To Take Wildness is Hand- by Michelle Nijhuis (Abstract)

Global warming is effecting our planet, and the health of trees is evidence of that. The Torreya Taxifolia in Florida that Connie Barlow studied showed signs of deteriorating the last half-century, and eventually death of the once- "vibrant and strong enough to use as Christmas trees" trees. Torreya State Park, where the trees once used to flourish is now "rich only in plant life and prisons, stupefyingly hot in summer and eerily quiet nearly all year round." Where the name of the park would suggest that it would have Torreya trees, it does not explains Nijhuis, because the trees have been dying due to the increasing temperature. Like all living things, trees need to be in a certain environment to live and grow strong and healthy, but these trees grew no more than a few feet tall and were very skinny- not big, tall trees you had in mind and usually see. The reason for all this says Nijhuis is because of climate change. Not only are trees dying, but animals and plants move toward cooler regions as well. They want to get away from all the heat, thus causing a major shift in direction, and a major change in the ecosystem. Many conservationists have tried to do their part to help, and continue to do so, but global warming is evident and there is no denying it says Nijhuis. So what do people think of doing for the Taxifolia? Well move it to another region of course. This caused much controversy, but after it had been done- it showed that many of the trees grew healthier than before. There's that idea, then there's burning the land to "restore" it and start anew. People do what they can, and believe that it's the best way to help- but who knows what is the most efficient way to help? Nijhuis says that we must all get together as a society and stop global warming from escalating, and we must. If global warming keeps escalating, the taxifolia tree, and many other living things, will diminish and eventually become extinct.