beautiful forests

[iLyo]

check out the pictures.

http://webecoist.com/2008/09/13/20-unusual-threatened-forests-around-the-world/

kind of sad.

i've been to the cloud forests in borneo and costa rica... unbelievable. Been to Mau as well as forests in Chile and North America. Nothing as beautiful and serene as walking deep in a forest listening to nature around you.

[Hijinx]

check out the pictures.

http://webecoist.com/2008/09/13/20-unusual-threatened-forests-around-the-world/

kind of sad.

i've been to the cloud forests in borneo and costa rica... unbelievable. Been to Mau as well as forests in Chile and North America. Nothing as beautiful and serene as walking deep in a forest listening to nature around you.
I agree! One thing that makes life in Japan bearable. If the J-authorities had any idea how much stress I relieved in their forests (along with pee pee), they'd charge me--and I'd pay.

[myhobbyis]

Being a Brit, the first one on the list, Sherwood Forest, caught my attention.

This article highlights though deforestation has reduced the size of the forest over the centuries the core of the current crisis is 'death by natural causes'. The ancient oaks trees are reaching the end of their lifespan.
Hopefully they'll get the funds to replant they want.

Sherwood forest in trouble (http://www.livescience.com/environment/071105-ap-sherwood-forest.html)

In a similar vein, a few years ago I walked along the 'ridegway' walk which follows an ancient trail acrosss the chalky upland downs that bisect the middle of southern England. It was after heavy storms and sadly the trail was strewn with huge noble beech trees brought down in the gales.
Apparently it's a characteristic of beech that while they thrive in the chalky soil their eventual size brings them down in the loose soil.

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/4663/244gnm9.th.jpg (http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?image=244gnm9.jpg)
The ridgeway, like walking through the set for 'The Shire' in 'Lord of the Rings' for 80 miles :)