE
QUESTION:
Why don’t you have a psychological link to a grass or shrub??? I am talking about this type of grass!!
TREES and HUMANS
Reasons why past societies revered trees:
1. Respect for survival & tree longevity [if you live to old age, you are doing something right]
2. Human values codified as behavioral rules in nature centric societies
3. Traditional science, culture, political, religious enlightenment [transmittal of intergenerational knowledge of nature/society/rules of behavior all connected] 2
1. Respect for survival & tree longevity - seasonal cycles of life – young seedling, mature tree, old growth, death [if you live to old age, you are doing something right since life was harsh] 1. Respect for survival & tree longevity
PAST: Tree cults glorified the fertility, strength, longevity & survival of specific species of trees
What is a typical old age of a tree in Washington state??
50 years?
100 years? 1,000 years? In comparison, how long do humans live?? How many human generations for 1,000 year old tree??
3
1. Respect for survival & tree longevity
How old is this tree???
Would
you believe? > 1,000 years The famous Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) tree-ring specimen from Broken