Ecological awareness of the significance of Old-Growth Forests
One of the benefits of being a member of the on line non fiction book discussion group, Allnonfiction, is that books get chosen for the month’s discussion that I would have never read otherwise. The book chosen for March, 2024, was Nature’s Temples by Joan Maloof.
Joan Maloof Ph.D. is a professor emerita of biological sciences at Salisbury University and the founder of the Old-Growth Forest Network. Maloof has written a book detailing the components of the ecological systems of what is called an Old-Growth forests which are quickly disappearing on planet Earth. Maloof makes the case that the biological diversity of living things in Old-Growth forests are much richer and vibrant than in managed forests from which many products such as timber has been extracted.
Maloof sheds light on the complex ecosystems of old-growth forests, explaining how they differ from younger forests and why they are irreplaceable. She describes the unique species that thrive in these ancient environments and the delicate balance that sustains them.
The book makes a compelling case for protecting old-growth forests. By highlighting the ecological benefits they provide, Maloof encourages readers to think about the consequences of deforestation.
Maloof weaves together scientific research from various fields to explain how old-growth forests function. This approach makes the book informative and engaging, even for those without a scientific background.
Maloof's writing style is evocative, allowing readers to connect with the beauty and wonder of old-growth forests. The book may even inspire you to visit one yourself. Visiting the forest is like entering a temple of Mother Nature and can fill one with wonder and awe realizing what Unitarian Universalists call the “interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.”
As we become more aware of the impact that human activity has on Gaia, mother Earth, we have a need to be more respectful and better stewards of the earth we have been born onto. Nature’s Temple should be required reading for all high school students and their parents and grandparents to raise their consciousnesses about the systems of life they inhabit.
There are several things we can do to enhance the quality of our lives:
Raise our level of consciousness of the interdependent web of life of which we are a part.
Become more intentional in the ways we interact with the other components of the ecological system we are a part of in nurturing rather than exploitive ways.
Give thanks for the abundance of life we enjoy by nurturing and not exploiting it.
Join together with others to validate and uplift our appreciation of Mother Nature’s gifts through group and organizational activities.
What other activities would you add to the list?