Subject: Re: [Homestead] Forest fire, from The Understory
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 11:59:32 -0500
Very interesting, Gene.
There are some insufficiencies in grammar and some politically motivated
statement I don't agree with, but I like to read this kind of a study.
Can you explain what a "cloud forest" is?
Thanks.
Lynn
>This makes me rethink the demise of the dinos. Nah, probably a comet or a
>volcano.
>
>
>To: "Gene GeRue" <genegerue AT ruralize.com> Subject: The Overstory
>#161--Forest fire and biological diversity
>The Overstory #161--Forest fire and biological diversity
>By R. Nasi, R. Dennis, E. Meijaard, G. Applegate and P. Moore
>Publication date: September 26, 2005
snip
>INTRODUCTION
>Fire is a vital and natural part of the functioning of numerous forest
>ecosystems. Humans have used fire for thousands of years as a land
>management tool. Fire is one of the natural forces that has influenced
>plant communities over time and as a natural process it serves an
>important function in maintaining the health of certain ecosystems.
>However, in the latter part of the twentieth century, changes in the
>human-fire dynamic and an increase in El NiƱo frequency have led to a
>situation where fires are now a major threat to many forests and the
>biodiversity therein. Tropical rain forests and cloud forests, which
>typically do not burn on a large scale, were devastated by wildfires
>during the 1980s and 1990s (FAO, 2001).