[Mike]

All,

I wish to draw your attention to the fact that not only are natural
fauna suffering various ills at the hand of man, flora too are
experiencing strange “diseases” and such, many involving large die-offs.

These plagues have thus far gone entirely unreported except perhaps in
arcane scientific journals dedicated to the subject. I can give eye
witness account of two such plagues effecting western New York where
we live.

First let me note my brother is a forest ecologist of some world
renoun. He and I have discussed two inexplicable scourages here, one
involving maple trees the other certain species of pine. He concludes
the future for these important trees is in danger, and admits that,
though in one case a “fungus” is loosely blamed, science has yet to
truly identify the porblem. (our money is on Monsanto or the ilk has
something to do with it)

The first problem involves the random destruction of sugar maple
trees, which is presently explained as a “new fungus” yet which defies
detection as such. On our property alone at least a dozen trees have
been hit. Several died swiftly and outright, but for most the tree
simply rots off at about eye level, leaving the trunk to sucker out
from the base in order to survive. (if it can) If the tree survives,
it is still rendered useless so far as any industry involving the
sugar maple is concerned. (it’s our “state tree,” responsible for much
of the tourism in New York, which actually peaks in the autumn when
folks come to see their stunning colors)

In this region this is no small problem. In the past we had our own
trees tapped to make syrup, but no longer do so in order not to tax
them further in their battle with whatever environmental onslaught
they are facing.

The pine die-offs are more stunning, and more mysterious. There is no
current theory as to cause, not even a suggestion upon which to base
research. An effected are will see 100% of the pines die swiftly and
completely, leaving large brown swaths, some acres in size, quite
visible across the hillsides. The species effected are normally used
for forest recovery, (first growth) not having much use as lumber.

But actually, such land recovery as these trees are used for is more
important than than lumber industry around here. Simply because there
are other species that can be used for this purpose does not mean the
problem goes away. But I can see science failing to get to the bottom
of this one for lack of interest on the part of funding sources. The
latter would simply say “plant something else… problem solved!”

Of course I disagree.

In both instances a vast change in the environment is occuring, yet it
seems not worth even mentioning in the press or halls of government.

A third, lesser item; there is also a “black stain” that further
plagues local maples, though it does not seem to harm the trees much.
An effected tree shows literally every leaf marred by large, circular
black spots on the leaves. Close inspection does resemble a fungus or
canker. But the pattern of the spots leaves one wondering whether it
is a component of rain, along with perhaps a weakened immune system in
the tree, that causes the condition. In fact, one tree that died on
our property in the first scenario above did so from the top down. My
wife and I both remarked it appeared as though the tree had been
sprayed with an hebicide from above.

All three of the above have showed up in force in a scant three years,
before which they had never been seen anywhere. Add to this all the
talk of “emerging viruses” in the news and we’re back to Monsanto, or
perhaps the military side of “bioresearch” as the chief suspect.

Just thought I’d pass along the fact that plants, too, are giving us
strong indications as “canaries in the coal mine,” equally as well as
animals. But being less “romantic” than animals, these plagues and
others plants suffer will continue to get shoved off to the back
burner in the media, in the halls of government and in academia.

Be well, all,
Cliff and Fern