Shades Of Green: An Environmental And Cultural History Of Sitka Spruce
by Ruth Tittensor /
2016 / English / PDF
33.7 MB Download
This book takes a fresh look at the most disliked
tree in Britain and Ireland, explaining the reasons it was
introduced and why it became ubiquitous in the archipelagos of
northwest Europe.
This book takes a fresh look at the most disliked
tree in Britain and Ireland, explaining the reasons it was
introduced and why it became ubiquitous in the archipelagos of
northwest Europe.
Sitka spruce has contributed to the Pacific Coast landscapes of
North America for over ten millennia. For the Tlingit First Nation
it is the most important tree in terms of spiritual relationships,
art, and products in daily use such as canoes, containers,
fish-traps and sweet cakes. Since the late nineteenth century it
has also been the most important tree to the timber industry of
west coast North America.
Sitka spruce has contributed to the Pacific Coast landscapes of
North America for over ten millennia. For the Tlingit First Nation
it is the most important tree in terms of spiritual relationships,
art, and products in daily use such as canoes, containers,
fish-traps and sweet cakes. Since the late nineteenth century it
has also been the most important tree to the timber industry of
west coast North America.
The historical background to the modern use of Sitka spruce is
explored. The lack of cultural reference may explain negative
public response when treeless uplands in the UK and Ireland were
afforested with introduced conifer species, particularly Sitka
spruce, following two World Wars. The multipurpose forestry of
today recognizes that Sitka spruce is the most important tree to
the timber industry and to a public which uses its many products
but fails to recognize the link between growing trees and bought
goods.
The historical background to the modern use of Sitka spruce is
explored. The lack of cultural reference may explain negative
public response when treeless uplands in the UK and Ireland were
afforested with introduced conifer species, particularly Sitka
spruce, following two World Wars. The multipurpose forestry of
today recognizes that Sitka spruce is the most important tree to
the timber industry and to a public which uses its many products
but fails to recognize the link between growing trees and bought
goods.
The apparently featureless and wildlife-less Sitka spruce
plantations in UK uplands are gradually developing recognizable
ecological features. Sitka spruce has the potential to form
temperate rain forests this century as well as to produce
much-needed goods for society. The major contribution of Sitka
spruce to landscapes and livelihoods in western North America is,
by contrast, widely accepted. But conserving natural, old-growth
forests, sustaining the needs of First Nations, and producing
materials for the modern timber industry will be an intricate
task.
The apparently featureless and wildlife-less Sitka spruce
plantations in UK uplands are gradually developing recognizable
ecological features. Sitka spruce has the potential to form
temperate rain forests this century as well as to produce
much-needed goods for society. The major contribution of Sitka
spruce to landscapes and livelihoods in western North America is,
by contrast, widely accepted. But conserving natural, old-growth
forests, sustaining the needs of First Nations, and producing
materials for the modern timber industry will be an intricate
task.