CO2 is what vegetation needs to survive, but elevated levels of C02 are forcing vegetation to grow at an accelerated rate. Pre- industrial revolution C02 sat around 280 ppm. Today it has been registered at 419 ppm, 1 point shy of a 50% increase. For vegetation to be able to sustain growing at an accelerated rate, additional nutrients and water are required. They will damage their roots looking for it, and if absent, die. If the trees are as dry and brittle as I have shown them to be, then they are not sequesting the 3rd they historically have. Nothing can grow faster and bigger forever. They are switching from a carbon sink, to a carbon contributor.
I grew vegetation in WA State for over 5 years, supplementing it with CO2, and have been involved with many types of forestry. Western forestry practices aren't the only source we can gain information from. Indian country have used different things like grasses, needles, bark, roots and other material for weaving. I'm starting to work with Professor Greg Edell from the University of Washington to create an app to send out to a targeted audience in Indian country, asking if they've noticed differences in these materials.
Five examples of the uncharacteristic growth patterns of the pine needles - 1st. Pine needles were forest green. Today they're more of a gray green. 2nd. Cuticle covering leaves & needles, is absent. 3rd. Historically pine needles have developed in areas throughout the branch. Now they develop at the end of the branch. I found a sample in a park with 6 sections, representing 6yrs, resembling a bottlebrush. The pine needles in my area historically dropped after 2 years. I can bunch 8 needles and pull them apart into tiny pieces. I can hold a grip of needles between my hands, scrunch them, and turn them to powder.
Indian country has weaved with one pine needle at a time, forever. If they pulled apart too easily, they would not have been used. If they turned to powder when dry, they would not have been used. I believe this confirms that the cuticle, the waxy substance covering the needles, has disappeared. The news stations were talking about how many cones were on the ground in 2019. I went and looked and there were more trees with cones than should have had them. They know they are dying so they are trying to continue their species. I have pictures of trees 5' tall with cones on them, but there were no seedlings.
In 2019 I noticed seedlings pop up at the end of July. When I pulled them up, there were no lateral roots. I was telling this Chicken Farmer I used to get my eggs from, about not seeing seedlings. He said, "Now that you mention it, every Spring I would take a pair of loppers, go out and lop 1000 seedlings on my property, take a break, then lop another 1000.” He said he hadn't lopped a seedling in 4 years.
In 2020 - same height and girth, but they did put on more foliage.
In 2021 - same height, about 3", and girth, but they did put on more foliage.
The photos below show 3 years of growth 2019-2021. Notice the roots, tint, girth, and height are uncharacteristic. See photos.
One of the things that makes a pine tree fire resilient is that they shed their bottom branches. They are dying so fast they do not have time to shed them.
Branches historically grow straight out, then lean down. Today, every branch, on every tree, is reaching for the sun. See photo.
I was invited by the Institute of Tribal Environmental Professionals ITEP, to submit my observations that I presented at the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians ATNI Conference on Global Warming 2019. These observations will be published in their report due August of 2021, and again in the US National Climate Assessment NCA5 in 2023.
See the attached video that I created for the Institute. It is entitled "Observed Evidence of Changing Forests: Testimonial Status of Tribes and Climate Change Report".
The Intertribal Timber Council published my observations last week in the largest forestry magazine on the West Coast called The Western Forester; a publication of the Society of American Foresters.
I noticed the insects disappear around the nightlights in 2019. Some of my observations were published in the Spokesman Review August 2020. See attached article: "The bottom has just dropped out."
I would like to acknowledge Andy Perleberg, a Forestry Professor at Washington State University, for believing in me.
Pinus ponderosa