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The American chestnut was one of America's most common, valued, and beloved trees-a "perfect tree" that ruled the forests from Georgia to Maine. But in the early twentieth century, an exotic plague swept through the chestnut forests with the force of a wildfire. Within forty years, the blight had killed close to four billion trees and left the species teetering on the brink of extinction. It was one of the worst ecological blows to North America since the Ice Age-and one most experts considered beyond repair. In American Chestnut, Susan Freinkel tells the dramatic story of the stubborn optimists who refused to let this cultural icon go. In a compelling weave of history, science, and personal observation, she relates their quest to save the tree through methods that ranged from classical plant breeding to cutting-edge gene technology. But the heart of her story is the cast of unconventional characters who have fought for the tree for a century, undeterred by setbacks or skeptics, and fueled by their dreams of restored forests and their powerful affinity for a fellow species.… (més)
I was recommended this book by my mother, an ardent gardener and lover of nature. From the start I was curious about it, and over the course of her reading it she shared many little tidbits here and there that only further piqued my interest. I was lucky enough to grab it from the library shortly after she finished the book, and together we've now embarked on our own minor mission to discover an American Chestnut in the wild. Only time will tell if we'll be successful. This is the sort of passion that this book has the ability to evoke, though. I firmly believe it will soon create a new generation infected with a brand of chestnuttiness.
The story of the American Chestnut is not a particularly singular story. Other trees and species have followed a similar fate, and therein lies the strength of the story itself. What the chestnut has that other plants and species do not, is an intrinsic weaving of its life with our own, and an all too quickly forgotten fate. This is a fascinating story, a very human story, and one that will ultimately affect how restoration and conservation goes in the future. Will the American Chestnut be brought back? I have faith it will, and that the passenger pigeon will as well. The question, however, is in what form will these things be brought back? It made me incredibly happy that [a: Susan Freinkel|657503|Susan Freinkel|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1310704434p2/657503.jpg] discussed that issue in detail. It's one that will soon (hopefully) be a more common discussion.
This book is fascinating and really heightened my interest in trees and the complexities of them. Forestry, by its nature, is complicated and I'm glad that the author really discussed how vital every part of the ecosystem is to restoration. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone - it has within it the chance to start some important discussions that more people should be participating in.
I, for one, look forward to the full return of this species. ( )
This book, through the many primary sources gathered by the author, vividly describes the death of nearly all American chestnut trees in the face of an invasive species and the monumental scientific efforts by chestnut lovers to save them. At first I had some trouble getting into the book. As all the different personal stories connected to the story of the chestnut tree began to take shape, it took a little while for them to connect to each other and the different sections seemed a little choppy. This probably wasn’t helped by the fact that I read the first few chapters in short sections even though I ideally like to read at least a chapter in a sitting.
The American Chestnut is a perfect case study of the disastrous affects of invasive species on America’s biodiversity. The story of the American Chestnut species is the main focus of Susan Freinkel’s book. She primarily covers the consequences of this species dramatic decline from a purely human perspective. In fact, she utilized a range of stories gather through oral history from scientist to locals, which I found interesting. Unfortunately, the history and the biology of this remarkable species is lost to the broader social economic cost and environmental damage done by humanity. The author’s personal opinions are present in the text. One of these opinions is her view on genetically engineer trees. Be warned this is a thoroughly depressing short read. ( )
Informació del coneixement compartit en anglès.Modifica-la per localitzar-la a la teva llengua.
What can turn us from this deserted future, back into the sphere of our being, the great dance that joins us to our home, to each other and to other creatures, to the dead and the unborn? [Wendell Berry]
I see again, as one in vision sees / The blossoms and the bees / And hear the children's voices shout and call / And the brown chestnuts fall. [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]
Dedicatòria
Informació del coneixement compartit en anglès.Modifica-la per localitzar-la a la teva llengua.
For Eric, who always has the right words.
Primeres paraules
Informació del coneixement compartit en anglès.Modifica-la per localitzar-la a la teva llengua.
The tree looks like an aging champion struggling to stay upright until the last round.
The American chestnut was one of America's most common, valued, and beloved trees-a "perfect tree" that ruled the forests from Georgia to Maine. But in the early twentieth century, an exotic plague swept through the chestnut forests with the force of a wildfire. Within forty years, the blight had killed close to four billion trees and left the species teetering on the brink of extinction. It was one of the worst ecological blows to North America since the Ice Age-and one most experts considered beyond repair. In American Chestnut, Susan Freinkel tells the dramatic story of the stubborn optimists who refused to let this cultural icon go. In a compelling weave of history, science, and personal observation, she relates their quest to save the tree through methods that ranged from classical plant breeding to cutting-edge gene technology. But the heart of her story is the cast of unconventional characters who have fought for the tree for a century, undeterred by setbacks or skeptics, and fueled by their dreams of restored forests and their powerful affinity for a fellow species.
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4
The story of the American Chestnut is not a particularly singular story. Other trees and species have followed a similar fate, and therein lies the strength of the story itself. What the chestnut has that other plants and species do not, is an intrinsic weaving of its life with our own, and an all too quickly forgotten fate. This is a fascinating story, a very human story, and one that will ultimately affect how restoration and conservation goes in the future. Will the American Chestnut be brought back? I have faith it will, and that the passenger pigeon will as well. The question, however, is in what form will these things be brought back? It made me incredibly happy that [a: Susan Freinkel|657503|Susan Freinkel|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1310704434p2/657503.jpg] discussed that issue in detail. It's one that will soon (hopefully) be a more common discussion.
This book is fascinating and really heightened my interest in trees and the complexities of them. Forestry, by its nature, is complicated and I'm glad that the author really discussed how vital every part of the ecosystem is to restoration. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone - it has within it the chance to start some important discussions that more people should be participating in.
I, for one, look forward to the full return of this species. (